Professors Ralph Lenz and Olga L. Medvedkov, Chair
Assistant Professor Artimus Keiffer
Requirements for Major
A minimum of 32 geography semester hours, which must include
Geography 101, 310, and either 304 or 305. More than one
Geography 250 may be counted toward the major.
Students may choose an Environmental, Urban Planning, or GIS
track within the major. Curricula for each are listed below.
Environmental:
Geography 120, 220, 222, 305 and a statistics course. Recommended cognate courses
include Biology 142 and 346, Geology 220, 240 and 290.
GIS:
Geography 220, 230, 290, 304, 305, 390 and a statistics course.
Urban Planning:
Geography 230, 330, 305, 390, 491 and statistics. Recommended
courses are Urban Studies 171, Political Science 221 and 222,
Economics 250, Sociology 296 and Geology 220.
Geography majors may also design a regional emphasis in Third
World Development, Latin America, Southeast Asia, or the Russian
Realm in consultation with their adviser.
Requirements for Minor
Three minor tracks are available, each requiring 20 semester hours
in geography.
General/Regional:
Geography 101, 120 or 220 or 222, 230 or 240 or 292, 250 and an
elective.
Environmental:
Geography 101, 120, 220, 222 and 305.
Urban Planning:
Geography 101, 230, 330, 395 or 390, and 491.
101S. Cultural Geography 4 semester hours.
Introduction to spatial analysis of interactions between people and the land in selected cultural environments. Every year.
120S. Human Ecology. 4 semester hours.
Human population and resource use and how they impact the environment. Every year.
220N. Physical Geography. 4 semester hours.
Analysis of the genetic, distributional and functional interrelationships of climate, landforms, soils, natural vegetation, and surface and ground water. Prerequisite: A score of 22 on the Math Placement Exam. Every year.
222B. Weather and Climate. 5 semester hours.
Atmospheric systems and their effect on climate patterns. Lab course. Prerequisite: A score of 22 on the Math Placement Exam. Every year.
230S. Urban Geography. 4 semester hours.
Cities studied in terms of their changing spatial patterns and functions. American cities are emphasized. Prerequisite: A score of 22 on the Math Placement Exam. Every year.
240S. Economic Geography. 4 semester hours.
Location of economic activities and their spatial relationships and locational impacts. Writing intensive.
250. East Asian Geography. 2 or 4 semester hours.
Detailed spatial analysis of cultural, physical, economic and urban patterns in a region. Regions to be studied are announced each time the course is offered; examples are Third World Development, Africa, Middle America, Russia and Central Eurasia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Most sections are writing intensive. Every year. This course may be repeated with a different region for credit.
280. Topics. 2 or 4 semester hours.
Courses on geographical topics of special interest not covered by regular course offerings. Prerequisites vary. Alternate years. This course may be repeated for credit.
290. Business Geographics. 4 semester hours.
Spatial techniques for marketing analysis using computer mapping.
292S. Population Geography. 4 semester hours.
Theories and problems of population growth and distribution on a global and regional scale. Alternate years.
304. Cartography. 4 semester hours.
Elements of map-making. Orientation is toward computer map production. Prerequisite: Geography 101 and 290 or permission of the instructor.
305. Air Photo and Map Interpretation. 5 semester hours.
Geographic identification and analysis of natural and cultural features of the environment on maps and on remotely sensed images. Lab course. Prerequisites: A score of 22 on the Math Placement Exam and a 200-level course in geography, biology or geology. Alternate years.
310. Research Methods. 2 semester hours.
Gathering and spatial analysis of data. Prerequisites: A score of 22 on the Math Placement Exam, Geography 101 and 220, 230, 240, or 292. Alternate years.
330. Applied Urban. 2 or 4 semester hours.
Advanced urban analysis. May focus on data acquisition and presentation or on methods of city planning. Prerequisite: Geography 230. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
380. Topics. 2 or 4 semester hours.
Courses on topics related to recent geographical research and investigation. Prerequisite: Geography 101 and/or a related geography course. Some sections are writing intensive. Offered occasionally.
390. Geographical Information Systems. 5 semester hours.
GIS is a spatial analysis lab course involving database management, digitizing and multilayer computer mapping. Prerequisite: Geography 290 or 304. Every year.
490. Independent Study. 2-4 semester hours.
Research by majors or minors on a problem selected by the student in prior consultation with the instructor. Prerequisite: a 200-level geography course. Writing intensive. Every year. This course may be repeated for credit.
491. Internship. 2-4 semester hours.
Work-study experience in an urban governmental or social agency. Prerequisite: A 200-level geography course. Every year. This course may be repeated for credit.
499. Honors Thesis/Project. Variable credit.
Prerequisite: 3.50 GPA and permission of the Department Chair.
