Undergraduate Geography
Undergraduate Geography
2025 Fall Term
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INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRPY 100
Introduction to Geography introduces students to the specialties within geography, outlines the academic tracks within the major and associated requirements, and explores public and private career opportunities in the field of geography. Required of all majors at earliest opportunity.
GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS
GEOGRPY 120
Introduction to global energy, moisture, and circulation systems that drive climates at the global scale. Emphasis will be on the patterns of interannual variability (climate change) and the physical processes that cause those changes. The processes examined will be 1) internal forcing mechanisms (atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and hydrosphere), 2) external forcing mechanisms (solar dynamics, orbital pattern changes, tectonic changes), and 3) human-induced forcing mechanisms (deforestation, atmospheric composition changes, etc.). As part of the lab component, students will apply the concepts learned in the course to complete a small research project that guides them through the scientific process.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRPY 210
A study of selected physical aspects of our geographic environment. Emphasis is given to the origin and characteristic features of topographic, climatic, vegetative and soil regions of the earth and to their interrelationships. The ultimate objective is to provide a foundation upon which to build a better understanding of human interrelationships with the physical environment. Field trips are normally taken.
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRPY 230
A systematic study of human land relationships highlighting the diversity of the elements that make up the cultural landscape in various regions.
GEOGRAPHY OF WISCONSIN
GEOGRPY 250
A systematic treatment of physical and cultural geographic phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the interrelationships and interactions of these phenomena from place to place within the state.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
GEOGRPY 252
An introduction to environmental problems and their complexities. Attention is given to alternative solutions to such problems and the implications these alternatives have for the total environment. The course emphasizes the evaluation of the interrelationships between the environmental resource demands of people and the actual resource base of the earth.
LANDSCAPES OF NORTH AMERICA: PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT
GEOGRPY 261
The United States and Canada have a diverse geography of land, water, and people. This course explores the regional connections between economic activities, cultures, physical characteristics, and natural resources in North America.
GIS I: MAPPING OUR WORLD
GEOGRPY 270
Time to get "spatial." Geographic. To see the world in terms of relationships between places and things, patterns and processes. Students will learn how use geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze spatial patterns and communicate through maps. Issues, problems, and examples will be used from a variety of natural resources, social science, and business fields.
WATER RESOURCES
GEOGRPY 323
Class will investigate the pathways and processes of water transfer and storage in the many reservoirs on earth, along with the impact of human activities on water quality and fluxes. Detail is given to shallow groundwater monitoring and soil indicators of saturation for wetland delineation, anthropegenic effects on streams, and land use issues related to water quality. Field trips normally taken.
BIOGEOGRAPHY
GEOGRPY 330
This course provides an introduction to biogeography, the study of distributions of organisms. This course will combine both historical and ecological perspectives in analyzing plant and animal distributions. Human impacts on biotic distributions will also be discussed in some detail.
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRPY 340
The study of the spatial organization of economic activities, including patterns of production, exchange and consumption. A broad introduction to locational behavior is presented and applied examples are stressed.
GIS II: APPLICATIONS AND DATA
GEOGRPY 370
The basic principles and operations of geographic information systems (GIS) are presented, including the capture, storage, management, analysis and display of geographic referenced data and their attributes. Laboratory exercises provide extensive hands-on experiences with a number of GIS software packages, including both raster and vector systems.
CLIMATE CHANGE: THE SCIENCE AND IMPACTS
GEOGRPY 420
This course examines the topic of climate change from many perspectives. First, the science behind climate change is explored to determine the various natural and man-made influences on climate change. Second, the impacts are explored and how they are related to climate change; these topics range from the economic, political, cultural, and ecological.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRPY 452
Sustainable development works toward a world in which we balance environmental, social, and economic goals. In this class, you'll learn the origins of sustainable development and how its principles are defined and implemented in different communities. Additionally, we'll learn how human-environment geography helps us better understand human actions, cultures, and values and their impacts on environmental, political, and economic systems.
ADVANCED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
GEOGRPY 477
Students will learn a variety of skills needed in professional GIS careers including field techniques (unmanned aerial vehicles and differential GPS), web-based GIS (servers and interactive cartography), and GIS automation through scripting (Python and JavaScript). Practical skills are developed through both field and lab work including applied real-world projects.
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRPY 498
Study of a selected topic or topics under the direction of a faculty member. Repeatable one time for a maximum of 6 credits in major/degree.
INDEPENDENT STUDY - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
GEOGRPY 498R
Study of a selected topic or topics under the direction of a faculty member. Repeatable one time for a maximum of 6 credits in major/degree.