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Major

Major-teaching

Minor

Minor-teaching

Minor-GISSA

Minor--Environmental Geography

Courses

Academic Standards

Test out and credit by exam policy

 

 
Geography
(College of Letters and Science)
Keith Rice, Chair of Geography/Geology Department
Room D-332, Science Building
Phone: 715-346-2629
E-mail: geoggeol@uwsp.edu
 Web: www.uwsp.edu/geo/

Faculty: K Hefferan, N Heywood, E Larsen, K Lemke, J Lu, D Ozsvath, K Rice, M Ritter, K Ryavec.

Definition: Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.

Geography Major
Consists of a minimum of 40 credits including the required core courses and one of the three options listed below. Note that if you elect to pursue more than one option in the major, it may extend your time to degree.

Required core courses, 22 credits: Geography 101, 120, 276, 279, 280, 390, 480(3 cr) or 485(3 cr) or 490 or 491.

Select one option:

  1. Physical Environment option:

  1. Geography 340 or 344; two of 352, 353 or 354; and 358; 377 or 476.

  2. Six additional credits selected from: Geography 340, 344, 352, 353, 354, 358, 371, 377, 379, 393 (physical geography topics, 3 cr max), 476; Geology 330, 370, 393 (3 cr max).

  3. Recommended courses: Biology 305; History 280; Philosophy 380; Political Science 304; English 248 or 254.

  1. Geographic Information Science (GIS) and Cartography option:

  1. Geography 377, 379, 382, 476, 479.

  2. Geography 376 or 386 & either 477, 481 or 482.

  3. Recommended courses: Geography 376, 386, 477, 481, 482 (whichever was not taken in b. above); Web and Digital Media Development 250, 307, 308, 310; Computer Information Systems 115-116, 210, 211, 345.

  1. Urban Planning option:

  1. Geography 373, 374, 388 or NRES 388, 389 or NRES 389, 476.

  2. Three additional credits selected from: Geography 370, 372, 378, 495, 496.

  3. Recommended courses: Geography 370, 372, 378, 495, 496 (whichever was not not taken in b. above); Geography 377, 379, 477, 479; Geography 300 or 327 or 328 or 329; Geography 340 or 342 or 344 or 371; Geology 330; Economics 210, 211, 374; Natural Resources 488, 489; Sociology 356, 357; Political Science 242, 341, 356, 358, 397.

   4.    Human Geography option:

  1. Geography 366 or 369.

  2. Six additional credits selected from:  Geography 366, 369 (whichever was not taken in a. above); Geography 373, 374..

  3. Nine additional credits selected from: Geography 211 (required for teacher certification), 226, 300, 301, 302, 325, 328, 329, 365; Geography 366, 369, 373 (if not taken in a. or b. above); Geography 374, 382, 391 (when offered as a human geography topic), 393 (when offered with a human geography emphasis), 395, 399, 476, 479).

  4. Recommended courses: Sociology 300, 356, 360; Political Science 315, 341; Economics 342, 362, 374; History 280, 385, 292, 393.

Geography Major for Teacher Certification
Geography 101, 113, 120, 211, 276, 280 must be taken as part of or in addition to one of the options in the geography major listed above.

NOTE:  Enrollment caps are in effect for those seeking teacher certification. Please contact the Department of Geography/Geology early for entrance requirements and application procedures. Also see information about the Professional Education Program and the secondary education curriculum for teacher certification in the Education section of this catalog.

Geography Minor
Consists of 22 credits of which at least 6 credits must be 300-level or above.

  1. Geography 101 and 120.

  2. At least one course from each of the following groups:

  1. Geography 110, 113, 211, 226, 300, 301, 302, 327, 328.

  2. Geography 329, 340, 342, 344, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374.

  1. Additional geography credits to total 22.

Geography Minor for Teacher Certification
 Consists of Geography 101, 113, 120, 211, 276, 280.  See the note above regarding enrollments caps for teacher certification.

Environmental Geography  Minor
Consists of at least 23 credits.

  1. Required core, 17 credits: 100, 101, 120, 340, 366.
  2. Physical environment course: 3 credits from Geology 330; Geography 344, 354, 358; or courses approved by advisor and chair.
  3. Human environment course: 3 credits from 365, 369, 373, 374; or courses approved by advisor and chair.
  4. Recommended courses: Philosophy 380; Natural Resources 460.
  5. Geography majors with a physical geography option may choose the Environment Geography minor, but must take two additional physical geography courses which do not overlap with the major and minor.
  6. Geography majors with a human geography option may choose the Environment Geography minor, but must take two additional human geography courses which do not overlap with the major and minor.

Academic Standards for Geography Major and Minor

  1. To be admitted, retained, and approved for graduation as an approved geography major or minor, you must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (2.75 to student teach in geography) for all courses taken within the major or minor, including collateral courses and regardless of a declaration of academic bankruptcy.

  1. You must complete Geography 101 and 120 before you are admitted as an approved major or minor; otherwise you are a provisional major or minor.

  2. If you transfer and have no credits earned at UWSP in the major or minor, you will be a provisional major or minor until you complete the minimum requirements.

  1. If you do not maintain a 2.00 GPA, you will be placed on geography probation and will have two semesters to restore your GPA. If you fail to do so, you will be dropped from the major or minor. The department will attempt to notify and consult with students who are at or below a 2.00 GPA. However, it is your responsibility to know your own GPA status.

  2. Majors must have an advisor in the department. Any department faculty member may advise a geography major. You must file a major declaration form in the department office, keep it current, and confer with your advisor every semester.

  3. You may repeat a course in the major or minor only if you follow the policy on repeating courses found in the Academic Information section of this catalog.

  4. Geography and geology courses taken at the 300 or 400 level on a pass/fail basis do NOT count toward the major or minor.

Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis Minor (GISSA)
 Consists of at least 22 credits:

  1. Required core, 17 credits: Geography 276, 279, 377, 379, 476, 479.

  2. Applied spatial statistics: 2-3 credits from Geography 390, Wildlife 311, Forestry 322, or courses approved by advisor and chair.

  3. Three credits from Biology 306, 321; Business 339; Economics 342; Geography 344, 358, 370, 372, 378, 382, 480, 485; Geology 330; Forestry 319, 320, 385; Natural Resources 171, 363, 385, 444; Soils 360, 365; Water/Geology 383, 495; Wildlife 350; or courses approved by advisor and chair.

  4. Geography majors with the CIS and cartography option may choose the GISSA minor, but must take an additional 6 credits from electives in 3 above.

  5. Academic standards for GISSA minor.

  1. To be admitted, retained, and approved for graduation as a GISSA minor, you must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all courses taken within the minor, including collateral courses and regardless of a declaration of academic bankruptcy.

  2. You must have completed Geography 279 before you are admitted as an approved minor; otherwise you are a provisional minor.

  3. If you are a transfer student without credits earned at UWSP in the minor, you will be admitted as a provisional minor until you have completed the minimum requirements.

  4. If you do not maintain a 2.00 GPA, you will be on probation for the minor and will have two semesters to restore your GPA.  If you fail to do so, you will be dropped from the minor.  The department will attempt to notify students of any changes in GPA status and consult with GISSA minors who are at or below the 2.00 GPA. However, it is your responsibility to know your own GPA status.

Test-Out and Credit-by-Exam Policy
The Department of Geography and Geology will offer test-out examinations for all of its general degree requirement courses including Geography 100, 101, 110, 113, 120, 211, 226, 300, and Geology 100, 104.

If you wish to take a test-out examination, first confer with the department chair. Then confer with the faculty member who most recently taught the course. The comprehensive written exam will be based on material normally covered in the course. The faculty member will notify you in writing before you take the exam of the required minimum passing score. You will receive your grade in writing within two weeks after taking the exam.

Credit will not be granted for Geography 100 and Geology 100, but you will receive a waiver for the corresponding GDR credits. Credit will be granted for all other geography and geology courses listed above. You may take a test-out exam only once.

Courses in Geography

GEOG 100. Physical Environment Under Stress. 3 cr. Physical geographic principles and processes applied to understand selected human impacts on atmosphere, water, land, and biota. Includes detailed, interdisciplinary analysis of several environmental problems, including causes, consequences, and solutions. GDR:NS-EL 

GEOG 101. The Physical Environment. 5 cr. Introduction to modern physical geography: survey spatial distribution of the earth’s physical characteristics including weather and climate, water, soils, vegetation, and landforms; discuss environmental processes and interactions creating these physical geographic patterns; discuss importance to humans of the physical environment; use geographic tools including maps, air photos, and investigative techniques. 3 hrs lec, 4 hrs lab per wk; Possible field trip(s). GDR:NS

GEOG 110(NW). Global Economic Geography. 3 cr. Introductory survey of the distribution patterns and organization and conduct of world economic activities and related issues from a global perspective. Topics may include population, resources, transportation, agriculture, mining, forestry, fishing, manufacturing, services, trade, and economic development. Possible field trip(s). GDR:SS1

GEOG 113(NW). World Regional Geography. 3 cr. Survey major patterns of physical features, culture, and human-land relations by region in today's world; examples may show present and impending resource, environmental, social and political problems, and explore basic solutions. GDR:SS1

GEOG 120(NW). Human Geography. 3 cr. Examine components and spatial expressions of contemporary culture including patterns and problems of population, language, religion, urban and rural settlements, political and economic development from perspectives of diffusion, ecology, integration, landscape, and region. GDR:SS1

GEOG 198. Reading in the Discipline. 1 cr; pass/fail. Does not apply to geography major or minor. Prereq: Con reg in another designated geography course.

GEOG 211. Wisconsin. 2 or 3 cr. Geographic analysis of selected physical and cultural features. Prereq: So st. GDR:SS1

GEOG 226. United States and Canada. 3 cr. Geographic interpretation of cultural and physical features and regions. Prereq: So st. GDR:SS1

GEOG 276. Introduction to Cartography: Map Conceptualization and Development. 3 cr. The map production process, including rationale, graphic structure, data collection and organization, map layout, and final production. 2 hrs lec, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: So st.

GEOG 279. Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems. 2 cr. Definition and components of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for resource management. Principles and structure of spatial data and cartographic modeling. Spatial data acquisition, manipulation, translation, aggregation, analysis, and presentation. Prereq: Any geography, CNR or environmental science course.

GEOG 280. Seminar: Geography as a Profession. 3 cr. Examine geography in professional practice. Includes disciplinary history, programs of study, careers, information resources, current research. Required during first year after declaring major/minor. Prereq: Declared major/minor, or cons instr.

GEOG 300/500(NW). Africa. 3 cr. Regional interpretation; distribution and activities of peoples in relation to physical and cultural patterns and various stages and problems of development. GDR:SS1

GEOG 301/501. Middle America. 3 cr. Mexico, Central America, and the Antilles: landforms, climate, natural vegetation, resources, population, historical evolution, political divisions, economic organization.

GEOG 302/502(NW). Southwest Pacific. 3 cr. Geography of Australia, New Zealand, and the Southwest Pacific Islands as conditioned by environmental circumstances, native and alien cultural influences, and political affiliations. GDR:SS1

GEOG 325/525 (NW). Geography of China. 3 cr. Historical development and contemporary situation of human cultures and regions of China. Explore interrelationships between population, ethnicity, economic activities and the environment in a geographic context. GDR: SS1

GEOG 327/527 (NW). Asia. 3 cr. Study historical development and contemporary situation of human cultures and regions of Asia. Explore interrelationships between population, ethnicity, economic activities and the environment in a geographic context. GDR:SS1

GEOG 328/528. Europe. 3 cr. Distinctive features of Europe as a continent; physical/historical background; natural regions and their division into political units; characteristics of each country. GDR:SS1

GEOG 329/529. Environmental Geography of Europe. 3 cr. Development of Europe as differentiated and unevenly integrated social ecosystems. Examine comparative environmental practices and policies. Prereq: 100 or 110, or cons instr. GDR:EL.

GEOG 335/535. Climate: Past, Present, and Future. 3 cr. Explore the physical and theoretical underpinnings of climate change science. Field and laboratory methods combined with computer model simulations are used to investigate the geological and biological evidence of past, present, and future climate including global warming and its impacts. Field trip(s) required. May not earn credit in both 335/535 and Geology 335/535.

GEOG 340/540. Processes of Environmental Degradation. 3 cr. Study why and how humans harm the physical environment; includes geographic, cultural, political, economic causes and consequences. Case studies from around the world. Possible field trip(s). GDR:NS

GEOG 342/542. Soils and Society. 3 cr. Geographical distribution of soils with interaction between human activities and soil dynamics; political economy of soil management; soil’s functional relations to social systems and ecosystem components. Possible field trip(s). Prereq: 101 or Natural Resources 251 or cons instr. GDR:SS2

GEOG 344/544. Environmental Hazards. 3 cr. Human interaction with hazardous phenomena such as earthquakes, storms, and infectious diseases; spatial aspects of the social processes and perceptions creating risk and vulnerability in the environment; local hazards. Field trips may be required. Prereq: Jr st.

GEOG 350. Physical Geography of New Zealand. 3 cr. Examine basic physical environmental processes that form and drive the physical environment of New Zealand and resulting geographic environmental patterns. How human activities affect and are affected by natural systems. Develop geographic skills through lab and field work. May require field trips. Offered only during New Zealand semester abroad. GDR:NS

GEOG 352/552. Geomorphology. 3 cr. Characteristics, origin, and development of landforms. 2 hrs lec, 2 hrs lab per wk. Possible field trip(s). May not earn credit in both Geog 352 and Geol 352. Prereq: 101, or Geol 104, or cons instr.

GEOG 353/553. Physical Climatology and Meteorology. 3 cr. Radiation and energy balances; composition, characteristics, and circulation of the atmosphere. Introduction to weather map analysis and forecasting. Possible field trip(s). Prereq: 101 or cons instr.

GEOG 354/554. Climatology. 3 cr. Examine world climatic patterns, climate classification, air pollution climatology, and global climate change. Possible field trip(s). Prereq: 101 or cons instr.

GEOG 358. Biogeography. 3 cr. Examine spatial and temporal patterns of plants, animals, and microbes with emphasis on dynamic relationships between life form, population, and habitat. Significance of biotic distributions on human affairs and human impacts on biosphere locations. 2 hrs lec, 2 hrs lab per wk. Field trip(s) required. Prereq: 101 or Biology 101, or con instr.

GEOG 365/565. Tourism Geography. 3 cr. Cultural, economic, physical, and biotic factors affecting the distribution of recreation and tourism resources and participation. Global as well as local case studies and examples employed. Field trip(s) required.

GEOG 366/566. Historical Geography. 3 cr. Examine the problems of reconstructing past geographies and analyzing changes of geographic phenomena through time. Includes construction and analysis of historical spatial databases. Field trip(s) required. GDR:SS1

GEOG 369/569. Political Geography. 3 cr. Geographical interpretation of selected political areas; the political significance of cultural and physical aspects of such areas. GDR:SS1

GEOG 370. Transportation and Logistics. 3 cr. Survey/analyze spatial aspects of transportation and communication systems. Includes evolution of transport systems, network and flow analysis, routing and logistics analysis, and transportation planning and management. Possible field trip(s). Prereq: 110 and Math 355, or cons instr.

GEOG 371/571. Gender and Environment. 3 cr. Gendered nature of environmental degradation; feminist theories and gender-sensitive methodologies for the study of and solution to environmental problems. Prereq: 100 or Women’s Studies 105 or cons instr. GDR:EL

GEOG 372. Industrial Location. 3 cr. Analyze manufacturing activities from a spatial perspective. Topics include theory and practice of industrial location, manufacturing production systems, industrial districts, and local economic development. Possible field trip(s). Prereq: 110 or cons instr.

GEOG 373/573. Urban Geography. 3 cr. Physical characteristics, spatial patterns, functions, populations, land use, livelihood structures of cities. Possible field trip(s). Prereq: 110 or 120, or cons instr. GDR:SS1

GEOG 374/574. Rural Geography. 3 cr. The influence of locational characteristics on the social and economic components of the rural environment. Field trip(s) required. GDR:SS1

GEOG 376. Statistical and Multimedia Cartography. 3 cr. Statistical manipulation and symbolization of spatial data for map presentation. Acquire and handle quantitative data within a multimedia mapping environment. Prereq: 276 or cons instr.

GEOG 377. Remote Sensing I. 3 cr. Characteristics of aerial photographs and digital imagery. Use remote sensing materials to conduct resource inventories, and land use evaluation, and landform analysis. 2 hrs lec, 2 hrs lab per wk. May not earn credit in both Geog 377 and Natural Resources 377.

GEOG 378. Retail and Service Location. 3 cr. Analyze retail and service activities from a spatial perspective. Location strategies of retail and service firms, site selection, trade area analysis, store and office assessment methods, and local economic development. Possible field trip(s). Prereq: 110 or 373, Math 355, or cons instr.

GEOG 379/579. Remote Sensing II. 3 cr. Learn principles of remote sensor technology and apply them to inventory earth resources, detect and monitor pollution, and measure other environmental phenomena. Use visual analysis and computer-assisted digital imaging processing techniques to interpret various types of remote sensor imagery. Possible field trip(s). Prereq: 377 or Natural Resources 377.

GEOG 382/582. Dynamic Cartography. 3 cr. Theory and practical applications of interactive mapping and hypermedia presentation. Survey of animated mapping, Web-based cartography, dynamic map displays and associated authoring tools within a multimedia environment. Prereq: 276 or cons instr.

GEOG 386. Map Design and Production. 3 cr. How the graphic elements of a map affect its physical and perceived structure. Graphic communication, design principles, and map production skills. 2 hrs lec, 3 hrs lab per wk. Prereq: 276 or cons instr.

GEOG 388/588. Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning. 3 cr. Historical evolution of urban/regional planning. Theories, ideologies, philosophies, and functional areas of planning. Also primary plan implementation tools. May not earn credit in both Geog 388/NRES 388.

GEOG 389/589. Urban and Regional Planning Analysis. 3 cr. Research methods for urban and regional planning. Design and implementation of citizen surveys. May not earn credit in both Geog 389 and NRES 389. Prereq: 373, 388 or NRES 388, Math 355 or Forestry 321 or Sociology 351, or cons instr.

GEOG 390. Applied Statistics in Geography. 3 cr. Survey geographic problems and quantitative problem solving methods; create or extract relevant data sets from published geographic resources; apply, interpret, and present appropriate spatial and nonspatial statistics. Prereq: 276, 279; Math 355 recommended.

GEOG 391/591. Special Topics. 1-3 cr. Subtitle will designate topic of geographical interest. May repeat for credit with different subtitle. Possible field trip(s).

GEOG 393/593. Field Trip in Geography. 1-3 cr. Observe physical and cultural phenomena; required readings, field notebook and/or report. May repeat for credit with change in locale or topic. May not earn credit in Geog 393 and Geol 393 under same locale or topic. Possible field trip fee. Prereq: Intro level geog course.

GEOG 395/595. Directed Study. 1-3 cr. Students may, with cons instr, arrange for directed study of a geographical topic. Prereq: One geog course, and cons chair.

GEOG 399/599. Research. 1-3 cr. Students may arrange for a special research problem with cons instr. Results will be publicly presented. Prereq: Cons chair.

GEOG 476/676. Geographic Information Systems I. 3 cr. Develop, use and maintain a geographic-based spatial information system (GIS) for resource management. Acquire and assess spatial data. Compare raster and vector data models. Computer-based geographic data handling, analysis, interpretation, and display. Cartographic and spatial modeling. Prereq: Any geography, CNR, or environmental science course; Geog 279 recommended.

GEOG 477/677. GIS Applications in Local Government. 3 cr. Administration of land records and emergency management services using GIS technology. Fundamentals of GIS-based network and location analysis in relation to cadastral maps, zoning regulations, health ser-vices and emergency service infrastructure. Prereq: 476 or cons instr.

GEOG 479/679. Geographic Information Systems II. 3 cr. Intermediate and advanced geographic information systems (GIS) techniques; integrate medium and large scale digital databases, use rectified aerial and satellite geographic base data. Principles and development of complex environmental and cultural spatial modeling, GIS programming concepts and applications. Prereq: 476; 379 recommended.

GEOG 480. Internship in Geography. 1-12 cr. Supervised training program in geography in cooperation with public or private agencies. One credit is at least 60 hrs work. Credits and/or addl requirements set by instr before registration. May repeat once for 12 cr max. Prereq: Jr or sr st, 9 cr 300/400 geography courses, and cons intern director.

GEOG 481/681. GIS Database Design and Modeling. 3 cr. Effectively construct, integrate, design and implement geodatabases. Examine storage, cataloging, maintenance and use of geospatial data within practical applications. Prereq: 476, 479 or cons instr.

GEOG 482/682. GIS Programming and Customization. 3 cr. Customize GIS software for extended functionality and utility of the import, query, and display of geospatial information. Use and survey GIS programming languages to develop spatial applications and geographic models. Prereq: 476, 479 or cons instr.

GEOG 485. Practicum in Geography. 1-3 cr. Practical experience in geography under faculty supervision. Proposed practicum requires cons chair. May repeat for 6 cr max. Prereq: Jr st, written cons instr.

GEOG 490. Senior Research. 3 cr. Capstone experience for geography majors. Define, devise, and pursue a plan to address an approved group problem. Communicate contribution for resolution of problem. Written and oral reports; may require field trips. Experience in team field work and projects. Prereq: 280 and sr st.

GEOG 491. Senior Thesis. 3 cr. Individual capstone experience for geography majors seeking graduate or professional study. Define geographical problem, devise and pursue solution. Communicate findings in written paper and oral presentation. Prereq: Cons 2 faculty. May extend over two consecutive semesters. Prereq: 280, dept GPA 3.50, sr st.

GEOG 495/695. Advanced Urban and Regional Planning Analysis. 3 cr. Advanced techniques/methods of urban/regional planning. Social and economic analysis. Includes population analysis, income measures, linkages and flow studies, economy composition analysis, economic base analysis, input-output, project evaluation, and geographic information systems applications. Prereq: 279, 389 or NRES 389, or cons instr.

GEOG 496/696. Community Development Practices. 3 cr. Processes and interactions between citizens, community officials, and planners in designing, planning, and implementing community development projects. Social and economic development projects and programs. May require fieldtrip(s). Prereq: 373, 388 or NRES 388, or cons instr.

GEOG 779. Geographic Techniques for Educators and Professionals. 1-3 cr. Teachers/professionals examine, develop, and apply one or more spatial technique(s). Acquisition/assessment of spatial data, computer-based geographic data handling, aggregation, translation, analysis, interpretation and mapping of geographic information. Possible fieldtrip(s). Subtitle will designate topic.

Geography Latent Courses:  Not offered recently. See full course description in indicated (xx-xx) catalog.

  • 108/308  Environmental Issues through Films, 2 cr, (93-95)

  • 375          Mineral Resources, 3 cr, (93-95)

  • 380          Geographical Analysis, 3 cr, (05-07)
   

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