Texas State's Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is one of the largest undergraduate programs of its kind in the United States. The undergraduate program offers a variety of majors of study. Students may select a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The programs provide students with courses designed to increase their understanding of the world they live in and help students develop analytical skills necessary to interpret and solve real-world problems. The B.A. requires a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of Geography and Environmental Studies coursework while the B.S. requires a minimum of 36 hours of Geography and Environmental Studies coursework. Geography and Environmental Studies majors may include a maximum of two additional Geography and Environmental Studies courses towards their major. Majors are required to complete a minor and are encouraged to select a minor in consultation with an academic advisor.<br>The Bachelor of Science major in Geography Water Resources provides a focused study of the physical, chemical, social, political, and economic factors of water resources from the geographic perspective. As water resources become ever more critical to the nation, and in particular Texas and the Southwest Borderlands, this degree program addresses the increasing need for professionals in this crucial field. Graduates are highly sought after by government agencies, from local, state to federal, industries that have large water demands, agricultural interests and private consulting firms that specialize in water resource issues. The Lower Colorado River Authority, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, and the San Antonio Water System all employ graduates of the program.