Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Geography, GIS, and Sustainability

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.
3

Course Attribute

LAB2-Soc&BehSci-Geography and LAIS-International Studies and GT Geography

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.
3

Course Attribute

LAB2-Soc&BehSci-Geography and GT Geography

GEOG 111 Introduction to Field Techniques

Course encourages students to demonstrate an understanding of the value, meaning and benefits of experiential learning and to explore a variety of applied field techniques. S/U graded.
1-3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles and course is repeatable with a maximum of 6 credit hours

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

GEOG 185 Introduction to Drones

This course will expose students to the fundamental concepts and geo-spatial utilization of drones (sUAVs). Students will learn the technologies, concepts, and applications of drones.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall Annually

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

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.
3

Course Attribute

LAB2-Soc&BehSci-Geography and GT Geography

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

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

GEOG 218 Emerging Asia

Critically analyze the rapid (re)emergence of Asia as a center of the global economy and the enormous geographic diversity across its sub-regions (South, Southeast, and East Asia).
3

Course Attribute

LAB2-Soc&BehSci-Geography and LAIS-International Studies

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 224 Exploring Colorado

A multidisciplinary approach-geographic, historical, economic, and civic- is used to investigate and analyze issues pertinent to the State of Colorado.
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 249 Food, People, and Place

This course takes an interdisciplinary approach toward understanding modern and traditional agriculture, and the ways in which these agricultural forms both clash and coalesce.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall Odd Years

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: ENST 249 and GEOG 249

GEOG 250 The Making of the American Landscape

Introduction to the historical geography of North America emphasizing the historical roots of contemporary American landscapes and employing the theories, concepts and methods of social science used by geographers.
3

Course Attribute

LAB2-Soc&BehSci-Geography and GT Geography

GEOG 270 Professional Development

Explore career options for geography and environmental studies majors and practice professional development skills.
3

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 270 and ENST 270

GEOG 285 Earth from Above

Learn how to view and analyze the earth from above using remote sensing, the study of the earth's land, water, atmosphere, and human-made features using devices on both airborne and spaceborne platforms. This course emphasizes the understanding of remote sensing foundations for environmental and urban applications.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall Odd Years

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

GEOG 296 Study Abroad Experience

An experiential approach to learning about cultures, landscapes, language and natural resources of another country. Students engage with the natural environment and local communities through written assignments and intensive fieldwork. S/U graded.
3

Repeatable Status

Course may be repeated 2 times

GEOG 300 Advanced Human Geography: Topics

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

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

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.
3

Prerequisites

GEOG 210 with a minimum grade of D-

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

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.
3

Prerequisites

GEOG 210 with a minimum grade of D-

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

GEOG 310 Urban and Regional Planning

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 of the Industrialized World

Systematic study of relationships between geography and economics, focusing on spatial dynamics of technical change, divisions of labor, business organization, resource use, and international trade.
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

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 315 and ENST 315

GEOG 320 Population Geography

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 324 Crime Mapping

Provides the student with hands on experience in the use of Geographic Information System (GIS technology to analyze organizational operations, crime statistics, and crime patterns).

3

Prerequisites

GEOG 210 with a minimum grade of D-

Offered

Generally offered Fall - Check with department/school for next offering

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 324 and CRJ 324

GEOG 325 Advanced Physical Geography: Topics

Study the complexities of the physical world and investigate the interactions between human activities and the physical environment.
3

Prerequisites

(GEOG 220 or GEOG 230 with a minimum grade of D-)

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

GEOG 326 Emerging Africa: Local Resources and Livelihoods in a Global Context

Identify and analyze relationships between the physical and cultural patterns, including land use, resource development, social, political and economic problems throughout the continent of Africa.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall Odd Years

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 326 and ENST 326

GEOG 327 Fundamentals of Geospatial Programming

This course provides fundamental skills for geospatial programming. Topics include learning Python scripting syntax and using scripts to access and automate geographic processing tasks.
3

Prerequisites

GEOG 307 with a minimum grade of D-

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

GEOG 330 Cultural Geography

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 Environment and Society in Latin America

Explores land, people, and culture in the major sub-regions of Latin America. Emphasis on contemporary population, economic, political and environmental issues.

3

Offered

Generally offered Spring Even Years

GEOG 340 Europe

Study the relationships between the physical and cultural environments, including land use, resources, economics and political problems.
3

GEOG 345 Environmental Geography: Earth at Risk

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

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 345 and ENST 345

GEOG 360 Nations, States, and Territory

Systematic study of relationships between geography and politics; topics include the formation of the modern state, the international system, territorial expansion, global markets, warfare, and political interactions at various scales.
3

GEOG 370 The City

Systematic study of urban processes, from the ancient to the modern world, with an emphasis on the origins, development, and future of cities in the United States.
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 380 Sustainable Geographies

Examine the sustainability of contemporary living patterns. Explore alternative approaches to meeting transportation, domestic power and heating, food production and waste disposal needs on the personal and community levels.
3

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 380 and ENST 380

GEOG 385 Natural Parks & Protected Areas Seminar

Explores the role of protected areas in sustaining society, and examines natural parks as working ecosystems, biodiversity and resource banks, recreational spaces, and symbols of cultural and national heritage. Culminates in a capstone project.
3

Class Restriction

Include Junior and Senior

GEOG 391 Western Colorado Rivers

Field course: Analyzes the geography of rivers in Western Colorado. Fieldwork and conceptual skills address environmental issues, using specialized equipment, maps, data storage devices, and field sampling methods.
3

Course Fee

Participation Fee Required and Supervision Fee Required

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.
1- 6

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course may be repeated 1 time

Course Fee

Participation Fee Required

GEOG 395 Advanced Regional Geography: Topics

Study special topics in regional geography: contemporary geographic issues affecting environmental, economic, political, cultural, or social phenomena in emerging or borderland regions.
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

GEOG 412 Web Mapping

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

Prerequisites

(GEOG 302 or GEOG 307 with a minimum grade of D-)

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

GEOG 422 Directed Studies

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.)
1- 3

Special Notes

Maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

GEOG 440 Biogeography

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

Prerequisites

(GEOG 220 or GEOG 230 or ENST 100 or BIO 111 with a minimum grade of D-)

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 440 and ENST 440

GEOG 444 Global Climate Change

An examination of what causes climate to change across different time scales; how climate has changed in the past; how scientists use models, observations and theory to make predictions about future climate; and the consequences of climate change for our planet. One field trip required.
3

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 444 and ENST 444

GEOG 445 Landscape Ecology

Learn theory, methods, and tools to understand and analyze the landscapes we live in and to solve landscape-related environmental problems.

3

Prerequisites

(GEOG 210 or GEOG 220 or GEOG 230 or ENST 100 or BIO 111 or ESCI 200 with a minimum grade of D-)

Offered

Generally offered Spring Even Years

GEOG 449 Remote Sensing of the Environment

Students will learn the conceptual foundations and technical skills to apply remote sensing in environmental and cultural applications. Topics will include land use/land cover classification, change detection, and vegetation modeling.
3

Prerequisites

GEOG 210 with a minimum grade of D-

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

GEOG 466 Grant and Proposal Writing

Explores the fundamentals of grant writing and culminates in the creation of a proposal for submission to a federal agency or nonprofit.
3

GEOG 470 Urban GIS

Students will gain in-depth knowledge on various urban topics, and evaluate critically economic, social, environmental and health problems in urban areas using GIS.
3

Prerequisites

GEOG 210 with a minimum grade of D-

GEOG 485 Advanced Geographic Techniques: Topics

Advanced study of geographic techniques. Topics will relate to applications in GIS, remote sensing, quantitative analysis, land use analysis, or the mapping sciences.
1- 3

Prerequisites

GEOG 210 with a minimum grade of D-

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

GEOG 490 Capstone Proposal

Introduces the research process through identification and framing of a research proposal following accepted and standard protocols. Topics include hypothesis formulation and testing, designing a research project, and career preparedness.

2

Prerequisites

84.0 credits required

Offered

Generally offered Fall Annually

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 490 and ENST 490

Major/Minor Restriction

Include Geography Major(s)

Class Restriction

Include Junior and Senior

GEOG 491 Senior Capstone

Research selected environmental and geographic topics based on ENST/GEOG 490 Proposal. Course focuses on the assessment of students' environmental and geographic knowledge base, research and analysis skills.
2

Prerequisites

GEOG 490 with a minimum grade of D-

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GEOG 491 and ENST 491

Major/Minor Restriction

Include Geography Major(s)

Class Restriction

Include Senior

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.
1- 6

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations