2009-2010 UNIVERSITY CATALOGUE

GEOG - Geography

104 The Physical Environment
4 crs (3-2). F, Sp, Su.
GE-IIC; LS
Credit may be earned in only one of the following: GEOG 101,
GEOG 102, GEOG 104, GEOG 106, GEOG 110, or GEOL 106
Special course fee required
Introduction to the spatial relations and interactions among the earth’s dynamic systems-atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere (weather, climate, landforms, soils, and ecosystems).

111 Human Geography
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp, Su.
GE-IIIC; FC; CD1
The basic elements, processes, distributions, and problems associated with cultural groups: their principal ways of life, interrelationships with the natural environment, and socio-cultural diversity. Topics include: population, race, language, religion, political ideologies, and economic systems.

155 Economic Geography
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-IIIC
Classical location models of production, exchange, consumption, and development with special emphasis on the space economy of the United States.

178 Conservation of the Environment
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp, Su.
GE-IIC
No credit if taken after BIOL 180
Field trip(s) required. Satisfies requirement for Wisconsin teaching licensure in science and social science.
The use and abuse of environmental resources and the problems involved in their management and conservation.

188 Cultural Landscapes of North America
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IIIC; CD2
Explores the cultural landscapes of North America, with attention to rural-urban differences, cross-national comparisons, and landscapes of the past, present, and future.

200 Geography Techniques
3 crs (2-2). F, Sp.
(Formerly GEOG 199)
Not for GE
An introduction to the primary computer techniques used in geography, including computer mapping and spatial analysis.

270 Land Use Issues and Problems
3 crs (3-0). F.
Not for GE
Field trip(s) required
Basic concepts and philosophies of land use, including techniques and methodology of land use analysis.

280 Introduction to Cartography
3 crs (2-2). F, Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 200 recommended
The elements of cartography. Emphasis on the graphic expression of geographical and statistical data for reproduction on maps.

301 Geography of Western Europe
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IIIC; FC
Europe west of the former Soviet Bloc countries, with emphasis on physical, biotic, and cultural themes which unify the region. Includes the national level of regionalization. Utilizes aspects of history, politics, literature, and physical geography.

304 Introduction to Geomorphology
4 crs (2-4).
(Formerly GEOG 360)
Not for GE
P: GEOG 104 or GEOL 106 or GEOL 110 or GEOL 115
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
An introduction to physical processes that affect the Earth’s surface and the landforms that result. The techniques of investigating landforms (field/laboratory) and the fundamentals of communicating the results will be covered.

308 Geography of Russia and Eastern Europe
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IIIC; FC
Examination of natural and human resources, economic and political organization of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Special attention to ideological and institutional problems of population growth, nationalities, and regional development.

319 Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-IIIC; FC
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Examination of the physical, cultural, economic, and political geography of the Middle East and North Africa. Emphasis placed on understanding the region’s people, places, cultures, nature-society relationships, and the roots of conflict.

321 /521 Geography of Latin America
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
GE-IIIC; FC
Cross-listed with LAS 321
Credit may not be earned in both GEOG 321 and LAS 321
The physical and cultural landscapes of Latin America, including North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean Islands, with attention to the major cultural, economic, social, and political currents of each region.

322 /522 Native Geographies
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-IIIC; CD3
Cross-listed with AIS 322
Credit may not be earned in both GEOG 322 and AIS 322
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
The historical and contemporary relationships of American Indians to place, including land use and environmental issues, indigenous mapping techniques, sacred sites, territorial nationhood, and legal rights to ceded and sovereign lands. The course also provides insight into the unique cultures of indigenous peoples around the world.

325 Geography of the United States and Canada
3 crs (3-0). F, even-numbered years.
GE-IIIC; CD1
Introduces geographic concepts of region, nature-society relationships and spatial organization to compare and contrast Canada, the United States, and places within them. Maps used to explore and understand spatial patterns in the human experience and physical environment.

328 Quantitative Methods in Geography
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 200 recommended
An introduction to the quantitative methods commonly used to test hypotheses in geography with an emphasis on interpretation of results produced by statistical software rather than underlying mathematical structure. Topics include measures of central tendency, mean center, nearest neighbor, Chi-square tests, simple and multiple correlation and regression, and factor analysis.

335 /535 Geographic Information Systems
3 crs (2-2). F.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 200 recommended
Introduction to the fundamental concepts of GIS technology and the utilization of spatial data for solving geographic problems. Raster and vector approaches to spatial processing are examined. Special emphasis is given to raster based systems.

338 /538 Remote Sensing of the Environment
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 200 recommended
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Descriptive interpretation of remote-sensing images from ground, aerial, and space platforms.

339 Computer Mapping
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 200 and 280
Introduction to the uses of computers in the design and construction of maps. Topics include digitizing tasks, the organization and utilization of mapping software, and the production of computer-drawn maps.

340 Climatology
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 104
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Comprehensive study of climatic phenomena with emphasis on global heat and water balances, daily weather analysis, climate classification, and climate change.

345 Quaternary Environments
3 crs (3-0). Sp, even-numbered years.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 304
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Causes, history, and effects of the Ice Ages, including the study of climatic changes, related oceanic and biological disruptions, Ice Age landforms; also, the characteristics and world distribution of modern glaciers.

350 /550 Soils and the Environment
4 crs (2-4). F.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 104 or GEOL 110 or GEOL 115; and GEOG 304 or
GEOL 312
Audit enrollment not allowed
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Instructor approval required
Study of soil properties, formation processes, and classification with emphasis on fieldwork, application of soil information to resource management and land use, and technical report writing.

352 Business Geographics
3 crs (3-0). Sp, even-numbered years.
SL-Optional/Half; Not for GE
P: GEOG 328, or MATH 245 or MATH 246
Business applications of geographic analysis and Geographic Information Systems techniques. Emphasis on threshold analysis, target market research, market area analysis, and retail site location. Approximately 25 hours of field work will be conducted during the semester. Extensive use of GIS software, large spatial databases, and database manipulation required.

355 Biogeography
4 crs (2-4). F, even-numbered years.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 104
Field trip(s) required
The study of the past and present geographic distributions of organisms, primarily plants, from historical, ecological, and regional perspectives. Emphasis is on principles and methods. Regional focus on the Great Lakes.

361 Environmental Hazards
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IIC
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
The course focuses on environmental hazards and disasters (including geomorphic, atmospheric, and human): how the normal processes of the earth concentrate their energies and deal destructive blows to humans and their structures.

363 Watershed Analysis
4 crs (3-2). F.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 104 or GEOL 110 or GEOL 115; and GEOG 304 or
GEOL 312
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Instructor approval required
Watershed-based study of surface-water hydrologic processes and the factors (climate, soils, vegetation, land use) that affect them. Particular emphasis placed on investigations of watersheds in the Eau Claire area.

364 Fluvial Processes and Landforms
4 crs (3-2). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 104 or GEOL 110 or GEOL 115; and GEOG 304 or
GEOL 312
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Instructor approval required
Study of river processes and the landforms that result from them, including how processes and landforms respond to natural and anthropogenic environmental change. Investigations of streams in the Eau Claire area emphasized.

365 Tourism Geographies
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp.
GE-IIIC
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Exploration of outdoor recreation resources in the U.S. with emphasis on their diverse recreational amenities; societal and personal leisure values; related user problems; management solutions.

367 Landscape Analysis: Cultural
1-3 crs.
GE-IIIC
Minimum sophomore standing
Field trip(s) required
Geographic analysis of cultural landscapes by means of field experiences.

368 Landscape Analysis: Physical
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 304
Minimum sophomore standing
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Geographic analysis of physical landscapes by means of field experiences.

369 Geography of Food
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-IIIC; FC
P: A geography course is recommended
Minimum sophomore standing
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Explores foods of the world, with attention to the cultures and environments from which they emerged, changing nature/society relationships, and the implications of globalization, economic growth, and technological innovations.

375 Environmental Quality
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
GE-IIIC
P: GEOG 178 or BIOL 180 recommended
Special course fee required
Society’s impact on the quality of the environment. The role of cultural attitudes, population, economic systems, technology, and political institutions in creating environmental problems.

378 International Environmental Problems and Policy
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-IIIC; FC
Examination of the threats to the global environment and the response of the international community.

379 /579 Geography of Wisconsin
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
GE-IIIC
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
A geographic analysis of Wisconsin and its people, with emphasis on cultural and environmental characteristics, patterns of land use, and changing ways of life.

388 Military Geography
3 crs (3-0). F.
Not for GE
Field trip(s) required
Instructor approval required
Explores the diversity of military geography by linking military affairs to the human and physical landscape. Examines how the environment influences military activities, how military activities impact the environment, and how technology has influenced the changing geographic dimensions of conflict.

395 /595 Directed Studies
1-3 crs. F, Sp, Su.
Not for GE
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
Directed study of a geographic problem approved by the supervising instructor and the Department Chair.

399 Independent Study - Juniors
1-3 crs. F, Sp, Su.
Not for GE
P: Limited to geography majors and minors
Minimum junior standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
An intensive study of a geographic topic resulting in a quality paper or report suitable for publication.

401 Capstone Seminar
3 crs. Sp.
Not for GE; CP
P: Core courses (except capstone courses) required for
all geography majors
Course may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits
One week of directed field work is required.
Designed to integrate theory and methodology, quantitative, and cartographic techniques, and field work to serve as a “capstone experience” for geography majors. Literature review, research design, data collection, and presentation skills are stressed.

435 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
3 crs (2-2). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 335
No credit if taken after GEOG 491 when offered as Advanced Geographic Information Systems.
This course will advance students’ knowledge of theoretical concepts and skills in geographic information systems in science. Emphasis will be placed on application of these concepts and skills in geospatial analysis.

438 Advanced Remote Sensing
3 crs (2-2). F, odd-numbered years.
Not for GE
P: GEOG 338
Field trip(s) required
Explores the theory and methodology of applied remote sensing. Focus is on the principals of electromagnetic radiation, interaction of solar radiation with earth’s atmosphere and various surface classes, remote sensing systems, and digital image processing.

445 Historical Geography
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-IIIC
P: GEOG 178 or BIOL 180
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Examines how human activities have impacted the natural world, how attitudes toward nature have shifted over time, and how human activities and attitudes have altered our landscape. Emphasis is on United States environmental history.

446 Political Geography
3 crs (3-0). Sp, even-numbered years.
GE-IIIC
A systematic analysis of the distribution of political activity and the relationship of that pattern to other spatial phenomena. Emphasis on national states and international problems.

470 Urban Geography
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
CD1; Not for GE
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Considers (1) cities as systems of service, trade, and manufacturing centers; (2) the internal structure of cities with emphasis on residential, commercial, and industrial patterns. North American urban places and solutions are stressed.

491 Special Topics
1-3 crs. F, Sp, Su.
Not for GE
P: Limited to geography majors and minors
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
No more than six credits may be applied to the geography major or minor.
Instructor approval required
Special topics will vary, depending on interests of students and faculty. Topics will include specific micro- regions and systematic approaches in geography.

498 Community Internship - Geography
1-3 crs. F, Sp, Su.
SL-Full; Not for GE; CP
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
The practical application of geographic knowledge and skills off-campus. Student will hold a part-time assignment in a community organization and receive credit toward a major or minor in geography.

499 Independent Study - Seniors
1-3 crs. F, Sp, Su.
Not for GE
P: Limited to geography majors and minors
Minimum senior standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
Same as Geog 399, except for senior majors only.

797 Independent Study/Graduate
1-3 crs. F, Sp, Su.
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
An intensive study of a geographic topic resulting in a paper suitable for publication.