GEOG 101S 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 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 225N 01 Biogeography
4 Credits
Scholl, Andrew
Pre-requisites: None
A wide variety of plants and animals are found in different locations around the world. Many of these species located on different continents are closely related, although they are thousands of miles apart. Biogeography is the study of the distribution of plants and animals in both the past and the present in an attempt to understand where different species are located and why. This course offers an overview of the theories, methods, and current directions in modern biogeography, emphasizing terrestrial plant and animal species and communities. Course material will range from introductory to intermediate level, and will include discussions of several research articles from the field of biogeography.
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 China's Geography
4 Credits
Ralph Lenz
Pre-requisites: None
Despite many parallels between China's physical environment and that of the USA, there are some notable contrasts. With a geographic area extending from deserts of Central Asia to the Pacific Ocean, environmental diversity within the region is pronounced. This regional course will examine environmental impacts on cultural and economic patterns. China offers a surprising amount of cultural diversity, and cultural and economic contrasts between the Han and various minority populations, a topic not covered in most East Asian Studies classes, will be emphasized. As China undergoes a tremendous economic transition, huge disparities between the interior of the country and its coast have resulted. Demographic, agricultural, and urban patterns will be examined. Evaluation will be based on exams and quizzes, a project, and an oral presentation about one of China's subregions or minority groups.
East Asian Studies majors and minors will find that this class offers perspectives on the environment and on China's minorities that are not covered in other classes, but there will also be introductory coverage of Chinese Culture.
GEOG 250C/S 01/02W Russian and Central Eurasian Geography
4 Credits
Medvedkov, Olga
Pre-requisites: None
For the first time in all Russian history geography speaks for itself. After the disintegration of the Soviet Empire regions became exceedingly important in this highly centralized state. The current government is trying to reestablish control over the regions. Who will win in this geo-political game? Will Russia become a democratic state or it will pull back to the dictatorship? Will newly independent states like Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan gravitate to Russian economic and political domain or create new alliances with other bordering countries?
We will discuss it throughout the course. The class will be focused on changing space economy, environmental and population issues, national identity problems, political orientation in different regions of the post-Soviet space. This course has a lecture-discussion-project format. Students are expected to complete several map assignments, participate in class discussions, and to write a final paper on major topics.
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.
