GEOG 101 S 01&02 Cultural Geography Pre-requisites: None
4 Credits
Scholl, Andrew
The objective of this course is to introduce you to the breadth of human geography and in particular how cultural aspects of populations influence the way the environment is developed and utilized by people. Topics will include: the spatial organization of human activities, ways in which social processes and structures can be understood through a geographic lens, geographic perspectives of human/environment interactions and economic relationships, 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. The overall aim of the course is to provide the student with the analytical skills necessary to think critically about contemporary geographical patterns and processes while also cultivating the student’s own geographical imagination.
GEOG 220N 01 Physical GeographyPre-requisites: Minimum Math Placement 22
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 four exams and numerous in-class lab exercises.
GEOG 220N 02 Physical GeographyPre-requisites: Minimum Math Placement 22
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 four exams and numerous in-class lab exercises.
GEOG 222B 01 Weather and ClimatePre-requisites: Minimum Math Placement 22
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 will be scheduled. Ten lab exercises and five exams will be the basis for evaluation.
GEOG 232S/POLI 208S 01 Moscow: Politics & Urban PlanningPre-requisites: None
This interdisciplinary course intends to introduce the student to the processes of governing and conducting urban planning in one of the largest and most complex cities in the world--Moscow. By the end of the semester, students will be able to analyze a range of issues, including Moscow’s history, contemporary planning, environmental control, social issues, architecture, and governance. The consideration of these and other issues will help the student to understand how Moscow is facing the difficulties of the transition from the old, communist system to a new one, based upon principles of democracy and a market economy. Time will be spent learning and applying social science methods such as mapping techniques (using Geographical Information Systems), voting behavior analysis, and the preparation for field research in Moscow. Following the conclusion of the class, students will have the opportunity to participate in field research in Moscow for three to four weeks. Students may receive credit for the class in either Political Science or Geography.
NOTES: The course is also cross-listed with POLI 208S. The class may be used to fulfill major or minor requirements in Political Science, Geography, Russian Area Studies, or Urban Studies. Students will be prepared to pursue an optional, follow-up field research experience to take place in Moscow about three-four weeks in May-June 2006.
GEOG 292S/SOCI 292 Population Geography (4 credits)Pre-requisites: None
From now until the middle of the 21st century, in only fifty years, the world's population will increase by 50% from 6 billion at the end of 1999 to close to 9 billion in 2050. October 12, 1999 has been chosen as the official date marking the advent of a planet with 6 billion inhabitants. On October 5, 2005, the total population of the World had reached 6,470,751,717; an increase by almost half a billion in just six years. Between 1995 and 2005, the growth rate was 78 million people per year, the equivalent of a new Egypt added every year. In 2050, Africa and Asia will be home to 20 and 60% of the world's population respectively. Developed nations will have twice as many elderly people as youth and the population of many in between will be in decline. The world's productive land is a constantly changing resource. Climatic variations, natural disasters, and human intervention are constantly at work changing the boundaries of productive land. Arable land covers 3% of the world's surface. Despite the fact that this land is continually being lost to urbanization, the total area under cultivation is rising because of deforestation. During this course we would look at demographic data, population distribution and composition, theories of population growth and change. We will focus on basic demographic processes, as mortality, fertility, and migration. This class will be helpful in understanding the demographic processes in different cultural, social, and political settings. Cross-listed as SOCI 292; you may enroll in either SOCI 292 or GEOG 292.
GEOG 390 Geographical Information SystemPre-requisites GEOG 230, GEOG 290 or GEOG 304, or an instructor’s permission.
GIS is an advanced course in spatial analysis and computer mapping which is targeted to majors in Geography, but also benefits majors in Biology, Geology, Management, Political Science, and others disciplines. The period since the mid-1980s has seen massive growth in the field of the GIS – computer based systems for the handling of geographically referenced information. Geographic Information systems have been confined mostly to public sector agencies until recently. Now they are becoming as widely used as spreadsheet analysis to a broad spectrum of applications from urban and regional planning and environmental management to homeland security and sustainable development. GIS mapping cuts across many disciplines, provides a common language for discussion, and acts as a means to bring people together in the decision making process. MAP IT OUT! Visualization is a great tool to analyze large data bases. During this course students work in a computer lab environment (new GIS Lab), learning GIS concepts and technology and applying them to real life situations while doing projects for local community. Student will gain skills in digitizing, data base management, multilayer computer mapping, and spatial analysis.
