Courses for Undergraduates
102 The Historical Geography of the Western World (3:3)
A study of the geographical factors which combine to form the major cultural regions of North America, Europe, and Australia-New Zealand.
103 Introduction to Earth Science (3:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Students cannot receive credit for both GEO 103 and GEO 106/106L.
Survey of basic concepts and processes integrating the nature of the earth’s three primary physical systems: the solid earth and continents; the ocean basins and the oceans; and the atmosphere’s weather.
104 World Regional Geography (3:3)
GE Core: GSB
GE Marker: GL
Geographical criteria that define the major cultural and functional
world regions. Emphasis on regional methods of geographical study, with
applications to current world events and situations.
105 Cultural Geography (3:3)
GE Core: GSB
GE Marker: GN
Introductory project-oriented course concerned with the geographical characteristics of population, political systems, settlement patterns and livelihoods.
106 Geosystems Science (3:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Coreq: GEO 106L
Students cannot receive credit for both GEO 103 and GEO 106/106L.
The earth’s atmosphere, hydrological, and tectonic systems. Includes applications to natural resources management and environmental planning. (Fall & Spring)
106L Geosystems Science Laboratory (1:0:2)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Coreq: GEO 106
Students cannot receive credit for both GEO 103 and GEO 106/106L.
Laboratory exercises to accompany GEO 106, which must be taken concurrently. Topics include atmospheric data analysis, topographic map interpretation, and hydrological measurements. (Fall & Spring)
110 Introduction to Geography (3:3)
Changing interaction of man and his environment and the resultant human and economic patterns in various parts of the world.
111 Physical Geology (3:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Coreq. concurrent registration in GEO 111L
Survey of tectonic and erosional processes, mountain building, rivers, glaciers, deserts, and coastal landform development.
111L Physical Geology Laboratory (1:0:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Coreq. concurrent registration in GEO 111
Laboratory demonstrations and map interpretation exercises to accompany GEO 111, which must be taken concurrently.
121 Introduction to Geographic Information Science (3:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Introduction to the fundamental concepts of geographical information science (geographic
data acquisition, representation, analysis, and interpretation). Technologies reviewed include topographic
mapping, global positioning systems, aerial photography, and satellite remote sensing. (Fall & Spring)
205 Environmental Change: Its Nature and Impact (3:3)
Environmental changes related to human use of land, water, soils, minerals, and natural amenities. Planning for sustained use or preservation of land-based natural resources.
301 Urban Geography: Global Patterns (3:3)
GE Core: GSB
GE Marker: GL
Urbanization processes and the development of mega-cities and urban hierarchies emphasizing the differences between cities from across the world.
302 Urban Geography: Land Use (3:3)
Internal structure of cities, including the role of transportation systems, socio-economic development, and the physical environment. Emphasis on differences within cities.
303 World Population Problems (3:3)
GE Marker: GN
Major world population problems, trends, and significant policy and action alternatives for the future. Impact of various geographical factors on problems and trends.
304 Introduction to Transportation Analysis (3:3)
Transportation systems as they affect human behavior and urban patterns, primarily within a North American context.
305 Environmental Hazards Assessment (3:3)
Pr. GEO 103 or equivalent
Nature and geographical distribution of short-lived environmental hazards including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. Factors contributing to increased hazard potential. Alternative human responses to short-lived hazards.
306 World Economic Geography (3:3)
GE Core: GSB
GE Marker: GL
Characteristics and location of the world’s resources, theory of industrial location,
world patterns of industry. (Formerly GEO 202)
311 Weather and Climate (3:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Pr. GEO 103 or equivalent
Coreq. concurrent registration in GEO 311L
Introduction to the nature, origin, processes, and dynamics of the atmosphere. Consideration also of human modification of the atmosphere and of climatic change.
311L Climatology Laboratory (1:0:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Coreq. concurrent registration in GEO 311
Laboratory work to accompany GEO 311.
312 Geomorphology of North America (3:3)
A survey of the various landscape regions of the North America. Emphasis on the relationships between the geologic, erosional, and climatic processes occurring in each region.
313 Natural Resource Regions of North America (3:1:6)
Pr. GEO 103 or GEO 314 and permission of instructor
Regional natural resource use and associated human interaction with the natural environment. Instruction takes place during an extended field trip across portions of North America.
314 Physical Geography: Landscape Processes (3:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Pr. GEO 103 or equivalent
Coreq. concurrent registration in GEO 314L
Examination of the processes responsible for the development of the earth’s varied terrain characteristics. Analysis of environmental problems involving human impact on landscape and river systems.
314L Physical Geography Laboratory (1:0:3)
GE Core: GNS
CAR: GPS
Coreq. concurrent registration in GEO 314
Laboratory demonstrations and map interpretation exercises to accompany GEO 314, which must be taken concurrently.
315 The Geography of World Affairs (3:3)
GE Marker: GN
Contemporary problems and issues of and between nations of the world as they have evolved in their geographical settings. (Formerly GEO 114)
320 Tourism Planning and Development (3:3)
Geographic distribution of tourist development. Emphasis on the spatial dimension of origin-destination flows, economic geography of the travel industry, socio-economic and environmental impacts. Emphasis on tourism planning issues. (Same as HTM 320 and RPM 320)
322 Research Methods in Geography (3:3)
Use of the scientific method, data collection, spatial analysis, and technical writing. Development of fundamental research and quantitative skills in geography.
330 Elements of Hydrology (3:3)
Pr. GEO 103 or 311 or 314, or permission of instructor
Introduction to the origin, properties, occurrence, circulation of the waters of the earth, including the application of hydrologic techniques for the evaluation of regional water budgets and problems relating to the conservation of water resources.
333 Geography of Europe (3:3)
GE Marker: GL
Examination of human and physical characteristics of the European region. Topics include settlement patterns, landscape evolution, patterns and spatial variation of economic activity, urbanization, and political divisions.
338 Regions of Latin America (3:3)
Geographic distinctiveness of Latin American regions, with an emphasis upon the physical foundation, bases of past development, and recent transformation. Major consideration given to Mexico/Central America, Peru/Bolivia, and Brazil.
340 Geography of East Asia (3:3)
GE Marker: GN
Examines dynamic economic, sociocultural, and political changes in East Asia by using geographical criteria to study physical and human resources influencing rapid modernization within an ancient framework. (Spring)
344 Geography of the United States and Canada (3:3)
GE Core: GSB
Study of the human and physical characteristics of the United States and Canada, with emphasis on the former.
357 Principles of Cartography (3:2:3)
Pr. GEO 121
The science of cartography with an emphasis on the use of maps as descriptive and analytical tools. Laboratory work introduces computer mapping, compilation, design, and symbolization. (Formerly GEO 321)
358 Geographic Information Systems (3:2:3)
Pr. GEO 121 or permission of instructor
Provides basic concepts and methods for capturing, storing, querying, analyzing, and displaying geospatial data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). (Fall)
359 Remote Sensing (3:2:3)
Pr. GEO 121
Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of digital and photographic imagery. Emphasis on use of satellite and aircraft imagery for classification and monitoring of the earth’s physical and cultural landscape. (Formerly GEO 323)
421 Geographic Information Science (3:2:3)
Pr. GEO 121, 357, 359
Principles and use of geographic information; emphases are on data acquisition and techniques
of spatial analysis and display. Requirements include a substantial applied research project. (Spring) (Formerly GEO 423)
490 Special Problems in Geography (3)
Pr. permission of faculty member with whom student wishes to work and at least 3 s.h. of previous work in geography
Opportunity for advanced students to undertake independent study of field research of special interest.
491 Current Topics in Regional Geography (3:3)
May be repeated for credit when topic varies.
Seminar dealing with major national and international
topics in their current geographical context. (Occ)
493 Honors Work (3–6)
Pr. permission of instructor; 3.30 GPA in the major, 12 s.h. in the major
May be repeated for credit if the topic of study changes.
495 Internship in Geography (3:0:9)
Pr. written permission required before registering for the internship
Practical experience in a professional setting related to the student’s main topic of interest. Includes a research paper linking the topic to the experience. (Fall & Spring & Summer)
Courses for Advanced Undergraduates & Graduate Students
Freshmen and sophomores may not register for 500-level courses.
502 Urban Planning (3:3)
Experiences in planning and primary concepts and procedures utilized by planners in city and local government agencies for improving the quality of the urban environment.
504 Political Geography (3:3)
Pr. junior level or permission of instructor
A systematic overview of relationships among space, place, and politics at multiple geographic scales. Topics include boundaries, geopolitics, nationalism, resource distribution, means of controlling space, and the spatiality of globalization.
510 Biogeography (3:3)
Pr. GEO 311 or 314 or BIO 301 or admission to graduate program in geography or permission of instructor
Study of the geographic distribution of organisms and the factors/processes accountable. Emphasis on the increasingly important role humans play in influencing biogeographic processes.
511 Advanced Weather and Climate—Synoptic Climatology (3:3)
Pr. GEO 311 or admission to graduate program in geography or permission of instructor
Exploration of atmospheric dynamics and general circulation patterns throughout the world. Emphasis on cyclogensis, surface-upper atmosphere links, tropospheric waves, vorticity, and forecasting.
522 Seminar in Population and Urban Studies (3:3)
Advanced study of population processes and urban concepts from an interdisciplinary viewpoint. Emphasis on accessing and interpreting data from the U.S. census and other sources.
533 Regional Economic Development (3:3)
Theories of location of economic activity; techniques to assess impact of types of economic activity; policy and institutional issues related to local, state, and global economic development.
557 Advanced Cartography (3:3)
Pr. GEO 357 or permission of instructor
Advanced instruction in cartographic production techniques and introduction to cartographic research. Students will learn to evaluate academic literature and to implement research ideas using state-of-the-art technology. (Formerly GEO 521)
559 Advanced Remote Sensing—Imaging (3:3)
Pr. GEO 359 or permission of instructor
Remote sensing of the environment using scientific visualization and digital image processing techniques. (Fall) (Formerly GEO 520)
560 Seminar in Regional Geography (3:3)
May be repeated once for credit when topic changes.
Case studies of regionalism and the regional method in geography. (Occ)
570 Applied Physical Geography (3:1:6)
May be repeated once when topic changes.
Applications in physical geography. Topics include field experience in hydrology, dendrochronology, geomorphology, climatology, and mapping.
Please refer to The Graduate School Bulletin
for additional graduate-level courses.
