Courses for next semester

GEO 200: Conservation of Global Environments

Introduction to natural resources, resource management, environmental and land use ethics, environmental impacts of resource utilization and strategies to resolve environmental conflicts. Course examines the relationships between society and the environment from the global to the local scale. 

Satisfies General Education 04 Requirement: International and Multicultural Studies

Core requirement for all Geography majors and for the Human and Environmental Geography minor

Available Lecture Sections and instructors:

ESC 101: Earth Environments

This course concentrates on understanding the earth’s dynamic environments through the study of processes and physical and human interactions related to the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. A scientific approach is used to examine fundamental concepts in earth and environmental science related to topics such as plate tectonics, landform development, atmospheric processes, global climate, and water resources, in order to provide an understanding of how the earth system functions and the human role in these phenomena.

Satisfies General Education 05 Requirement: Understanding the Natural World

Available Lab and Corresponding Lecture Sections and Instructors:

GEO 110: World Cultural Regions

This course provides an understanding of the global distribution of world cultures. The cultural, economic and natural patterns and their interrelationships are examined on a global and regional scale. The development and distribution of cultural regions within countries are included when appropriate. 

Satisfies General Education 04 Requirement: Global and Multicultural Studies

Available Sections and Instructors:

GEO 200: Conservation of Global Environments

Introduction to natural resources, resource management, environmental and land use ethics, environmental impacts of resource utilization and strategies to resolve environmental conflicts. Course examines the relationships between society and the environment from the global to the local scale. 

Satisfies General Education 04 Requirement: Global and Multicultural Studies

Available Sections and Instructors:

GEO 305: Geographic Information Systems and Science I (GISS I)

Students will acquire fundamental knowledge and learn key concepts underlying spatial data, different map types and uses, thematic symbolization and visualization, and spatial analytical techniques. They will learn how to critically assess and communicate knowledge concerning spatial environments. Students will also learn how to use GIS and Web mapping technologies.

Available Sections and Instructors:

GEO 401: Focus on Geography: A Capstone Course

A seminar-style course designed to prepare students for graduate school and/or a career in geography/earth science. This course will cover the basic concepts of interviewing, graduate school application, oral presentation of a topic, and the writing of professional abstracts. The development of the field will be studied by the reading and discussion of landmark articles in geography and earth science. Students are expected to actively participate in the assessment of their major. Prerequisite: senior standing. 

Available Sections and Instructors:

GEO 405/505: Geographic Information System and Science II (GISS II)

Building upon lessons learned in GEO 305, this course focuses on geospatial analysis and database development. The course includes both theoretical and applied aspects of GIS analysis. GIS software, with an emphasis on ArcGIS, will be used to explore geographic questions. Hands-on exercises pertaining to environmental science, natural resource management, business, and urban planning will be used to complement lecture material. Topics will include data organization, database structure, input and output, data quality, and geographic analysis of spatial and attribute data. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: GEO 305; STAT 145; junior standing. 

Available Sections and Instructors:

ESC 222: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

An introduction to the earth surface processes that are dominant in forming various types of landforms. Spatial variations in landforms will be studied both at the local scale and as the outcome of large-scale global processes. Lect. 3, Lab 2. Prerequisite: ESC 101.

Available Sections and Instructors:

GEO 211: Global Climate Change

This course serves as an introduction to causes of natural and human-induced climate change, and the current and future impacts of climate change on environmental systems and society. Actions that could be taken by governments, industry, non-profit organizations, and individuals to mitigate the magnitude and effects of climate change will be addressed. The course will investigate social, cultural, and political aspects associated with climate change policy, including how vulnerability, resilience, and adaptability to a changing climate vary across the globe.

Available Lecture Sections and Instructors:

GEO 422/522: Meteorology

Atmospheric concepts and processes of the earth's weather are covered. Principles and laws which govern the behavior of the atmosphere are investigated, including energy exchange between the earth and the atmosphere, forces governing atmospheric motion, atmospheric moisture and stability, condensation and precipitation processes, air masses and cyclogenesis, thunderstorm and tornado development, and hurricanes. Surface and upper-air charts, synoptic patterns, thermodynamic charts, radar and satellite images, and weather patterns are analyzed. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: ESC 221; junior standing.

Available Lecture Sections and Instructors:

GEO 430/530: River Systems

A systematic study of the interactions between flowing water and surface landforms. Emphasis is placed on watershed and stream development, sediment transport and storage, flow frequency analysis, and applications of fluvial principles to river management and stream restoration. Class activities will include field exercises in the La Crosse region, mathematical analysis of hydrologic variables, and spatial analysis with Geographic Information Systems. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: ESC 222; junior standing.

Available Lecture Sections and instructors:

GEO 102*: Maps and Society

This course introduces all aspects of maps and how they affect the individual in society. It examines the evolution of maps, the map as an art form, the map as a communication medium for spatial knowledge, the meaning of maps and their relationship to culture and society past and present, the influence of maps on an individual through mass media and the Internet, and the way maps reflect personal and societal points of view. It focuses on privacy and civil liberty issues of the individual in the age of digital information where maps and map databases can disclose the privacy of personal space. In addition, today's GIS maps (in planning, in marketing, in hazard controls, etc.) embed substantial amounts of personal information that can affect personal security and how our lives are directly, indirectly, knowingly, and unknowingly influenced.

*Note GEO 102 does not fulfill an elective requirement in the Geospatial Techniques category of the GEO: Humans and the Environment Emphasis or the GEO: Environmental Science Concentration, but it does in the GEO: GIS Concentration.

Available Sections and Instructor:

GEO 445/545: Remote Sensing of the Environment II

This course covers advanced techniques of digital satellite and airborne image analysis and processing, emphasizing theory and applications in natural resource, land use and environmental assessment. It includes practical approaches to integrating imagery with geographic information systems for spatial analyses and decision making. Data acquisition, integrity, manipulation, formatting, storage, and retrieval are also examined. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: GEO 415; junior standing.

Available Sections and Instructor:

GEO 485/585: Geographic Information System and Science III

This course covers advanced theories in geographic information systems database structures, advanced applications, database transfers, database management, use of census data, spatial analysis, and decision-making. There will be an emphasis on ARCGIS and its applications and integration of GIS with remote sensing and GPS. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: GEO 405; STAT 145; junior standing.

Available Sections and Instructor:

GEO 202*: Contemporary Global Issues

This course will offer a contemporary multi-disciplinary perspective regarding the major issues and trends confronting the global society as it enters the 21st century. Emphasis will be given to a critical review and assessment of the origin and present condition of the plethora of situations and problems affecting modern global society. The student will also learn to critically evaluate current and future events. The course will incorporate the views and approaches of the following disciplines: sociology/anthropology, economics, geography, political science, and history. Students may only earn credit in one of the following: ANT 202, GEO 202, HIS 202, POL 202, SOC 202. 

*Note GEO 202 does not fulfill an elective requirement in the Humans and the Environment category of the GEO: Humans and the Environment Emphasis, but it does in the GEO: GIS Concentration and the GEO: Environmental Science Concentration.

Available Lecture Sections and Instructor:

GEO 321: Sustainable Development and Conservation

This course is designed to engage students in critical thinking with regard to how the current momentum in environmental conservation is shaping global development practices. The dual and seemingly conflicting mandates of conservation and development are examined not only through theory but also case studies from different parts of the world.

Available Lecture Sections and Instructor:

*section 02 is writing emphasis

GEO 335: Islamic Asia: Cradle of Civilizations, Geographies of Conflict

The Middle East and nearby areas (sometimes collectively called Southwest Asia) have played a key role in the development of cultures and human interactions with the environment for millennia. This course will apply a critical scholarly approach to understanding the complex human geographic patterns, structures, and interactions at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Special attention is given to the political, cultural, economic, and military geographies of recent and current conflicts. 

Available Lecture Sections and Instructor:

*section 412 is writing emphasis