GEOG 101 S 01 Cultural Geography
4 Credits
Scholl, Andrew
Pre-requisites: None
The objective of this course is to introduce the student to the breadth of human geography and in particular how populations influence the way the environment is developed and utilized by people and the subsequent patterns they create on the landscape. 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, patterns of economic activity, the relationship between political States and cultures, and the impact of globalization. The course will follow a lecture/discussion format to enhance critical thinking and writing abilities. In addition, the class will also require some out of class, off campus collection of data to complete exercises. 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 120 S 01 W Human Ecology
4 Credits
Scholl, Andrew
Pre-requisites: None
The purpose of this course is to make you aware of the inter-relationships between people and the environment around us. One of the fundamental aspects of geography is a focus on the intersection between people and the environment: both on how the environment influences us, and how we utilize and alter the environment around us. We will explore some of the central issues of concern in the world today, as well as some of the concepts and methods they use to study them. Major topics will include: geographic perspectives on human-environment interactions, the changing human population, water resources, energy issues, food resources, the role technology plays in our interaction with the environment, and environmental ethics and policy. These general topics will often be explored through a detailed examination of case studies. An underlying theme throughout the course is the issue of sustainability and the impacts of today's decisions on future society. The overall aim of the course is to provide the student with the analytical skills necessary to think critically about contemporary nature-society relationships, their geographical patterns and processes, while also cultivating the student's own geographical imagination. The course will involve a semester long research paper on an environmental issue of the students choosing. In addition, the class will undertake a group project assessing some of the sustainability aspects of the University.
GEOG 220N 01 Physical Geography
4 Credits
Lenz, Ralph
Pre-requisites: 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 230S 01 Urban Geography
4 Credits
Medvedkov, Olga
Pre-requisites: Minimum Math Placement 22, Permission of instructor
World urbanization has increased dramatically in the course of the 20th century. More people in the world live in urban areas than in rural setting. Developing countries, with large portion of their population yet in rural areas, face an extremely fast rate of urbanization, and lead the world in number of mega-cities, often surrounded by shanty towns. Is this development sustainable?
Developed countries are facing urban sprawl that drives demand for energy resources further. Is ‘smart growth' a solution for addressing this problem? What is the origin of urban growth and decline in general, and how Midwestern cities are affected by de-industrialization? How spatial organization of North American cities is different from European, Latin American or Asian cities? All these questions and many more will be a focus of this course. A lecture/discussion format is anticipated, combined with field and computer lab assignments.
GEOG 250C 2W Southeast Asia
4 Credits
Lenz, Ralph
Pre-requisites: None
Southeast Asia is an enormously interesting region. Set between South Asia and East Asia, and influenced by each, it retains its own unique heritage. Among its nations is Indonesia, noted for its physical beauty and cultural distinctiveness, and home to the world's largest Muslim population. Thailand, with its predominantly Theravada Buddhist religious orientation, has been greatly impacted by global economic integration. Now Vietnam, a cultural contrast because of its historical connection with China, is experiencing the same transition. On the other hand, Myanmar (Burma) has sought isolation, so serves as an example of a place that has resisted globalization. We will look for evidence of impacts of globalization historically and more recently among the people of Southeast Asia. Evaluation will be based on several exams, quizzes, and a paper.
GEOG 290S 01 Business Geographics
4 Credits
Medvedkov, Olga
Pre-requisites: None
Geography plays in 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 is 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 have hands-on experience in handling data and maps in a computer lab. This course brings the power of visualization into solutions of real world problems such as marketing, direct customer targeting, finding potential customers, site selection, and international trade. During the course, students will conduct several projects analyzing spatially business data, handling database conversion, geocoding, managing GPS, and mapping. The final project is centered on local business or public issues.
GEOG 380 1M Topic: Map Interpretation
3 Credits
Lenz, Ralph
