Geography Courses

GEOG 1102-3. World Regional Geography. (This course is an approved Colorado Statewide Guaranteed Transfer Course). Analysis of the relationships of man and the landscape based on geographic distributions in the world.

GEOG 1111-1 to 3. Freshman Seminar.

GEOG 1202-3. Introduction to Physical Geography. The science that studies the processes, forms, and spatial or geographic structures of natural systems operating at or near the earth's surface, including weather, climate, and landform processes.

GEOG 1302-3. Introduction to Human Geography. (This course is an approved Colorado Statewide Guaranteed Transfer Course). Systematic introduction to basic concepts and approaches in human geographic analysis.

GEOG 1332-1. Topics in Science. Topics in Science. A series of five-week modules on various topics in physical geography. Section 001. Violent Storms. Analysis of the causes, characteristics, and regional patterns of thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes, emphasizing the hazards associated with each type of storm. Section 002. Elementary Surveying. Introduces the various techniques of running a traverse, location of points by intersection and resection, determination of distance by pacing, chaining, stadia, and trigonometry and carrying of elevations. Section 003. Basic Navigation. Introduces the principles of navigation using the sun as the celestial body. Emphasis is on determining latitude and longitude at solar noon. Section 004. Earthquakes. The characteristics, causes, and results of earth movements along faults. Section 005. Waves and Beaches. Analysis of wind-generated waves in the open ocean and the changes that occur as waves enter shallow water, forming surf. The tides and seismic sea waves

GEOG 1602-3. Introduction to Urban Studies. Surveys the process of urbanization, emphasizing the development of American cities and using Denver as an example. Topics covered include the evolution of metropolitan form and land use patterns, cultural landscape formation, city planning and architectural design, and urban social and policy issues.

GEOG 2202-3. Natural Hazards. A survey of those physical phenomena that often cause substantial damage when they occur in areas of human settlement.

GEOG 2612-3. World Cities. An introduction to major world urban trends, and comparative investigation of similarities and differences among specific cities around the world. The course includes a review of economic growth forces, transportation characteristics, land use patterns, housing issues, and government policy.

GEOG 2939-1 to 3. Internship/Cooperative Education. Experiences involving application of specific, relevant concepts and skills in supervised employment situations. Prereq: 15 hours of 2.75 GPA.

GEOG 3080-3. Introduction to Cartography and Computer Mapping. Study of major elements in the preparation of thematic maps, including sources of data collection and manipulation of data, and cartographic techniques for display of data.

GEOG 3100-3. Geography of Colorado. An analysis of the physical environment, history of settlement, and resource base of Colorado in relation to present economic patterns of the state.

GEOG 3120-3. Geography of Europe. An analysis of the physical environment, resource utilization, economic development and cooperation in Europe. A cultural and political geography which focuses on continuity and change in Eastern and Western Europe.

GEOG 3130-3. Central America and the Caribbean. A survey of the physical environment and cultural development of Central America and the Caribbean Islands.

GEOG 3140-3. Geography of South America. The physical environment, cultural development, and political instability within the area will be analyzed. Influence of the landscape and climate, as well as Iberian cultural and land tenure patterns on historic settlement and modern growth will be discussed. Problems associated with population, economics, politics, education, and geography are emphasized.

GEOG 3150-3. Middle East. A physical, cultural, and economic approach to the arid lands of the Middle East, including Arab land of the Sahara.

GEOG 3160-3. Geography of China. Geographic survey of the physical, cultural, and economic features characterizing the geography of China.

GEOG 3232-3. Weather and Climate. Designed to give the student an introduction to the processes and systems that govern both day-to-day weather and longer-term climate variations. Students will also learn about instrumentation and weather forecasting techniques. Prereq: GEOG 1202 or consent of instructor.

GEOG 3240-3. Colorado Climates. Designed to give the student a broad overview of the various weather and climate patterns that are found within the state of Colorado. TThe course will be taught in a seminar style with students giving presentations and reports on their findings. To accomplish this, the state of Colorado will be divided into regions which (hopefully) have a large degree of homogeneity in terms of weather and climate controls. Each student will report on a given region by way of reports and presentations. Prereq: GEOG 1202 and/or GEOG 3232 or consent of instructor.

GEOG 3302-3. Water Resources. Introduces water resources aimed at students with little or no background in the field. This is a broadcourse covering topics ranging from the physical aspects of water to water politics and international law. While the course is largely a lecture format, discussion of current issues is a significant part of the class.

GEOG 3411-3. Globalization and Regional Development. Addresses global political-restructuring and its implications for regional development in the U.S. Both historical and contemporary processes of globalization are examined. Topics include the environmental basis of American industrial growth, the relationship between technological change and geographical shifts, the rise and decline of Fordism, the transfer of Japanese manufacturing methods to the U.S., the role of regional and national industrial policy, and the social consequences of globalization for labor and communities.

GEOG 3430-3. Geography of Tourism. Geographic analysis of trends in recreation, travel, and tourism, and their economic, social, and environmental impacts. Examines growth and change in resorts and tourist destination areas. Prereq. Geog 1302 or Geog 3411.

GEOG 3770-3. Geography of Film. Geographic analysis of past and current film production and distribution systems and the complex relationships between filmmaking and place in feature, documentary and educational film. Prereq. Geog 1302 or Geog 3411.

GEOG 3939-1 to 3. Internship/Cooperative Education. Designed experiences involving application of specific, relevant concepts and skills in supervised employment situations. Prereq: junior standing and 2.75 grade-point average.

GEOG 3990/2990-3. Special Topics. Investigation of current topics in geography such as analysis of issues (crime, public transportation), techniques (socioeconomic impact analysis), or areas of specialization (climatology). Prerequisites will vary with each topic, but will be no less than six hours in relevant social or physical science.

GEOG 4000-3. Planning Methods I. (URP 5510.) Application of statistical, qualitative, and mathematical techniques to various analysis problems.

GEOG 4010-3. Biogeochemical Cycles. (GEOL 4000, ENVS 5000.) Topics include an introduction to ecosystem structures and functions of the biosphere, with a focus on the hydrologic cycle and global cycles of sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon. The global carbon cycle is reviewed as it relates especially to global warming. Prereq. Geog 1202 or Geog 3232 or permission of instructor. 

GEOG 4020-3. Earth Environments and Human Impacts.   Concepts describing Earth’s biomes as well as atmospheric and oceanic environments are presented in a systems context.  Climate change assessments, from both scientific and political perspectives are analyzed and discussed.  Basic quantitative model visualizations to consider human impacts on the Earth system are a part of problem-solving exercises. Geography majors in the Environmental Science Option are recommended to take the Option-required, two-semester applied statistics sequence, Intro. to Applied Stats (see Math Dept.) and GEOG 4770, Applied Stats for the Natural Sciences, before taking this course.
Cross-listed with ENVS 5020.

GEOG 4060/5060-3. Remote Sensing I: Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing. (GEOL 4060.) An in-depth treatment of the use of aerial photographs and other forms of imagery for the analysis of urban-industria patterns, vegetation, agriculture, landforms, and geologic structure.

GEOG 4070/5070-3. Remote Sensing II: Advanced Remote Sensing. (GEOL 4070.) Will focus on digital image processing of satellite and aerial images. Students will explore the nature of digital image data and will gain an understanding of image analysis using PCs. Students will also learn about the use of analysis products in the development of GIS data bases. Prereq: GEOG 4060/5060 or GEOL 4060/5060 or consent of the instructor.

GEOG 4080/5080-3. Geographic Information Systems. An introduction to various aspects of geographic information systems, including justification, definition of hardware/software, database design, and data conversion. A geographic information system is a computer-based mapping system providing a graphical interface to locational and relational attribute data on facilities and land. Hands-on use of a geographic information system workstation is an integral part of the course. Prereq: GEOG 3080 or consent of the instructor.

GEOG 4085/5085-3. GIS Applications. This course takes a more detailed look at the basic concepts presented in the introductory GIS course, concentrating on how GIS is used to solve real-world geographic problems. Various applications of GIS within both the natural and social sciences are highlighted. The selection of specific topics is flexible based on the interests of enrolled students.

GEOG 4090/5090-3. Environmental Modeling with GIS. This course focuses on the theory and procedures used in discovering and applying spatial relationships. It goes beyond the mapping and geo-query capabilities of GIS to spatial analysis and construction of spatial models. The course establishes a comprehensive framework that can be used to address a wide range of applications in natural and built environments. Topics include: the nature of spatial data; developing a framework for GIS analysis and modeling; vector-based modeling operations; understanding raster data and cell-based modeling; raster-based analytical operations; interpolation methods; the impact of uncertainty and error propagation in spatial modeling; sensitivity analysis. Prereq: GEOG 3080 OR GEOG 4080 or consent of the instructor.

GEOG 4095/5095-3. Deploying GIS Functionality on the Web.Experts and industry leaders predict that web-GIS (Geographic Information Systems deployed on the World Wide Web) and the new Web Services architecture may eventually become the dominant format for accessing GIS functionality and data. This is an upper-division/graduate course on understanding and applying the concepts and core technologies that allow the deployment of GIS functionality on the World Wide Web. The course aims to balance the understanding of concepts and principles with the acquisition of practical skills to allow students to create web-GIS applications. The theory and concepts are demonstrated and/or practiced using the latest GIS and web technologies. Emphasis will be placed on the use of Open Specifications and Open Source Software. Prereq: GEOG 3080 OR GEOG 4080 or consent of the instructor.

GEOG 4220/5220-3. Environmental Impact Assessment. (URP 6651.) An introduction to the environmental impact statement (EIS) process, its legal context, and the criteria and methods for procedural and substantive compliance. Students will develop skills appropriate to the preparation of environmental impact statements, and will become aware of issues fostering innovation and change.

GEOG 4230/5230-3. Hazard Mitigation and Vulnerability Assessment. An examination of hazard mitigation and its planning and policy implications, emphasizing how vulnerability assessments play an integral role. Students will explore how mitigation minimizes the impacts from hazards and will also use GIS to conduct a local study.

GEOG 4235/5235-3. GIS Applications in the Health Sciences. (HBS.) An examination of how GIS is used throughout the health care industry and public health, covering environmental health, disease surveillance, and health services research. Students will critically review current literature and gain hands-on experience with GIS software.

GEOG 4240-3. Principles of Geomorphology. (GEOL 4630.) Systematic study of rock structures, weathering, mass wasting, fluvial, wind, glacial, and shoreline processes, and the landforms they produce. Prereq: introductory college-level geology or physical geography.

GEOG 4260-3. Natural Resource Planning and Management. (URP 6653.) An introduction to problems of resource preservation, with special attention given to property rights and market failure, and their impacts on resource use. Planning and policy implications in reference to the optimal use of non-renewable resources, and the management and preservation of renewable resources, will be emphasized, as will the conflicts between growth and environmental quality.

GEOG 4265/5265-3. Sustainability in Resource Management.  Sustainability is the dominant economic, environmental, and social issue of the 21st century. An interdisciplinary approach aims to give a holistic view of these concepts in different geographical, ecological and socio-economic conditions. Prereq: ENVS 1042 or permission of instructor.

GEOG 4270-3. Glacial Geomorphology. (GEOL 4270.) Designed to give the student an in-depth view of the processes and systems found in glacial environments. Topics include: evidence of past glaciation; present-day glacial extent; glacier dynamics; glacial erosional processes and landforms; glacial depositional processes and landforms. Prereq: GEOG 1202 or consent of instructor.

GEOG 4335/5335-3. Contemporary Environmental Issues. This course provides an overview of environmental challenges facing society today, focusing on how humans impact and change the natural environment. Opposing views and environmental policy at the local, state, national, and international levels are explored. 

GEOG 4350/5350-3. Environment and Society in the American Past. An overview of the geographical development of North American society and economy from the late 15th century through the mid-20th century. Topics covered include the European-Indigenous encounter, colonial settlement and expansion, industrialization, agriculture and the frontier, slavery and the Civil War, urbanization, and immigration.

GEOG 4400/5400-3. Regional Economic Development. (URP 6671.) An examination of the process of economic development planning by the use of community economic development methodologies as the basis for creating regional development strategies.

GEOG 4610/5610-3. Urban Spatial Analysis. (URP 5520.) Detailed analysis of research efforts concerning the origin, economic growth processes, distribution, and functions of urban areas.

GEOG 4620/5620-3. Urbanization in Developing Countries. (URP 6680.) An overview and evaluation of urbanization and planning in the world's less developed countries for the purpose of understanding the complex cities of non-Western nations.

GEOG 4630/5630-3. Transportation Planning I: Transport Network Analysis. (URP 6673.) Consideration of advanced concepts and theories leading to description and understanding of the relationships between people, products, and transportation systems over space and time.

GEOG 4640/5640-3. Urban Geography: Denver and the U.S. Uses a combined lecture/seminar format to explore research themes in urban geography. Topics covered include both historical and contemporary processes of urban development and transformation. Particular emphasis is placed on the U.S. and Colorado's Front Range.

GEOG 4670/5670-3. Transportation Planning II: Urban Transportation Planning. (URP 6674.) A continuation of GEOG 4630, Geography of Transportation, involving an examination of major issues of urban transportation in the U.S. Included are the role of transportation in urban development, the urban transportation system, the relationship between land use planning and transportation planning, urban transportation planning processes, and selected case studies.

GEOG 4731-3. Biogeography. The changing patterns of plant and animal distribution will be investigated on a global and regional scale. Factors such as plate tectonics, climate change, dispersal mechanisms, competition, habitat fragmentation, and human interference (among others) that affect species distribution will be examined. Prereq: introductory environmental science, biology, or consent of instructor.

GEOG 4770-3. Applied Statistics in the Natural Sciences. Surveys statistical techniques: quick review of basic statistics, tests for normality and outliers, display of data; simple and multiple regression; ANOVA and its relation to regression. Emphasis on computer or stat-pak analysis and interpretation of statistical results. Prereq: college algebra and geometry. Cross-listed with ENVS 5600/GEOL 4770/5770.

GEOG 4840-1 to 3. Independent Study. (Undergraduate.) Independent research primarily for undergraduate majors. Prereq: consent of department.

GEOG 4940-3. Senior Seminar. Intended for geography majors who must complete a senior thesis as part of their major requirements. The course introduces students to the professional literature in the field, to the process of developing a research question and how to structure a thesis project. Students will also develop materials that will aid them in their search for professional careers upon graduation. Prereq: junior/senior status.

GEOG 4950-2. Honors Thesis. A capstone course designed to promote critical thinking, research methodology, and writing/oral presentation skills. Students will design and develop a research project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Each student will give an oral presentation or defense of his or her thesis at the end of the semester in which they enroll. Prereq: GEOG 4940 and junior/senior status.

GEOG 4990-3. Special Topics