Geography Department Courses

100 Level Courses
100 Cultural Geography.  3 hrs.	A survey of major countries of the world in a regional context with emphasis on cultural elements that are significant to man.
101  Physical Geography.  3 hrs.	Systematic survey of earth-sun relationships, land-surface form, climate, soils, water, natural vegetation, and other natural content as a background for human geography. Lab included.
110 Basic GIS	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems concepts including GIS components, spatial and tabular data, database elements, data formats, and map design; hands-on experience with a GIS.
200 Level Courses
203  Economic Geography.  3 hrs.	A Systematic examination of world economic geography with a focus on population, agriculture, transportation, land use, urbanization, industry, energy, and the environment.
206  Geography of West Virginia.  3 hrs.	Transportation, population, mining, industry, and agriculture as related to climate, soils, land forms, and other natural environmental items.
230  Intro Meteorology 4 hrs.	Introduction to the composition of the atmosphere and weather phenomena, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
280-283  Special Topics.  1-4 hrs.
300 Level Courses
305  Geography of North America.  3 hrs.	Survey of physical, historical, population, economic, political, cultural, and regional geographies of Canada and the United States. International issues involving Mexico also considered.
317  World Regional Geography. 3 hrs.	World regions examined using a synthesis of physical and human geographical themes including environment, culture, landscape, climate, landforms, globalization, population patterns, urbanization, economies, and political geography.
350 Severe Local Storms and Natural Hazards 4 hrs.	Basics of earth and atmospheric hazards including flooding, hurricanes, droughts, blizzards, tornadoes, and volcanic eruptions, and how to mitigate the impacts.
360 Weather Analysis 3 hrs.	Introduction to reading weather maps and meteorological analysis techniques including satellite and radar image interpretation and numerical weather prediction. (PR: GEO230)
400 level courses
401  Historical Geography 3 hrs.	Historical study of human settlement patterns, population diffusion, economic development, and the evolution of state boundaries with an emphasis on processes that inform upon contemporary geographic patterns.
402  Geography of Appalachia.  3 hrs.	A study of settlement, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and resource potential.
403  Geography of Asia.  3 hrs.	Special attention given activities and environment in representative continental countries and nearby islands.
404  Geography of Europe. 3 hrs.	Relationship between man’s activities and natural environment studied by countries, with attention given to inter-relation of countries.
405  Political Geography.  3 hrs.	A systematic and regional survey of world political problems and international relations stressing studies of the United States, Europe, and the Soviet Union.
406  Population Geography.  3 hrs.	This course introduces students to the key spatial features, characteristics, and patterns of population geography, with an emphasis on international population issues and trends.
407 Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa.  3 hrs.	An exploration of the geography of Sub-Sahara Africa, its land and people, with a focus on contemporary issues that challenge Africans in the 21st Century.
408  Geography of Middle and South America.  3 hrs.	A study of settlement, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, geopolitics, and natural resources of South and Middle American countries.
409 Geography of North Africa and the Middle East.  3 hrs.	A geographical study of agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, settlement, geopolitics, and natural resources of the Middle Eastern countries.
410  Urban Geography.  3 hrs.	Study of the morphology, function, and development of cities and the urban fringe. An emphasis is place on social and environmental costs of urbanization, as well as urban and rural linkages.
411  Medical Geography.  3 hrs.	An introduction to medical geography and its applications, including epidemiology, biometeorology, disease diffusion, healthcare delivery, folk medicine, regional health variations, agromedicine, and rural health issues in Appalachia.
412  Geography of Russia 3 hrs.	Geographical appraisal of cultural, political, and economic aspects of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
414  Methods and Techniques of Regional Planning.  3 hrs.	Introductory planning with emphasis on methods, techniques, tools and principles necessary to accomplish objective regional planning.
415  Regional Planning and Development.  3 hrs.	The philosophy, theories, and principles involved in planning of urban and rural areas. (PR: GEO 414 or permission of instructor)
416  Environmental Planning.  3 hrs.	An examination of the role the natural environment plays in urban and rural land use planning; with an emphasis on consequences of land use change, and applications of planning techniques.
417  Coal Industries Studies: Past & Present.  3 hrs.	An interdisciplinary study for all facets of the coal industry within a historic perspective. Emphasis is placed upon coal industry of West Virginia and the tri-state region.
418  Geography for Teachers.  3 hrs.	A study of elements of geography most essential for effective teaching of geographic content in professional education and the social studies.
419  Geography of Gender.  3 hrs.	Introduces gender as an essential element in understanding not only the geographic literature, but also the spatial dimensions and implications of gender and the cultural landscape
420  Geographic Field Research.  3 hrs.	This class will develop individual research projects based on data collected in the field; producing an original piece of geographic research. This course fulfills the Capstone requirement for undergraduate geography majors.
421  Concepts and Methods in Geography.  3 hrs.	Survey of the history, literature, prominent individuals, and major paradigms in geography. Review of the major concepts in geography and an introduction to various methods of geographic inquiry.
422 Environmental Geography 3 hrs.	Upper Level Environmental studies course.
425  Climatology.  3 hrs.	A study of elements of weather and climate, methods of climatic classification, and distribution and characteristics of world climate regions.
426 Principles of GIS 3 hrs.	Introduction to GIS software and techniques using vector data with emphasis on foundational geographic principles such as map projections and coordinate systems.
429 GIS Vector Analysis 3 hrs.	Introduction to GIS vector analysis, beginning with the vector data model, and including buffering, overlay analysis, geocoding, and network analysis. (PR: GEO426 or IST423)
430 GIS Raster Analysis 3 hrs.	GIS raster analysis, including local, neighborhood, and zonal operations, terrain analysis, building raster databases, distance modeling, and surface interpolation. (PR: GEO426 or IST423)
431 Analysis of Digital Airborne and Space-Based Imagery. 3 hrs.	Scientific study of the earth using images and data captured using satellite- or aircraft-borne sensors, with emphasis on issues of acquisition, photogrammetric interpretation, spatial analysis, and application. (PR: GEO426 or IST423)
440 Quantitative Methods. 3 hrs.	Introduction to the application of statistical methods in geographical problems. Attention given to analysis of areal data, area sampling, and spatial analysis techniques. (PR: MTH121 or higher)
480-483  Special Topics.  1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.
485-488  Independent Study. 1-4 hrs.
490 Internship. 3 hrs.	Cooperative learning experience with regional employer/government agency.
495H-496H  Reading for Honors in Geography.  4 hrs.
500 level courses
501  Historical Geography 3 hrs.	Historical study of human settlement patterns, population diffusion, economic development, and the evolution of state boundaries with an emphasis on processes that inform upon contemporary geographic patterns.
502  Geography of Appalachia.  3 hrs.	A study of settlement, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and resource potential.
503  Geography of Asia.  3 hrs.	Special attention given activities and environment in representative continental countries and nearby islands.
504  Geography of Europe. 3 hrs.	Relationship between man’s activities and natural environment studied by countries, with attention given to inter-relation of countries.
505  Political Geography.  3 hrs.	A systematic and regional survey of world political problems and international relations stressing studies of the United States, Europe, and the Soviet Union.
506  Population Geography.  3 hrs.	This course introduces students to the key spatial features, characteristics, and patterns of population geography, with an emphasis on international population issues and trends.
507 Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa.  3 hrs.	An exploration of the geography of Sub-Sahara Africa, its land and people, with a focus on contemporary issues that challenge Africans in the 21st Century.
508  Geography of Middle and South America.  3 hrs.	A study of settlement, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, geopolitics, and natural resources of South and Middle American countries.
509 Geography of North Africa and the Middle East.  3 hrs.	A geographical study of agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, settlement, geopolitics, and natural resources of the Middle Eastern countries.
510  Urban Geography.  3 hrs.	Study of the morphology, function, and development of cities and the urban fringe. An emphasis is place on social and environmental costs of urbanization, as well as urban and rural linkages.
511  Medical Geography.  3 hrs.	An introduction to medical geography and its applications, including epidemiology, biometeorology, disease diffusion, healthcare delivery, folk medicine, regional health variations, agromedicine, and rural health issues in Appalachia.
512  Geography of Russia 3 hrs.	Geographical appraisal of cultural, political, and economic aspects of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
514  Methods and Techniques of Regional Planning.  3 hrs.	Introductory planning with emphasis on methods, techniques, tools and principles necessary to accomplish objective regional planning.
515  Regional Planning and Development.  3 hrs.	The philosophy, theories, and principles involved in planning of urban and rural areas. (PR: GEO 414 or permission of instructor)
516  Environmental Planning.  3 hrs.	An examination of the role the natural environment plays in urban and rural land use planning; with an emphasis on consequences of land use change, and applications of planning techniques.
517  Coal Industries Studies: Past & Present.  3 hrs.	An interdisciplinary study for all facets of the coal industry within a historic perspective. Emphasis is placed upon coal industry of West Virginia and the tri-state region.
518  Geography for Teachers.  3 hrs.	A study of elements of geography most essential for effective teaching of geographic content in professional education and the social studies.
519  Geography of Gender.  3 hrs.	Introduces gender as an essential element in understanding not only the geographic literature, but also the spatial dimensions and implications of gender and the cultural landscape
520  Geographic Field Research.  3 hrs.	This class will develop individual research projects based on data collected in the field; producing an original piece of geographic research. This course fulfills the Capstone requirement for undergraduate geography majors.
521  Concepts and Methods in Geography.  3 hrs.	Survey of the history, literature, prominent individuals, and major paradigms in geography. Review of the major concepts in geography and an introduction to various methods of geographic inquiry.
522 Environmental Geography 3 hrs.	Global environmental problems and their causes.
525  Climatology.  3 hrs.	A study of elements of weather and climate, methods of climatic classification, and distribution and characteristics of world climate regions.
526 Principles of GIS 3 hrs.	Introduction to GIS software and techniques using vector data with emphasis on foundational geographic principles such as map projections and coordinate systems.
529 GIS Vector Analysis 3 hrs.	Introduction to GIS vector analysis, beginning with the vector data model, and including buffering, overlay analysis, geocoding, and network analysis. (PR: GEO526 or GEO530)
530 GIS Raster Analysis 3 hrs.	GIS raster analysis, including local, neighborhood, and zonal operations, terrain analysis, building raster databases, distance modeling, and surface interpolation. (PR: GEO526 or GEO529)
531 Analysis of Digital Airborne and Space-Based Imagery. 3 hrs.	Scientific study of the earth using images and data captured using satellite- or aircraft-borne sensors, with emphasis on issues of acquisition, photogrammetric interpretation, spatial analysis, and application. (PR: GEO526 or GEO529 or GEO530)
540 Quantitative Methods. 3 hrs.	Introduction to the application of statistical methods in geographical problems. Attention given to analysis of areal data, area sampling, and spatial analysis techniques.
580-584  Special Topics.  1-4 hrs.	Selected geography subjects to cover unusual geography topics not in the regular course offerings of the department
585-588  Independent Study.  1-4 hrs.
600 level courses
607  Economic Geography. 3 hrs.	Topics in economic geography, including industrial location, transportation systems, economic development, international trade relationships, and globalism.
609 Geographical Research. 3 hrs.	Geographical research methods stressed with special attention given to the development of a viable research proposal.
610-614 World Regions 3 hrs.	In-depth investigation of the cultural, physical, economic, and political aspects of a world region as defined by instructor expertise and interest.
617-619 Seminars in Geography 3 hrs.	Selected geogroaphy subjects/topics not included in the regular course offerings of the department are considered, using a seminar approach to learning.
620  Problems in Environmental Geography 3 hrs.	Presents elements of conservation education in the specific areas of soil, water, and human conservation.
631 Advanced GIS Projects 3 hrs.	Use of advanced GIS techniques to solve community-service research problems. (PR: GEO526 or GEO529 or GEO530 or GEO531)
679  Applied Project. 1-3 hrs.
681  Thesis.  1-6 hrs.
690  Internship in Geography. 1-6 hrs.	Professional work experience in applied geography with an approved agency.