2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Geography and GIS

GEOG 100 World Geography

Introduction to the complex relationships that link humans with their physical, cultural and spatial environments. Students will investigate these diverse relationships through a variety of worldwide examples. (LAC, gtP)

3

GEOG 110 Geography of the United States and Canada

An analysis of the cultural and environmental patterns of North America, with emphasis on the geographic processes that shape them. (LAC, gtP)

3

GEOG 195 Introduction to Geographic Methods

Introduction to geography field and other research methods: asking geographic questions, identifying data needs, planning field work or other geographic research, working in teams, making observations and recording data.

3

GEOG 200 Human Geography

Study the role of location and locational questions in human behavior including how locational factors influence behavior and resulting social and cultural modifications. (LAC, gtP)

3

GEOG 210 Introduction to GIS and GPS

This course will expose students to the fundamental concepts and application techniques used in Geographic Information Science (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

3

GEOG 220 Climate and Vegetation

Introduces basic patterns and processes operating in the atmosphere and biosphere, emphasizing the distribution of major features found on Earth and the interactions between humans and the natural environment.

3

GEOG 230 Landforms, Water & Hazards

Introduces the basic patterns and processes operating in the lithosphere and hydrosphere, emphasizing the distribution and forms of features found on Earth, and the natural hazards associated with them.

3

GEOG 300 Advanced Human Geography: Topics

Prerequisite: GEOG 200. Study special topics in human geography: aspects of economic, political, cultural, urban or social phenomena on the landscape.  Repeatable under different subtitles.

3

GEOG 302 Cartography

Study the fundamentals, theory and practice of mapmaking and graphic representation. Students make use of advanced geographic information systems (GIS) and illustration software packages. GEOG 210 or previous GIS experience recommended.

3

GEOG 307 Geographic Information Science

Examines the nature and accuracy of spatially referenced data, as well as methods of data capture, storage, retrieval, modeling and output using GIS software. Geography 210 or previous GIS experience is recommended, but not required.

3

GEOG 310 Urban and Regional Planning

Prerequisite: GEOG 200. Examine current planning practice in the United States and its larger economic, social, political and geographic context. Topics include land use regulation, urban design, transportation systems and growth management.

3

GEOG 312 Economic Geography

Prerequisite: GEOG 200. Discern how geographic and economic conditions affect the products, industries, commerce and resources of the world, particularly the United States.

3

GEOG 315 Nature and Society

Analyze problems in nature-society relationships by exploring geographic theory surrounding environmental politics, surveying local and global actors in these conflicts, and addressing varied contemporary issues in resource management.

3

GEOG 320 Population Geography

Prerequisite: GEOG 200. Analysis of world population distribution and change utilizing geographic themes and demographic measures, with particular attention to migration, urbanization, environmental impact, and national planning.

3

GEOG 325 Advanced Physical Geography: Topics

Prerequisite: GEOG 220 or GEOG 230. Study the complexities of the physical world and investigate the interactions between human activities and the physical environment. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

3

GEOG 326 Africa

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 110. Identify and analyze relationships between the physical and cultural patterns, including land use, resource development, social, political and economic problems.

3

GEOG 330 Cultural Geography

Prerequisite:  GEOG 200.  Examine the evidence and imprint of cultural values on geographic landscapes; utilize techniques of spatial diffusion, cultural ecology and integration and landscape analysis to identify and investigate culture regions.

3

GEOG 333 South America

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 110. Explores land, people, and culture in the major subregions of South America. Emphasis on contemporary population, economic, political and environmental issues.

3

GEOG 335 Geography of Middle America

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 110. Examines patterns of population, politics, economy and life-styles as they relate to the diverse physical and multicultural environments of Middle America. Analyze the strategic location of this region.

3

GEOG 340 Europe

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 110. Study the relationships between the physical and cultural environments, including land use, resources, economics and political problems.

3

GEOG 344 Asia: Special Topics

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 110. Study the regions of Asia through variable offerings. Examine patterns of physical and cultural landscapes, social organization and economic activities. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

3

GEOG 350 Colorado

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 110. Study the geographical and human resources of Colorado, including physical features, climate, landform regions and natural resources and their utilization and conservation.

3

GEOG 355 Environmental Geography: Earth at Risk

Prerequisite: GEOG 220 or GEOG 230. Examine selected environmental issues, including climate change, environmental degradation, and resource depletion, focusing on the physical processes underlying these problems and how human activities contribute to environmental problems.

3

GEOG 360 Political Geography

Prerequisite: GEOG 200. Examine political phenomena as they relate to a particular geographic setting. Topics of study include territorial expansion, natural resources and maritime claims, warfare and political interactions at various scales.

3

GEOG 370 Urban Geography

Prerequisite: GEOG 200. Analysis of the origins, distribution, growth, functions, transportation and land use patterns of cities, emphasizing the North American city.

3

GEOG 375 Quantitative Techniques in Geography

Examine elementary statistical techniques useful to the analysis of geographical data. Some background in mathematics useful.

3

GEOG 390 Geographic Inquiry: Applying Spatial Thinking

Prerequisite: GEOG 200. Investigation and analysis of geographic issues with examples of successful approaches for teaching geography. Students create materials appropriate for teaching geography concepts and spatial thinking skills in the K-12 curriculum.

3

GEOG 392 Field Course in Geography

Study and apply the techniques used in solving geographic problems in the field and effectively present the results of such studies. Repeatable, may be taken two times.

1 - 6

GEOG 395 Advanced Regional Geography: Topics

Prerequisite:  GEOG 100 or GEOG 110.  Study special topics in regional geography: contemporary geographic issues affecting environmental, economic, political, cultural, or social phenomena in emerging or borderland regions. Repeatable under different subtitles.

3

GEOG 412 Web Mapping

Prerequisite: GEOG 210 or GEOG 302 or GEOG 307 or consent of instructor. Study thematic map communication via the internet and wireless technologies.  Develop interactive maps that can be served over the internet.  Build mobile mapping applications

3

GEOG 422 Directed Studies

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.) Repeatable, maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

1 - 3

GEOG 440 Biogeography

Prerequisites: GEOG 220 or GEOG 230 or ENST 100. Identify meaningful patterns in the distributions of plants and animals and explain how/ why those patterns developed. Includes an examination of the role humans have played in shaping those patterns.

3

GEOG 475 Advanced Geographic Techniques: Topics

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.  Advanced study of geographic techniques. Topics will relate to applications in GIS, remote sensing, quantitative analysis, land use analysis, or the mapping sciences. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

1 - 3

GEOG 492 Internship

Advanced undergraduate majors and minors use geographic training while working in local, state or federal agencies. Participants must meet university internship requirements. S/U Graded. Repeatable, no limitations.

1 - 6

GEOG 495 Senior Seminar

Prerequisites: GEOG 375 and either GEOG 302 or GEOG 307. Research selected geographic topics based on the student's major emphasis. Course focuses on the assessment of students' geographic knowledge base, research and analysis skills.

3