Geography (GEOG)

An introduction to the use of geospatial tools, such as geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS) and remote sensing, applied to a variety of areas, including cultural geography, environmental science, ecology, geology and public planning.

This course promotes global understanding through the study of humans, their institutions and processes, and the resulting interactions between humans and the environment. The course will include the study of western and non-western peoples and their social, cultural, political and economic relationships. May be used for general education credit.

This course gives an introduction to the Geography program, its curriculum and faculty research. It provides students with an understanding of the discipline of Geography and their potential skills, knowledge, and expertise as geographers. Students learn about research and major course opportunities, as well as preparing for their career and further academic study. Students also get the opportunity to plan their curricular options through the Geography major.

This introductory course is an examination of systems and processes that influence patterns of Earth's atmosphere, biotic communities, soils and landforms at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Included are classroom and laboratory experiences that are geared toward investigating interrelationships among atmospheric conditions, Earth's natural surface characteristics and human-induced modifications of Earth's features.

This course introduces the fundamental principles of geographic information systems, including various data models and their spatial relationships. Students learn to make maps and to process and analyze spatial data. The course also explores the use of many types of geospatial data. Students learn how these data can be used to aid visualization and decision-making.

An introduction to satellite and aerial imagery, satellite navigation, and computer fundamentals. Students will learn the science behind these technologies, and lab exercises will give students hands-on experience with satellite navigation systems and interpreting and processing many types of satellite and aerial imagery. Environmental and human applications will be featured.

Introduction to the critical thinking skills associated with problems with inherent spatial components. Identification of the spatial elements of a given problem, the data requirements for addressing that problem, collections/acquisitions and organization of data, and use of geographic information systems to explore spatial patterns relevant to the problem of interest.

This course introduces the geographical sub-discipline of human geography. Framed by the spatial dimensions of social science and drawing from critical, qualitative, and quantitative approaches, the course analyzes a range of global and local processes within human geography. Topics include, but are not limited to, culture, migration, resource use, geopolitics, religious diversity, colonization, demographics, urbanization, sustainability, agricultural systems and globalization. Students will utilize key theoretical and conceptual tools to explore these subject areas through the main sub-fields of economic, cultural and political geography, as well as in an introduction to human-environment interactions.

This course is designed to give students an overview of the various types of natural disasters; a look at the world regions that are most vulnerable to each type of disaster; and, a preview of disaster planning, management, relief and response as related to natural disasters.

Topics from the classical period to the modern period include 20th century theories and paradigm shifts involving cultural geography, physical geography, human-environment traditions, regional geographies and modeling. Diverse philosophies such as quantitative /positivist, qualitative/humanistic, social theory, and GIS are viewed for their contributions to the discipline of geography.

This course focuses on the interaction and integration of human and physical environments. It uses geographical approaches to examine relationships between people and the natural world, and it explores the origins and implications of the perceived separation of humans and nature. At a variety of scales, and using case studies, issues of resource use, environmental and human vulnerability, global and local environmental change, landscape modification, and human impacts on natural systems are explored. Along with the close analysis of spatial patterns and processes in the natural world, questions of politics, economics, culture, perception, justice and ethics may be considered in the examination of human-environment interactions.

Courses cover environmental issues such as air pollution, forest and wildlife management, water, resource management, soils and land use, and energy and the environment (among other topics). Courses examine the interface between humans and environmental systems while addressing the impact of social, economic and political systems and activities on the environment. May be repeated as course content changes.

This course exposes students to the methods and techniques commonly used by geographers while conducting fieldwork. The course will cover identifying and defining a researchable project, designing and testing data collection methods, and different methods of collecting, recording and presenting data. Students will also become familiar with various types of field equipment.

This course investigates the dynamics of land use and land cover change, including the policies that are created to influence and respond to change. Students will learn about numerous land use types, such as commercial and residential land, forest and grassland, farmland, and land set aside for resource extraction. The course addresses human drivers of land use change and the effects of change on environmental factors such as climate, air and water quality, and biodiversity. Students will also examine spatial patterns by learning methods for detection, monitoring, and analysis.

This course covers four distinct areas: the foundation of agriculture, the nature and distribution of soils on a global basis; the history of agriculture from the original selection of domestic crops to the 20th century; modern industrial agriculture and trade; and alternatives to chemical and energy intensive agriculture in the 21st century.

Throughout history, infectious diseases have profoundly affected human populations. Using a case study approach, this course will give students an opportunity to investigate social and historical aspects of infectious disease as well as the microbiology, genetics, biochemistry and medical aspects of human infectious diseases and diet.

Examines the basic principles of resource use including geographic, economic, social and political processes. Explores concepts underlying such issues as resource consumption and conservation, environmental perception, resource and environmental conflict, population growth and control, carrying capacity, and the evolution of the environmental movement.

The systematic study of the atmosphere with emphasis on such phenomena as temperature, pressure, humidity, air masses and fronts; the occurrence of these phenomena on a global basis; and a detailed survey of the worldwide distribution of climate types.

This course examines the interrelationship of the physical nature of the climate system, climate variability and change, and human activities. Case studies (El Nino, global warming, and stratospheric ozone depletion) are used to investigate how climate affects society, how human activities affect climate, and how non-climatic issues complicate our understanding of the relationship between climate and society. We consider how projections of future weather and climate affect decision-making.

This course adopts a case study approach to explore a series of environmental hazards (e.g., ozone depletion, El Niño, abrupt climate change) as examples of risk management. For each case, students will learn the scientific principles underlying the hazard and examine how social and economic policies can be developed and implemented to mitigate the perceived risk.

The course will examine the human and physical geography of the development of modern-day Virginia, providing an overview of its prehistory, then tracing its development from the beginning of the seventeenth century through the present. The course will include an analysis of Virginia's population, resources, and regional landscapes as they have been influenced by physical, cultural, historical, and economic factors. The relationship of Virginia to the rest of the world will also be examined.

Geographic assessment of regional and national characteristics of the European nations.

A survey of the physical and cultural environments of China, Taiwan, Japan, the Koreas, Indochina and the countries of Southeast Asia. Topics covered include weather and climate, physiography, natural resources, population characteristics, political systems, aspects of the economy and the role that each country plays on the regional and world stage.

An introduction to the regional geography of Sub-Saharan Africa that examines the physical geography of the continent, the historical roots of its present political geography, the consequences of its colonial past on communities and cultures as well as its natural resources. Students will examine continental issues such as resource management, food production, hunger, disease patterns and management of wildlife.

This course will focus on interactions between earth surface systems and social environments to demonstrate the complexity of natural hazards, and particularly those of Southeast Asia. Through regional geography, students will learn differing adaptation mechanisms of societies and cultures unique to the area and some of the natural hazards within the region.

A study of countries in Latin America which includes their physical landforms, weather and climate, biogeography, natural resource base, attitudes toward the physical environment, characteristics of the economy, the current political role in international activities, and population characteristics that include growth rate, distribution, migration and ethnicity.

Exploration of the Philippines focuses on poverty, environmental conservation, resource exploitation and ecosystem degradation in upland and marine environments. Topics include population dynamics, political pressure and instability, and urban challenges. The future of the country is investigated on all geographic scales with regard to its role in a globalized world economy.

This course is designed to give students a general geographical overview of the islands states and territories surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. Students will study physical landforms, weather and climate, environmental issues, population characteristics, history, local and regional politics, and economic aspects of political units in the region.

This course emphasizes geographical biogeography and is as an advanced physical geography class. Included are analyses of spatial patterns of biota from local to global scales and examinations of the systems and processes that result in spatial and temporal patterns of species existence and diversity, community composition, energy pathways, adaptive traits, and human influences on biotic systems and processes.

Wilderness issues pertaining to legislation, legal mandates and management are examined. Human impacts due to overuse or conflicting uses are studied, as are the philosophical aspects of wilderness ethics. Practical wilderness knowledge, needed to safely and responsibly enjoy wilderness, is also studied. This course may include an overnight field activity.

This course provides a managerial perspective for protection and management of natural resources. A systems approach for applied management strategies is provided for aquatic, terrestrial, threatened and endangered ecosystems. Topics include application of state, federal, international laws, regulations, policies and guidelines. Students develop management plans and explore jurisdictional resource protection issues.

An introductory discussion of applied management strategies for wildlife species and their ecological requirements is provided relative to human influences. Management techniques that are useful for determining population or health status are demonstrated for select vertebrate species. The evolution of wildlife laws, policies, and management strategies are addressed to provide relevant awareness into the appropriate concepts of wildlife management.

An overview of the classification of economic activities, the factors involved in the location of various types of economic activities and the regional variation in the standard of living associated with economic development. Additional topics include regional economic growth and types of economic systems and development perspectives, the roles that politics and demographics play in the economic development of a country, and the globalization of economic activities.

This course provides a geographical perspective on poverty faced by communities and countries of the world today. The focus is on how poverty is defined, measured and mapped, the causes and impacts of poverty, theories for ending poverty and organizations that work to address poverty. It includes a geographical study of communities and countries that have successfully alleviated extreme poverty.

This course introduces indigenous geographic representations. Topics include territorial sovereignty, traditional resource use, sustainable development, and protection of sacred sites. Students will explore the central geographic practice of cartography, which has taken on new meaning as cultural identification for Indigenous peoples. The use of new technologies to represent traditional understandings of Earth is also explored.

Examination of geographic topics that are of current interest. Can be repeated as course content changes.

This course provides fundamental and advanced instruction in global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) technology. Topics include the history and development of GNSS, system operation, the integration of satellite and ground components, applications, and visualization. Active learning allows students to operate different models of receivers, minimize field error, gather and differentially correct data, and import the finished project into a GIS for further analysis. Students will form teams to design, execute and present a formal project to a client.

In responding to humanitarian crises, governments and aid organizations must deploy aid workers, deliver essential services, set up temporary settlements, and distribute items such as water and food that are needed for survival. Spatial analysis and maps are critical to the success of these efforts. In this course, students learn the basics of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for humanitarian assistance and learn how relief organizations use GIS in their work.

This course examines the fundamentals of visualizing spatial data in static and dynamic environments. Students will learn about cartographic design, thematic cartographic techniques and geographic visualization. Students will develop a broad portfolio of reference and thematic maps.

An in-depth course in geographic information science and its role in technology and society. Spatial databases and descriptive data will be created and implemented into various geographic information systems. Advanced operations will be used to explore the analysis capabilities of geographic information systems.

Geographic information science relies on programming for effective geospatial analysis for large datasets and the automation of resource-intensive analytical methods. This course advances the knowledge of programming for geographic information systems. In addition to providing a solid foundation in Python programming language, the course introduces several libraries and applications that are commonly used for working with geospatial data in GIS software.

This advanced human geography course spatially investigates the human population, with emphases on public policy, inequality and current events throughout. Major topics include population measurement, distribution and structure, social stratification, fertility, health, aging and mortality, environment and resource dynamics, migration across spatial and temporal scales of analysis, and community geography.

Geopolitical conflicts and issues are examined. Concepts such as territoriality, nationalism, religious and ethnic struggle, environmental degradation, and freedom and justice are discussed in the context of political unrest. Significant geopolitical theories, and social and economic processes are explored.

This course offers a study of the city in its geographic setting, giving perspective of modern urban problems, the origin and growth of cities, and the influence of location on city functions. This course also looks at the internal structure of cities and the influence of the internal structure on its population groups.

This course introduces the field and practice of feminist geography with emphasis on understanding gender and other social categories such as race, class and sexuality through a geographic perspective. Concepts and topics examined include the relationship of such identities to spatial politics, culture, knowledge and social justice.

Introduction to cultural geography with emphasis on diversity of language, religion and folklore, as well as culture traits and practices and their historical diffusion. Ties to livelihood, the rural-urban continuum and demographic change are explored, as are foci on philosophy, power, race, class and gender. Exploitation and sustainability will be introduced as dimensions of cultural and environmental interaction.

This is an intermediate course on imagery and other type of data acquired by satellites, aircraft and remote piloted aircraft systems (drones). Image processing techniques will be emphasized, and topics covered will include data collection and selection, geometric and radiometric correction, image transformations, image classification and feature extraction, change detection, photogrammetry, as well as specialized techniques for hyperspectral and thermal imagery, and radar and LiDAR data. Applications across multiple areas of geography will be discussed.

Professional development for students in geography. Educational opportunities and career options. Library and literature research skills.

This course teaches forest measurement at the tree, plot, stand, and forest levels. It includes heights, stem diameters, volumes and biomasses of individual trees; fixed and variable radius plots; basal area estimates; sampling designs, and stand and stock table construction. Students learn how geospatial technologies can be used to collect data on forests, make forest inventories more accurate and precise, and assist in performing forest-related analyses and visualizations.

This course is concerned with the intersection of geography and film. An always-present undercurrent focuses on films whose location and/or culture are an essential backdrop in the cinematic experience.

This seminar analyzes human-environment interactions as shaped by cultural perceptions, past events and ecological processes. Place-based and interdisciplinary, landscape studies focus on the unique circumstances of a location and shift temporal and geographic scales to achieve broader understandings of cultural and ecological adaptation and resilience. Methods of historical ecology and field research are introduced. Regional projects underscore readings and research assignments.

Humans face water challenges that can be understood through the lens of geography. Students will study different physical aspects of Earth's water, including the hydrologic cycle, climate controls of precipitation, river basin hydrology, water quality and availability, and aquatic ecosystems. The course investigates human dimensions of water such as economics, disease, management and planning, conflict, and the future of water resources.

This course examines present global environmental impacts and efforts made to change production and consumption patterns toward those that reduce impact on ecosystems or promote increased ecosystems health. The focus lies in understanding the basic resources of productivity including soils, agricultural systems, agroforestry, forestry and aquatic environments and applying solutions on a personal and community level.

This course provides an integrated view of atmospheric science with a focus on the structure, evolution and dynamics of mid-latitude weather systems. Topics include the theoretical development of conceptual models and analysis techniques for synoptic waves, cyclones, fronts, jets and regional precipitation events.

This course emphasizes physical and human-oriented processes that influence Earth's biodiversity. It addresses how human constructs influence what is known about biodiversity and the conservation of biodiversity. It introduces human challenges that are causing a decline in biodiversity and resultant impacts on human quality of life. The course builds on knowledge from prerequisites and will be taught through a current biogeography theme such as biodiversity in a changing world, applied island biogeography, biodiversity conservation at multiple scales or other pertinent themes.

This course is a geographic exploration of basic controls of climate, the world's climate regions, global circulation models and the worldwide collection of data. Students will investigate climate change for various places on the surface of the Earth by analyzing atmospheric data from online sources. They will also explore historic patterns of extreme weather events through review of material in the scientific literature and in news reports. Finally, students will investigate what scientists are predicting for the future for the places under study. As a project-driven course, students will formally present their research at the end of the semester.

This course focuses on learning innovative mapping techniques and exploring different forms of traditional and interactive map design. It addresses the mapping styles and techniques of expert cartographers and focuses on advanced techniques for map composition, feature symbology, terrain representation and web mapping. With more time dedicated to each project, the course will be conducted in a workshop setting for students to share their ideas with one another and get more in-depth feedback as they move forward.

The course examines varying topical issues in geographic information science. The course may be repeated as course topics vary.

An introduction to the creation, use, and management of digital spatial data used by industry and government. Integration of large spatial data sets into the geographic information system, data management and data exchange and the geodetic transformation of data sets are emphasized. Digital elevation models, land use data, population data, digital topographic map and street network data will be used.

An introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) project management. Basic project management techniques will be applied by defining, designing, implementing and documenting a geographic information system.

The course advances the knowledge of GIS in theory and practice by focusing on specific application areas. Spatial databases and complex attribute data will be created, and GIS modeling techniques will be used to solve problems relevant to the specified topical area. The course may be repeated once for additional credit when the topic changes.

This capstone seminar integrates the student's previous class experiences to provide a holistic exploration of linkages between environmental conservation and human development status and strategies through in-depth analysis of compelling human-environment issues. Topics vary by semester and include environmental politics, global perspectives on population, sustainable communities and global biodiversity. For majors and minors only.

This seminar explores ways to make cities more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Students will study key urban sustainability principles, examine global case studies, undertake local fieldwork and pursue projects developing interventions in real-world city settings. The course emphasizes a geographical approach in addressing urban human and environmental challenges.

This course examines the gendered nature of local, global and everyday geographies. Concepts and theories explored emphasize how gender and other social categories such as race, class and sexuality intersect with geographic concepts of space, place and scale. Specific topics may vary by semester and emphasize human, human-environment or other geographic foci.

This course allows students to explore a variety of advanced remote sensing techniques and applications. As part of the course, students will complete one or more projects in which they use remotely sensed data to help address geography-related problems.

This is an advanced course on image processing using cloud-based remote sensing. The course covers basic processing techniques such as PCA, Tasseled-cap and temporal compositing, as well as advanced techniques such as spectral mixture analysis, time series analysis and multi-sensor fusion. The course emphasizes the utilization of large quantities of remote sensing data and cloud-based processing tools for environmental applications. Examples will be given from a range of remote sensing systems and applications, with a focus on land remote sensing for monitoring environmental changes. Previous experience in coding is recommended.

Working with a research advisor, student completes an internship, a study abroad program, or project research. Student delivers interim progress reports and an annotated bibliography or other relevant research products. May be repeated once.

Student will make arrangements for the international experience. A research project or work-study project will be designed by the student and faculty member prior to departure. The research or work will be carried out in the country of travel. May not be taken for capstone credit. Project must be approved by GS faculty. May be repeated for credit.

Practical experience within a public agency, non-profit or private business utilizing geographic methodology. Work experience will be supervised by an official of the business or agency and a faculty member. Written reports are required. Can be taken for a total of six credits. May not be taken for capstone credit.

Student completes an independent research project, either alone or within an investigative team, to identify and analyze a geographic problem or phenomenon, and provides a written report and public presentation on the problem analysis and solution. Taken during final semester of the GS program.

Student performs an independent research project, either alone or within an investigative team, to identify and analyze a problem from a geographic perspective. May be taken for repeated credit. May not be taken for capstone credit.