Geography
The Geography department offers courses required to complete a B.A. degree with a Major or a Minor in Geography and a B.Sc degree with a Minor in Geography.
Notes
- Please check with the Chair of the Geography department or the Advising Centre before planning your program.
- Field trips and off-campus research are part of any Geography program. Generally, the cost of field trips and research projects is the student’s responsibility.
See also: Geography Courses offered in 2011/12 and 2012/13
GEOG 100 (3) World Regional Geography
An introduction to physical and cultural regions of the world with an emphasis on inter-regional linkages that affect the lives of people around the world. Changing environmental, demographic, political, economic and social processes and patterns, from local to global scales, are surveyed. GEOG 100 was formerly called GEOG 180; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: None.
GEOG 101 (3) Environmental Geography
An introduction to processes at play in the biophysical world and the impact of human activities on those processes. Topics include energy flows, earth-atmospheric interactions, biogeochemical cycles, human impacts on environment, sustainable land use, and environmental management. Credit will only be granted for one of GEOG 110 or GEOG 101. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: None.
GEOG 211 (3) Atmospheric Environments
An introduction to the earth's atmospheric characteristics and interactions. Topics include meteorology, global climatic patterns, climatic change and biogeography. Labs cover methods of measuring and analyzing meteorological and other geophysical phenomena on global and local scales. GEOG 211 was formerly called GEOG 111; credit will not be granted for both courses. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: None.
GEOG 212 (3) Earth Environments
An introduction to physical processes that govern landform-soil systems. Topics include plate tectonics, rock cycles, landforms developed from such erosional and depositional agents as water, ice, wind, and groundwater. Lab exercises cover methods of measuring, analyzing, and presenting Earth surface processes. GEOG 212 was formerly called GEOG 112; credit will not be granted for both courses. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: None.
GEOG 221 (3) Statistical Methods in Geography
An introduction to statistical methods used in geographic research. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability distributions, sampling, correlation and regression. Computer-based statistical and spreadsheet programs are introduced. Application of statistical methods in geographic research are emphasized. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 101.
GEOG 226 (3) Introductory Spatial Analysis for the Environmental Sciences
An introduction to spatial analysis in environmental sciences. Topics include mapping processes, interpretation of topographic and thematic maps, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Key component is the scope and magnitude of human impact on the environment, including spatial distributions and patterns of human activity. Case studies used to illustrate how GIS is used as a tool in addressing environmental and natural resource management issues. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: None.
GEOG 228 (3) Spatial Analysis
A lab-based introduction to a range of maps used in urban and natural resource analysis, including the interpretation of topographic and thematic maps and remotely sensed images. Emphasizes topographic map reading and remote sensing interpretation. Challenges in representing information cartographically are fundamental components of this course. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 101.
GEOG 230 (3) Cultural Geography
A systematic study of the human organization of space. Specifically the interactions of material and non-material societal structures within and with their physical environments. Seeks to develop at various scales an awareness of the construction of culture and its spatial expressions, to demonstrate through various regional examples. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 101.
GEOG 240 (3) Economic Geography
A study of the organization and interaction of economic activities and how they influence the appearance of the landscape. Topics include population dynamics; locational characteristics of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary activities; urban location; transportation; decision-making processes and economic development. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 101.
GEOG 290 (3) Regions of Canada
A study of the physical and human geography of Canada from a regional perspective. Topics include people/environment interactions, the evolution of distinct cultural landscapes, and changing geographical patterns. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or GEOG 101.
GEOG 322 (3) Geographic Communication
A practical course in communicating geographic information including expository, business, technical, and scientific writing. Provides opportunities to develop skills in graphic and cartographic design using computer software. Oral presentation, including the use of multi-media technologies, are an integral part of this course. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 324 (3) Research Methods in Geography
Reviews the nature and history of geographic thought; presents methodologies; examines the quantitative and qualitative approaches to research; reviews the application of descriptive statistics and assesses the utility of employing selected statistical applications to geographic data; examines varied formats for presenting research findings. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 221 or MATH 161 or equivalent.
GEOG 326 (3) Remote Sensing
An examination of the principles of aerial photography and satellite imagery. Include an examination of digital image processing, multispectral and colour photography, thermal imagery, and radar imagery are used in this course. Applications of remote sensing to natural resource and urban growth management issues are assessed. GEOG 326 was formerly called GEOG 229; credit will not be granted for both courses. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 226 or GEOG 228.
GEOG 328 (3) Geographic Information Systems
An introduction to geographic information systems, including spatial data theory and analysis. Topics include spatial and attribute data, analytical operations and modeling. Labs include data query, overlays, buffering, and layouts (vector data) and interpolations, terrain modeling, buffering and layout (raster data). (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 226 or GEOG 228.
GEOG 340 (3) Urban Systems
An examination of urban theory and the evolution of North American urban systems. Topics include the history of urbanization; industrial and post-industrial city models, their functional specialization, spatial interactions, selected aspects of their built environments and the motivations and behaviours of their makers. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 342 (3) Urban and Regional Planning
An examination of the concepts, theories, models, principles and practices of urban and regional planning with a particular focus in the Canadian experience. Outlines the history of planning in Canada and discusses the development of planning legislation and policies at the municipal, regional and provincial levels. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 344 (3) Urban Social Geography
An assessment of the inter-relationships between urban economics, urban spaces and urban lifestyles focusing on the connections between people and their social and geopolitical environments. Topics include the concepts of communities and neighbourhoods, the impacts of social segregation and economic hierarchies, influences of governance systems and politics, infrastructural problems, prospective urban futures. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 346 (3) Urban Growth Management (Ends Aug 2011)
An examination of the theory and practice of managing urban growth within a local and regional context. Assesses the environmental, economic, social and political implications of containing urban growth, fostering urban intensification and nurturing inter- and intra-urban connectivity. Reviews and assesses models that integrate demand for urban land. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 342.
GEOG 346 (3) Urban Growth Management (Effective Sep 2011)
An examination of the theory and practice of managing urban growth within a local and regional context. Assesses the environmental, economic, social and political implications of containing urban growth, fostering urban intensification and nurturing inter- and intra-urban connectivity. Reviews and assesses models that integrate demand for urban land. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 350 (3) Natural Resource Management
An introduction to the conceptual, technical and economic foundations of resource management. Emphasizes contemporary problems and resolution techniques. Examines the use and development of natural resources important to western Canada (water, agriculture, forests, fish, mining, energy, recreation) from a geographic, economic and institutional perspective. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 352 (3) Managing Natural and Social Capital
An examination of the role economic activity plays in enhancing or degrading natural, social, and human capital. Resource management, community development, and municipal finance are reviewed from the perspective of optimizing social and ecological well-being. In addition, indicators for measuring the health of ecosystems and communities are explored. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 362 (3) The Making of the Canadian Landscape
Traces the development of Canada's cultural landscape from earliest times to the present. Identifies the impacts and imprints of First Nations and various national, ethnic and religious groups on the Canadian landscape. Addresses the role of the physical environment, public policy, economic imperatives and social movements. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 290.
GEOG 372 (3) Climatology
An investigation of the physical processes that determine variation in climate and weather from place to place. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 211.
GEOG 373 (3) Biogeography
An examination of the attributes of the biosphere from a geographic perspective. Considers the evolution of plant and animal communities and biomes. An integrative course that examines concepts and knowledge from physical geography, geology, ecology and evolutionary biology. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 211.
GEOG 374 (3) Hydrology
A study of the terrestrial part of the hydrological cycle, focussing on the various factors that influence the distribution of water resources over time and space. Topics include physical hydrology - the basic patterns of precipitation and runoff - and the major ways in which the Earth's surface, particularly in the humid-temperate zone, and human occupation of the planet can control these patterns. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 212.
GEOG 376 (3) Geomorphology
An examination of the genesis and distribution of landforms in glacial, periglacial, temperate, and tropical environments with an emphasis on Canadian landforms. Applications in engineering and resource development are discussed and methods of investigation and analysis are introduced in the laboratory sessions. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 212.
GEOG 428 (3) GIS Applications
An examination of GIS as a tool in decision making in such areas as municipal planning, natural resource management, business, archaeology, and history. Topics include data models, DTM, cost surfaces, managing uncertainty, and web-based mapping. Labs assist in developing marketable skills in analytical procedures and cartographic output. GEOG 428 was formerly called GEOG 329; credit will not be granted for both courses. (2:0:2)
Prerequisite: GEOG 328
GEOG 442 (3) Urban Land Assessment
An examination of the efficient and effective use of land and buildings in an urban environment. Identifying development opportunities and evaluating properties from an economic and social perspective are a focal part of this course. Topics include urban land markets, land use regulation and zoning, taxation, and housing. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 340.
GEOG 446 (3) Issues in Urban Growth Management (Ends Aug 2011)
An examination of contemporary urban growth issues from an environmental, development services, planning, and citizen's perspective. Examines the ecological and political implications of urban land use conflicts and assesses appropriate methods of resolving these conflicts within the context of public policy and political realities. Assesses the role of GIS. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 342.
GEOG 446 (3) Applications in Urban and Regional Management (Effective Sep 2011)
Examination of contemporary urban and regional management issues from environmental, development services, planning, and citizen's perspectives. Examines ecological and political implications of urban land use conflicts and assesses methods of resolving conflicts within the context of public policy and political realities. Assesses the role of GIS. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 342.
GEOG 452 (3) Natural Resource Assessment (Ends Aug 2011)
Focuses on the assessment of land and water resources. Topics include the principles of natural resource assessment and evaluation; resource surveys; and methods of resource assessment to aid multiple land-use management. Case studies are used. The importance of remote sensing and GIS in assessing natural resources. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 350.
GEOG 452 (3) Applications in Natural Resource Management (Effective Sep 2011)
Focuses on land and water resources. Includes resource surveys and other methods of land-use management assessment. Project-based assignments will guide students in the application of natural resource management practices. Case studies will be used. Inclusion of remote sensing and GIS processes. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 350.
GEOG 454 (3) Decision-making in Natural Resource Management
Examination of the basic theories and concepts underlying the management of natural resources, including their application in practice at the policy and field levels. An overview of the decision making process, the current context of resource management issues, management strategies, and implementation of resource decisions. Case studies are used. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 350.
GEOG 456 (3) Issues in Natural Resource Management
An examination of the integrated nature of issues that affect resource management, and potential solutions at the local, regional, national, and global levels. Issues include pressures on terrestrial, atmospheric, and marine ecosystems; the dilemma of stock resources, etc. Local professionals will provide guest lectures on contemporary issues. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: GEOG 350.
GEOG 466 (3) Regional Studies
Study of a selected region in the world. Topics include physical and human landscapes; settlement patterns; economic development; political and social structures and patterns; impact of globalization processes on the region. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 467 (3) Field Studies in Geography I
An opportunity to apply geographic perspectives, methods and techniques in a field-based research setting. Emphasizes qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis of physical and/or cultural landscapes. Pre-trip sessions and readings provide background knowledge of the field study area to enable individual project selection. (6:6:0 —30 for 3 weeks)
Prerequisite: GEOG 324.
GEOG 468 (3) Field Studies in Geography II
A continuation of GEOG 467. Provides an opportunity to apply geographic knowledge, research findings, and geographic skills to a practical field-based issue or problem. (0:0:0 —60 for 3 weeks)
Prerequisite: GEOG 467.
GEOG 474 (3) GIS Applications in Natural Resource Management
An advanced course in GIS applications that focuses on the use of geographic information systems as a tool in addressing a range of issues associated with managing natural resource bases. Topics include land use allocation, modeling movement/spread of a phenomenon, visual analysis of resource development, and hydrologic and watershed modeling. (1:0:3)
Prerequisite: GEOG 328 (GIS I).
GEOG 488 (3) Environmental Aesthetics
An examination of the appearance, meaning and value of landscape from a geographic perspective. Aesthetic satisfactions derived from natural and human-induced environments are studied. Includes a review of contemporary environmental theory and its application by geographers, architects and planners. NOTE: Students may not receive credit for GEOG 378 and 488. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
GEOG 491 (6) Research Project
A research project designed to address individual student interests in some aspect of physical or cultural geography or within the fields of natural resource management or urban growth management, preferably with a GIS focus or component. (0:0:3)
Prerequisite: GEOG 324 and GEOG 328.
GEOG 501 (3) Foundations of Geographic Information Systems
Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) theory and applications. Learn how geo-referenced data are captured, stored, analyzed, retrieved and produced using industry-standard software. Topics include: spatial data, data quality, vector and raster data models, map projections, coordinate systems, cartographic design principles, and sources of spatial data, including remotely-sensed data. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 511 (3) Geodatabases
An introduction to the structure and use of geodatabases. Topics include general database theory, instruction and practical exercises relating to the geodatabase structure, and the use of versioning to control multi-user access to large spatial databases. Students will also explore the personal geodatabase, coverage, and shapefile structures. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 521 (3) General Spatial Analysis
An introduction to spatial analysis techniques that addresses effective uses of GIS in solving real-world problems. Topics include analyzing tabular data, creating useful information from GIS data, displaying spatial information, editing vector and raster data, designing raster or vector models, and selecting overlay tools to obtain desired information from geographic data. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 523 (3) Advanced Applied Spatial Analysis
An advanced course in spatial analysis and GIS modeling that examines a range of techniques for different spatial applications. Topics include 3D terrain and hydrological analysis, geo-statistical analysis, network analysis, working with remote sensing and GPS data, and GIS modeling. Case studies are examined and assessed. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 524 (3) Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing
Develops skills and techniques to acquire, enhance, interpret, and analyze aerial-photography and digital imagery using visual and computer-based methods for a wide range of applications. Topics include basics of electromagnetic radiation, imaging systems (with special attention to satellites), digital data, landscape interpretation, and digital image processing techniques. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 525 (3) Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Survey Analysis
An introduction to global positioning systems (GPS) and survey analysis designed to develop an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of the use of GPS receivers as tools for data entry into GIS. Topics include basic procedures of surveying and how COGO can be used to precisely enter survey data into GIS. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 530 (3) Programming Foundations
An introduction to programming techniques for GIS applications, including programming using conditional execution structures, looping mechanisms, and class modules in the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) environment. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 531 (3) Visual Programming for GIS
Develops skills and techniques in GIS customization and development. Topics include extending ArcGIS functionality using ArcObjects; an introduction to Visual Basic.NET; writing applications with ArcGIS Engine; and writing geoprocessing scripts with Python. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 581 (3) Management Issues In GIS
Explores the planning, design, and execution of a GIS-based project. Students will define objectives, identify data sources, and outline analytical procedures to be used in a selected project. Additional topics include management of GIS projects in progress and issues surrounding data quality and error propagation. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: Introductory level courses in: GIS, Statistics, and Computer Programming.
GEOG 591 (9) GIS Applications Project: Practicum
A nine-week GIS applications project undertaken independently or under the auspices of a sponsor. Implementation of the project designed in GEOG 581. Project intended to strengthen a student's technical, communication, interpersonal skills and employment opportunities. Presentation of project findings is delivered as part of GEOG 593 course. (0:0:0 —135 for 9 weeks)
Prerequisite: GEOG 581
GEOG 593 (3) Internet GIS
Explores the impact the Internet has had on the display of GIS information. Examines different ways to display geographical data and analyzes different Internet mapping systems. GIS-like web applications are designed, including the production of animations. HTML, XML, and JavaScript programming languages are used to build and customize Internet mapping sites. (8:0:16 for 2 weeks)
Prerequisite: GEOG 581.
INTD 494 (3) Integrated Seminar in Natural and Cultural Resource Management
An in-depth interdisciplinary study of natural and cultural resource use and allocation issues. Topics include social, economic, ecological and political implications of resource use conflicts and resolution approaches; political and institutional processes of resource and environmental management; the role of citizens groups, land/resource owners, First Nations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Students from different disciplines will learn from one another in order to become educated, articulate and responsible stakeholders of British Columbia resources upon graduation. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Fourth-year standing in Recreation and Tourism program, or min. 84 credits for other programs.