Geography Courses

GEG 101
WORLD NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS
3, 3/0; NSIF
Nature of geography; earth-sun relationships; maps and map interpretation; and classification, distribution, and origins of the major elements of the natural environment: weather, climates, soils, natural vegetation, landforms, and developmental processes.

GEG 102
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
3, 3/0; SSIF
Introduction to cultural geography through the application of five themes: religion, diffusion, ecology, interaction, and landscape. The distribution of value systems, ethnicity, language, religion, and population as indices of human variety. Cultural impacts of globalization.

GEG 120
CAVERN STUDIES
1, 1/0
The development and unique environment of solution caves. Students will explore caves while on a weekend field trip, studying cave development and the formation of depositional features. Other topics include cave climatology, biology, chemistry, and the application of survey/mapping techniques.

GEG/SOC 199
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER USE IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
3, 3/0
Hands-on introduction to the application of computers to applied social research problems. Includes review of past practices, current uses, and future trends. Students analyze data using computers to develop insight into the use of computers for social improvement.

GEG 206
GEOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK STATE
3, 3/0
Landforms, regions, climates, and natural resources; distribution of population; location and functions of cities; development of transportation; utilization and conservation of soil, mineral, forest, wildlife, and water resources; industrial development.

GEG/GES 241
METEOROLOGY
3, 3/0 NSIF
An introduction to weather, including the makeup of the atmosphere, seasonality, heat and radiation balance, temperature, humidity, and precipitation, atmospheric motion, atmospheric pressure, and wind, air masses and fronts, severe weather, meteorological instrumentation, local weather, climate controls, and synoptic forecasting. Includes laboratory modules. Emphasis on the relationship between weather systems, technology, and humans.

GEG 300
WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY
3, 3/0
National and state geography standards; concept of region; map essentials; physical, cultural, economic, and political geography fundamentals within selected regions.

GEG 303
GLOBAL CLIMATOLOGY
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 101.
Study of the earth’s climate through analysis of climatic controls, classification schemes, and feedback cycles. Includes an examination of past climates and global climate change scenarios.

GEG 305
PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: ECO 202.
Introduction to the theoretical study of economic geography; location theory; theoretical spatial distribution of economic activities, including agriculture, manufacturing, urban land use, services, and transportation.

GEG 307
CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
3, 3/0 TSIF
Prerequisite:  One Natural Science Course
Globalization, recent technological advancement, and effects on resource conservation and environmental management in the face of increased pressure from society. Current resources, globalization of environmental issues and pollution, new technologies and economic impacts.

GEG 309
URBAN GEOGRAPHY
3, 3/0; DIIF
Prerequisite: One social science course.
Internal spatial structure of American metropolitan areas and their relationships. Spatial arrangements of land uses; ethnic, racial, and economic composition of the population; dynamics of population growth and change; influence of minorities on cities and suburbs; geographic consequences of poverty and segregation on growth and change; transportation and fiscal problems confronting local governments.

GEG/PLN 310
URBAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 309 or PLN 315.
Comparative study of the modes of transportation, transportation planning, and the benefits and effects of transportation. Emphasis on application to urban transportation. The importance of accessibility to the development of a modern metropolitan transportation system.

GEG 316
WATERSHED POLLUTION
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: CHE 101 or equivalent

An investigation of important pollutants and toxic chemicals generated by anthropogenic activities and their transport, transformation, and fate within watersheds.  Impacts of these pollutants on soil, forest, and aquatic ecosystems using specific case studies.  

GEG/PLN 325
MAPS AND MAP MAKING USING GIS
3, 3/0
Maps as essential form of communication. Geographic information systems (GIS) tools for creating digital and hardcopy maps.  Spatial thinking concepts, principals and methods of mapmaking; map development and display using technology.

GEG/PLN 330
LAND RESOURCE ANALYSIS AND PLANNING
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: PLN 315.
The principles of land resource management, with emphasis on land-use patterns, controls, and policies. Attention to urban, suburban, and rural landuse situations.

GEG 345
BAHAMAS FIELD EXPERIENCE
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: Sophomore or Higher
A 10-day field study of San Salvador, Bahamas. Coral reefs, sand flats, karst landscapes, vegetation, dunes, caves, indigenous peoples, Columbus' landfall, historic sites, island culture. Emphasis on lab and field activities.

GEG 359
ARCTIC GEOGRAPHY FROM AN INUIT PERSPECTIVE
3, 3/0; NWIF
Prerequisite: One social science course.
A study of the physical, political, economic, and cultural environments of Arctic regions from an Inuit perspective. Topics focus on interaction between the Arctic environment and its peoples before and after Euro-American contact. Students will also study contemporary issues in today’s Arctic.

GEG 360
GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA
3, 3/0; NWIF
Prerequisite: One social science course.
A regional geographic analysis of south, east, and southeast Asia. Overview of the continent’s natural environment. Examination of the principal elements of the cultural environment: demography and ethnicity, urbanization, economy, and political structure. Interaction between the physical and cultural environments.

GEG 362
GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: One social science course.
Basic geographic elements of North America, including the natural environment, natural resources, economic activities, population, and urbanization.

GEG 364
GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE
3, 3/0; WCIF
Prerequisite: One social science course.
Physiographic regions, landforms, climate, vegetation, soils, and drainage patterns. Culture regions, language, religion, population, migration, politics, economics, and impacts on the natural environment. Interdependence of regions within Europe and within the global context. Excludes the former Soviet Union.

GEG 365
SOIL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 101 or GES 101.
Introduction to the study of soils, including physical and chemical properties, weathering and soil formation, productivity and management for agriculture, soil erosion and conservation, engineering properties, soil classification. Includes regular laboratory assignments and fieldwork to enhance understanding of soil properties.

GEG 375
PRINCIPLES OF HYDROLOGY
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 101 or GES 101.
Principles of hydrology and its relationship to water resource management. Emphasis on describing the processes governing surface and groundwater movement. Field trip provides example of the practical application of hydrologic principles.

GEG 382
WEATHER FORECASTING
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: Upper-division status andGEG 101 , or GEG 241 or GES 241.
A focus on synoptic and dynamic meteorology, as applied to weather forecasting. Weather conditions will be diagnosed using various case studies. Learn how to develop and to present weather forecasts. Emphasis on practice and interpretation of daily weather and modeled data.

GEG 383
SEVERE AND UNUSUAL WEATHER
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: GEG 101,  or GEG 241 or GES 241 or equivalent.
In-depth look at meteorological phenomena related to severe and unusual weather-related events and patterns, weather analysis tools, climate-change outlooks, and social implications; planning and management strategies to prepare and respond to severe and unusual weather.

GEG 384
ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: Upper-division status.
Study of the earth’s atmosphere as a unique place. Emphasis on atmospheric structure and composition, dynamics of motion, moisture and clouds, atmospheric chemistry, regional and local air pollution, aurora displays, and optical phenomena. Includes a study of atmospheres ranging from those of other planets to indoor air.

GEG 385
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 101.
Methods and theories used in reconstructing and dating past climates. Focus on the past 2 million years, including such proxies as ice cores, sediment sequences, packrat middens, tree rings, corals, and historical data. Causes of climate change and human interactions emphasized.

GEG 386
APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: Upper-division status; GEG 101 , GEG 241 or GES 241.
Use of climatic information in various aspects of our lives to solve practical problems with environmental, social, and economic implications. The importance of climate on agriculture, human health, severe weather management, litigation, commerce, architecture, and city planning.

GEG 390
QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN GEOGRAPHY AND PLANNING
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: Upper-division status and GEG 199 or CIS 101 or competence in  computing.
Introduction to statistical methods with a focus on spatial and time-series data analysis in geography and planning applications. Statistical theory is reinforced through application of commonly used computer software to solve real-world problems.

GEG/PLN 396W
RESEARCH METHODS
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: GEG 199 , CIS 101 or competency in computing; GEG/PLN 390, and 6 upper division credits in GEG/PLN courses.
Research theories, designs, and methods relevant to conducting research in geography and planning.  Research designs and methodologies for approaches with human subjects, human/social geography, physical geography, field-based research, and planning projects. Development of a research project proposal.

GEG 405
URBAN ANALYSIS USING GIS
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 309 and GEG 425.
Growth of cities in a national system. Relationships among cities. Regional growth within the national system. Central place theory and urban hierarchies. Role of urban geography in urban planning. The role of planning on a regional scale.

GEG 409
INDUSTRIAL GEOGRAPHY
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: Upper-division status.
The manufacturing sector, firms, and industrial location process and activities that have taken place in the United States; production methods and processes; industrial districts and the principal factors that affect the locations of firms; local and regional development; globalization.

GEG 415
PROSEMINAR
3, 3/0
Investigation, examination, and discussion of topics of current interest in geography. Techniques and analysis of geographic research.

GEG 416
GEOGRAPHIES OF DEVELOPMENT
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: Upper Division Status
Examination of development theories, progress, issues, and challenges in developing regions around the globe. In-depth analyses of factors influencing development policies and outcomes, as well as the impact of globalization on development efforts and practices in developing areas around the world.

GEG 419
GLOBALIZATION, TECHNOLOGY, COMPETITION, AND SERVICE ECONOMIES
3, 3/0 TSIF
Examination of globalization, technological advancements in recent years, and their effects on the service industry and competitiveness of firms and nations. In-depth studies of the U.S. service sector, competitve strategies, globalization, and new technologies.

GEG 421
WATERSHED ANALYSIS
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: Upper-division status, GEG 101 or GES 101.
Introduction to the systematic analysis of stream dynamics of watersheds and the impact of humans on these dynamics. Emphasizes the importance of physical, chemical, and biological processes in watershed management. Class discussion and a class project will focus on a practical watershed assessment problem.

GEG 423/523
BIOGEOGRAPHY
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Global patterns of species distributions and the historic, environmental, and biological processes underlying these patterns. Spatial patterns of nature’s geographic variation at multiple levels, from individuals to ecosystems to biomes. Impacts of humans and climate change on biogeography.

GEG 425
FUNDAMENTALS OF GIS
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 199 or CIS 101 or competence in computing, and GEG/PLN 325.
Principles and methods of spatial data capture, automation, models and structures of spatial databases, spatial analysis, visualization, and map display in Geographic information systems (GIS) environment. Fundamentals of spatial analytical methods including spatial database query, location and geographic coordinate concepts, spatial geocoding, buffering, map overlay, and spatial modeling.

GEG 427
CORPORATE APPLICATIONS IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: GEG 199 , CIS 101 ,or competency in computing; upper-division status.
This course is composed of a series of lectures, class assignments, and projects that are designed to teach students the fundamentals and application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geographic analysis within a business environment. Students learn how to conduct specialized business GIS-related projects. These projects range from data integration to market assessment and site assessment.

GEG 428
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING APPLICATIONS IN GIS
3, 1.5/1.5
Prerequisite: GEG 425 or equivalent.
Advanced concepts of GIS with a focus on spatial analytical applications in GIS for environmental assessment and planning. GIS theories and software implementations are presented through lecture and hands-on practice to solve real-world environmental and planning problems.

GEG 429
ADVANCED TOPICS IN GIS
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: GEG 425; GEG 427 or GEG 428; and GEG 390 or equivalent statistics course.
Builds from the topics covered in GEG 425, focusing more on digital representation of the human and physical environments, including location referencing from a human perspective, database design, data quality issues (how to identify and document errors), spatial statistical analysis using GIS, the fourth dimension (time) in GIS, and understanding spatial analysis algorithms and models. Introduces programming in a GIS environment.

GEG 430W
SENIOR THESIS
3, 3/0 OCIF
Prerequisites: GEG /PLN390 and GEG/PLN 396 and senior geography and planning major. 
Research in geography or planning and presentation of selected research-related topics.

GEG 461
ISSUES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
3, 3/0 OCIF
Prerequisite: GEG 360 and Junior or Senior standing
Geography, environmental problems, and solutions using a sustainable development framework, are explored for countries of Southeast Asia. Sustainable development and environmental management theory is examined in the context of case studies for the region.

GEG 478
GLOBAL CHANGE
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 101.
Interdisciplinary study of the principles needed to understand human impacts on the natural environment. Climate variability and global warming; nutrient cycling; land-use issues; connections and feedbacks among climate, ecosystems, and biogeochemistry; impacts of global change on society; policy measures; potential solutions.

GEG 480
AIR POLLUTION APPLICATIONS
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: Upper-division status; GEG 101, GEG 199 or an equivalent course, GEG 384, GEG 390 or an equivalent course.
Receptor, dispersion, and risk-assessment modeling techniques to determine the source, fate, and impact of air pollutants. Overview of atmospheric deposition, regional transport, and global circulation models.

GEG 485
INTERACTIVE AND WEB-BASED MAPPING
3, 3/0
Prerequisite: GEG 425.
Different approaches to communicating with maps on the Internet. How to create Web-based mapping applications.

GEG 488
INTERNSHIP
Variable credit
Prerequisites: GEG 101, 6 credit hours of geography or planning coursework at the upper division level, minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, background of courses or experience within area of interest, advisor and department chair permission.
Guided, supervised field experiences that complement the academic program.