| GEOG 101S | Cultural Geography (4 credits) | Reddy, Sunita |
| The objective of this course is to provide knowledge and understanding of the cultural patterns created through human interactions with the environment and the processes responsible for cultural change. Topics will include: origins of culture in prehistory, human adaptations to the natural environment, the impact of different resource systems (hunting-gathering, agrarian, industrial) on nature in historical and spatial perspective, the creation of culture areas of the world, how states influence cultural survival, and the impact of globalization. The course will follow a lecture/discussion format to enhance critical thinking and writing abilities. Prerequisites: None. | ||
| GEOG 120S | Human Ecology (4 credits) | Reddy, Sunita |
| People are becoming increasingly interested in explaining why environmental problems develop and where the regions most susceptible to environmental problems exist. Humans have always relied on the physical environment for their livelihood. This course examines one of the major themes of geography: human-land interactions. The objectives of this course are 1) to examine how different societies have created and modified the physical environment through resource use and 2) to discuss whether humans have altered the physical environment to create conditions harmful for future generations. The course will be conducted in a lecture/discussion format. Evaluation will be based on exams, exercises, and short issue papers. | ||
| GEOG 220N | Physical Geography (4 credits) | Lenz, Ralph |
| Climate, vegetation, soils, and landform formation processes all influence human activity in any region; they are the focus of this process-oriented study of the physical environment. Heat and water budgets and their influence upon ecosystem development as well as fluvial, glacial, and coastal land shaping processes will be studied. Relationships between human activity and various physical environments of the world provide a central theme. Evaluation will be based on three exams and numerous in-class lab exercises. Prerequisite: Math Placement 22. | ||
| GEOG 222B | Weather and Climate (5 credits) | Lenz, Ralph |
| Climate patterns pose fundamental limits to ecosystem development, and therefore control the ways people can interact with the environment. Global climate patterns are the focus of this course, and there are two main goals. In the first part of the course, we will seek an understanding of the processes responsible for climate through study of atmospheric dynamics that create weather patterns across the globe. Then we will consider climatic classifications, and relate them to real-world responses of vegetation regimes to global climate patterns. Laboratory work is scheduled for Thursdays from 2:10 to 4:40. Ten lab exercises and three exams will be the basis for evaluation. Prerequisite: Math Placement 22. | ||
| GEOG 230S | Urban Geography (4 credits) | Medvedkov, Olga |
| World urbanization has increased dramatically; 43% of the total population lives in cities now verses 5% in the 1800s. Developed countries are 73% urbanized. Developing countries with their lower level of urbanization face and extremely fast rate of urbanization, and lead the world in number of mega-cities. What is the origin of this growth? What is the spatial organization of a settlement=s network? What is the structure of land use in North American, European, Russian, and Latin American cities? All these questions require that cities be constantly rediscovered. The emphasis will be on American cities with their contemporary inner-city/suburb problems. A lecture/ discussion format is anticipated. There will be two exams, one oral report a final paper, and several field and computer assignments. | ||
| GEOG 250C | Geography of Post-Soviet Realm (4 credits ) | Medvedkov, Olga |
| It is a fascinating task for geographers to study the disintegration of the former Soviet Empire and the emergence of independent nation-states. For the first time in all Russian history geography speaks for itself: regions are becoming exceedingly important in this highly centralized state. The course will be focused on the changing space economy, environmental issues, nationality problems, political orientation in different regions, grass-root movements and such. The class has lecture-discussion format. Students are expected to do several map assignments, class presentations, participate in panel discussions, and write a paper on the major topics. Prerequisite: None | ||
| GEOG 280C | Third World Development (4 credits) | Reddy, Sunita |
| This course will explore the processes underlying socioeconomic and environmental change in the Third World. We will examine various theories of modernization, development, underdevelopment, and post-development from the analytical foci of poverty and wealth, autonomy and empowerment, class, gender, and environmental sustainability. We will connect the rise and fall of various development paradigms to practices and policy in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The goal will be to understand the multiple trajectories of socio-spatial change in different regions of the world economy and the changing nature of the development project. | ||
| GEOG 290S | Business Geographics (4 credits) | Medvedkov, Olga |
| This course is taught in collaboration with the marketing class of the Management department (Prof. Pam Schindler). Geography plays an increasingly important role in many business decisions. In fact, a surprisingly large amount of information is geographical in character. It is related to such features as zip codes, street addresses, company or school locations, census tracts, cities or states. Micro marketing is gaining in importance because supply and demand are structured geographically. Until recently, business examined geography with colored pencils on legal pads or by pushing pins into wall maps. There is a better way. Business Geographics allows students to handle data and maps in a computer environment. This course beings the power of visualization into solutions of real world problems such as marketing, direct customer targeting, finding potential customers, site selection, and international trade. Microsoft office 95 already includes map-making software called MapInfo. MapInfo allows business users to incorporate geography efficiently and effectively. During the course, students will do several projects involving the spatial analysis of business date, including date base creation/ conversion, geocoding and mapping. The final project is centered on a small, local business, and is conducted jointly with the marketing class. As a result of this project students from Business Geographics will contribute to recommendations developed by the Marketing class to a client. | ||
| GEOG 310 | Research Methods (2 credits) | Lenz, Ralph |
| This methodology course is required for all geography majors. It will include coverage of research design, sampling, use of some statistical techniques, and SPSSX on the ALPHA. Prerequisites: Math Placement 22; GEOG 101 and 220, 230, 240, or 292. | ||
| Wittenberg’s official curriculum and academic policies are contained in the Academic Catalog. The latest edition of the Catalog is available online. | ||