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Geography and Earth Science

Courses

Career opportunities for geography majors are highly varied, a fact illustrated by the wide variety of geography courses offered. At Carthage, students can take courses in physical geography, cultural geography, political and economic geography, climatology, GIS, math, computer science, urban planning, statistics and more.

Geography students should choose their elective courses outside the major carefully, as courses in mathematics, statistics and computer science can greatly help you achieve your career goals. Prospective and current geography students are encouraged to discuss career goals and opportunities with department faculty.

GEO 1500
Human Geography: An Introduction (SOC — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Patricia Murphy, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun
An examination of the evolution of concepts concerning the nature, scope, and methods of Human Geography (population, economic, urban, landscape, etc.) with emphasis on current geographic thought, theory, and research themes. Fall/Spring.
GEO 1600
Earth Revealed (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Matthew Zorn
Earth Revealed examines spatial patterns at varying scales to better understand the underlying processes at work in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Fall/Spring.
GEO 1610
Mapping Your World: Introduction to Geographic Information Science (SOC — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun
This course is an entry-level introduction to making data maps for a variety of applications. Students work in a "hands-on" lab/lecture setting while exploring computer mapping production techniques; cartographic design; communication properties of thematic maps; data selection and quality; and the problems of graphic display in print and electronic formats. Students will apply the course material by completing a variety of mapping projects. Students need no specialized computer skills to enter the course, but they will be expected to manipulate data and maps using the computer methods discussed in class. Fall/Spring.
GEO 1700
Physical Geography: An Introduction (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Matthew Zorn
An overview of physical geography. Students will be introduced to meteorology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography, soils, geomorphology and landforms. Fall/Spring/Summer.
GEO 200T
Topics in Geography (1-4 credits)
1-4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Patricia Murphy, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun, Matthew Zorn
Course covers dynamic topics in geography. May be repeated with different topics. Fall/Spring/Summer.
GEO 2100
The Human Landscape (SOC — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Patricia Murphy, Julio Rivera
An overview of contemporary themes in cultural/human geography which stresses the changing and changeable relationship between people and the environment. Topics include examination of urban, rural, and suburban landscapes; their functionality; how the human environment describes the culture and its values; the cultural basis for environmental problems; the origin and spread of human culture; human migration and the distribution of population. Fall/Spring.
GEO 2200
Conservation (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Joy Mast, Matthew Zorn
A survey of principles and problems in conservation, the historical and ecological backgrounds to these, and how they have impacted public and private stewardship of natural resources. Lecture, laboratory, and field trips. Fall/Spring.
GEO 2300
Economic Geography (SOC — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Patricia Murphy, Julio Rivera
A study of resource location and utilization, population and labor force characteristics, and the production and distribution of goods and service in selected regions of the world and its sustainability. Fall/Spring.
GEO 2400
Environmental Geography: Working with the Earth (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Matthew Zorn
An evaluation of the physical environment with an emphasis upon human-environment interactions. It is an introduction to environmental issues within the scope of physical geography intended to be interdisciplinary through the combination of ideas and information from natural and social sciences. Topics include an overview of global population, scientific principles and concepts (conservation of matter, laws of energy, ecology of natural systems, climate and biosphere), natural resources, and sustainability. Fall/Spring/J-Term.
GEO 2450
Biogeography (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructor: Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Matthew Zorn
This course is designed to provide the fundamentals of biogeography as the geographical study of the spatial distribution of organisms and the factors influencing those distributions, both past and present.
GEO 2500
Natural Disasters (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Kurt Piepenburg, Matthew Zorn
A geographic examination of the causes and human consequences of natural disasters such as floods, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes and drought. Emphasis is placed on understanding the role that human perception plays in determining the steps that society takes to reduce natural hazard risks and disaster losses. Spring.
GEO 2550
Meteorology (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Kurt Piepenburg, Matthew Zorn
A study of atmospheric processes through the analysis of the structure and composition of the atmosphere. Emphasis is placed on dynamic meteorology and understanding the processes responsible for weather.
GEO 2610
Advanced Geographic Information Science (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun
This course explores advanced problems and techniques is both raster and vector systems. Topics include scientific visualization of problems, layer overlays, distance measurement and transformation, data management, creation and analysis statistical surfaces, geographic pattern analysis, and data quality. Students will apply the course material by performing a variety of analyses on different types of geographic data. Prerequisite: GEO 1610 or consent of the instructor. Fall.
GEO 2700
Satellite Image and Air Photo Analysis (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Wenjie Sun
This course will focus on the use, analysis, and interpretation of aerial photographs and imagery from satellites to evaluate the environment (vegetation, climate, hydrology, etc.) and land-use analysis (urbanization, agriculture, forestry, etc.). Students will be introduced to various methods for obtaining and interpreting this type of data. The class will also discuss various types of data and formats available. Students need no specialized computer skills to enter the course, but they will be expected to manipulate and interpret imagery using the computer methods discussed in class. Fall.
GEO 2800
Geography of East Asia (SOC — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructor: Wenjie Sun
This course is intended to provide students with broad exposure to what the "place" East Asia is from physical, cultural, economic and political perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on dimensions of human geography and human-environment interaction within the specific regional contexts. Fall/Spring/J-Term.
GEO 2850
Geology of National Parks (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructor: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Matthew Zorn
Geology of National Parks focuses on physical geology and geography of the U.S. National Parks, highlighting features and developments of national parks formed by igneous activity, mountain building and uplift, glaciation, weathering and erosion, wave action, and ground water. The course includes interactions between rock and landscapes in different climates and how types of soil cover evolve, as well as how life forms select habitats.
GEO 2900
Population Geography and Statistical Analysis (MTH — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun, Matthew Zorn
This course integrates traditional statistical analysis with issues and themes related to the spatial distribution of the world's population. While examining population change, fertility, mortality, sustainability, migration, immigration, food, health, and environmental concerns students will generate and test hypotheses about population data at different spatial scales. The course will incorporate descriptive and inferential statistics as well as sampling methods, probability, normal and non-normal distributions, linear correlation and goodness of fit tests. Fall/Spring.
GEO 2950
Process Geomorphology (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Kurt Piepenburg
A systematic analysis of the physical and spatial characteristics of the earth's terrain. The emphasis of the course is on the identification of the formative processes in geomorphology. Spring.
GEO 3100
Business Geographics (4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun
This course will focus on questions of retail location and will examine this field from several perspectives including location theory and strategy modeling techniques, current trends, and research on specific retail companies and industries. The course will apply spatial analytical techniques to the study of consumers and retailers using real world data, examples, and projects. Fall.
GEO 3200
Hydrology (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Matthew Zorn
An introduction to the physical characteristics of surface and subsurface waters and the hydrologic cycle, detailing its various components. Emphasis is placed on the nature of water movement, the interrelations of surface and groundwater systems, and modeling various aspects of the hydrologic cycle. Lab Sci.
Prerequisite: GEO 1600 or consent of instructor. Fall.
GEO 3300
Analytical Techniques in Geography and Earth Science (4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun, Matthew Zorn
A technical course that develops technical skills used by geographers in both academic and commercial research. The techniques taught under Geography 3300 include remote sensing, cartography, geographic information science, and quantitative methods in geography. Spring.
GEO 3400
Forest Ecology (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructor: Joy Mast

This course is provides an introduction to forest ecology, incorporating the forest's climate, topography, geomorphology, hydrology, soils, and land use history into the development of the plant communities. We will examine the interactions of the physical environment and plant species through time, to include ecological and evolutionary patterns in each.

Prerequisite: GEO 1600 or consent of instructor. Fall/Spring.
GEO 3450
Urban Geography (SOC — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructor: Patricia Murphy, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun
An analysis of the geographic factors affecting urban development and growth; the distribution of urban areas, their function, character, sustainability, and relationship with their surrounding regions as well as the spatial variations of land use; population; and economic activity within cities. Fieldwork required. Fall/Spring.
GEO 3500
Transportation Geography and Business Logistics (SOC — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun

An examination of industrial location theory, site-selection analysis, market and service area estimation, network analysis and planning, the allocation problem, and related geographic data-gathering and analysis techniques which are applicable to the production and distribution of goods and services. Fall/Spring.

GEO 3700
Climatology (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Kurt Piepenburg, Matthew Zorn
An overview of atmospheric processes and climatic elements, followed by a more detailed examination of the spatial distribution of climates. Particular emphasis will be placed upon macro-scale climates of the global continents and climate change, culminating with micro-scale applications of the principles and concepts within the local area.
Prerequisite: GEO 1600 or consent of instructor. Spring.
GEO 3800
Soil Science (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Joy Mast
A study of the formation, classification, and management of soils. Topics addressed include the physical and chemical structure of soils, soil erosion control, and wetland soil identification.
Prerequisite: GEO 1600 or consent of instructor. Fall.
GEO 3900
Methods of Field Research (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun, Matthew Zorn
Techniques of field study with emphasis on the generation and interpretation of primary data derived in local, social, and physical situations. Fieldwork required.
Prerequisite: GEO 1600 or consent of instructor
GEO 4000
Senior Seminar in Geography (4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun, Matthew Zorn
This course emphasizes problem analysis in applied geography through the application of multiple working hypotheses within the framework of inductive and deductive logic. Students will be required to write a major research paper in their major area of emphasis in geography. The paper will follow the framework appropriate to research in the student's major area of interest, and will include the following: statement of problem; multiple working hypotheses; literature review; data analysis; application of hypotheses.
Prerequisite: GEO 3300. Fall.
GEO 400T
Topics in Geography (SOC — 1-4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun, Matthew Zorn
Course covers dynamic topics in Geography. May be repeated with different topics. Fall.
GEO 4100
The Science of Global Climate Change (SCI — 4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Matthew Zorn, Kevin Crosby
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the science of planetary climates for students with a background in physics and/or geography. Emphasis will be placed on the physical processes that control the state of Earth's climate, which include the roles of energy and moisture, atmospheric circulation, and atmosphere-ocean interaction.
Prerequisite: GEO 3700 OR PHY 2200, or consent of the instructor. Fall/Spring/J-Term.
GEO 4500
Independent Study in Geography (1-4 credits)
1-4 credits
Instructors: Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun, Matthew Zorn
A student can conduct an independent study in a topic of interest in geography. It is understood that this course will not duplicate any other course regularly offered in the curriculum, and that the student will work in this course as independently as the instructor believes possible.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Fall/Spring/J-Term.
GEO 4600
Applied Projects in Geographic Information Science (SOC — 1-4 credits)
4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun
This course explores the problems inherent in setting up and managing GIS. Students will be expected to create a significant GIS application using available data to address an actual geographic problem. Other topics include GIS and organizations, social and ethical implications of GIS, and management of a GIS.
Prerequisite: GEO 2610 or consent of the instructor. Spring.
GEO 4900
Research in Geography (1-4 credits)
1-4 credits
Instructors: Rob Edsall, Joy Mast, Kurt Piepenburg, Julio Rivera, Wenjie Sun, Matthew Zorn
Work on a research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students may enroll for credit more than once, but only 4 credits can count toward the major.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Fall/Spring/J-Term.
GEO 4990
Senior Thesis Completion (0 credits)
0 credits
Instructors: Staff
Students should register for GEO 4990 during the semester that they plan to complete their senior thesis.