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Geography Department Courses

Undergraduate Course Descriptions

100 Level Courses 200 Level Courses 300 Level Courses
400 Level Courses

 

Graduate Course Descriptions

500 Level Courses 600 Level 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.

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