BSU Catalog Home | Geography Program | All-University Courses and Descriptions

Geography Course Descriptions

(GEOG) College-Program: 17-15. Check with Department for quarter when these courses are offered.Read each courses description for prerequisites.

140 WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY (4 credits). A survey of physical, cultural, and economic aspects of world regions. An introduction to how constituent parts of the world differ from one another in their associated resources, cultures and economics. Attention is given to the interrelationships, interdependencies, and associations that bind together the diverse communities of the world. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ).

201 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY (4 credits). A systematic survey of land forms, weather and climate, soils and vegetation. Systematic. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

202 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (4 credits). Emphasizes the study of geographical relationships and interactions of cultural, social, economic, ethnic, and political phenomena. Topical approach to population subgroups, religions, languages, urban and rural settlements, and other attributes of the cultural landscape. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII).

203 ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY (4 credits). Spatial structure of world economic activities; agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry and trade. Systematic. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ).

204 INTRODUCTION TO PLANNING (4 credits). Background and fundamentals of the community planning process. Includes discussion of contemporary issues in physical, environmental and social planning. Emphasis is on the local and subregional levels.

222 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND REMOTE SENSING (4 credits). Development of understanding and skills necessary for interpreting air photos and remotely sensed images. Prerequisite: GEOG 122 or consent of the instructor.

300 WEATHER AND CLIMATE (4 credits). Weather elements and world climatic patterns. Systematic.

301 APPLIED PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY (4 credits). Geographical investigations of man's perception and utilization of the physical environment: atmospheric, hydrologic and geomorphic. The costs and benefits of environmental knowledge. Physical geography as it affects economic, sociological, political activities and planning. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: GEOG 201 or GEOL 113; or consent of the instructor.(Prerequisites updated from 96-98 hard copy catalog)

309 CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES (4 credits). Factors of resource exploitation. Methods of wise use of soils, forests, waters, minerals, wildlife and recreational areas. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

321 AMERICAN INDIAN LANDS (4 credits). A geographical analysis of Indian lands of the United States including the physical, economic, cultural, and recreational aspects. In addition the course will review aspects of the Federal-Indian relationship including law, treaties, judicial cases, jurisdiction, and current issues related to Indian land tenure. May also be taken as INST 321. Prerequisites: GEOG 201, 202, 203.

322 CARTOGRAPHY (4 credits). History, uses, and construction of maps with an emphasis on the drafting of thematic maps and graphs. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites: GEOG 122 or consent of the instructor.

323 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (4 credits). Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enable data that traditionally exist in maps or tables to be used in a computerized environment. This allows faster, more accurate, and more complex uses to be made of the information. The course addresses functional aspects of such systems and social and policy oriented implications of this approach to geographical analysis. Practical experience provided. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor or familiarity with personal computers and fundamentals of mapping.

324 UNDERSTANDING GIS TECHNIQUES I (2 credits). Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that store mapped information as cells of a uniform size in rows and columns called rasters are commonly in use. This course will use a hands on approach to familiarize students with a raster based system and the difficulties and assets of this form of GIS. Most aspects of data development, manipulation, analysis, and output will be performed through a series of exercises. Prerequisites: GEOG 122, Map Use, and familiarity with DOS, Permission of instructor.

325 UNDERSTANDING GIS TECHNIQUES II (2 credits). Vector based Geographic Information Systems use lines points and polygons to make up digital maps that are linked to relational databases which contain information on the features that are represented graphically. Through a hands-on approach this course will enable students to work through a series of exercises that simulate a complete project using a vector GIS. Steps will proceed from designing the database to digitizing, analyzing, developing graphics, and creating a macro program to automate parts of the process. Prerequisites: GEOG 122 and familiarity with DOS or Permission of Instructor.

330 GEOGRAPHY AND PLANNING OF OUTDOOR RECREATION (4 credits). An analysis of the use, perception, and planning of recreational resources and landscape amenities, with emphasis on geographical relationships and environmental stewardship. Includes some study out-of-doors. (May not be offered every year.)

331 LAND USE ANALYSIS AND PLANNING (4 credits). An examination of the identification and inventory methods of land use analysis including the designing of land use models which are compatible with environmental, social, and economic goals. Prerequisites: GEOG 201 and 204 or consent of instructor. (May not be offered every year.)

332 REGIONAL PLANNING METHODS (4 credits). An examination of the basic planning process, including the development of strategic and comprehensive plans, plan implementation, pertinent legislation, and sources and techniques of funding. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisites: GEOG 202, GEOG 203, and GEOG 222; or consent of instructor.

333 ENVIRONMENTAL PERCEPTION (4 credits). Spatial analysis of the variations of decision making processes resulting from human perception of the environment. A systematic survey of pertinent concepts of hazard perception, resource perception, landscape perception, and perception research as it pertains to cultural diversity, planning and environmental appraisal. (May not be offered every year.)

341 GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES (4 credits). A regional analysis of the physical, demographic, economic and cultural characteristics of the nation.

342 GEOGRAPHY OF CANADA (4 credits). A regional analysis of the physical, demographic, economic and cultural characteristics of Canada with emphasis on contemporary issues and its relationships with the U.S. (May not be offered every year.)

351 GEOGRAPHY OF MINNESOTA (4 credits). A geographic analysis of Minnesota considered topically in terms of the physical, economic, cultural, and recreational aspects of the state. Regional. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: GEOG 201 or 202; or consent of instructor. NOTE: Recommended for prospective teachers in the State of Minnesota.

380 REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY (1-4 credits). A regional and topical analysis of the cultural and physical features of a continent or major region of the earth. May be repeated provided different regions are involved. Note: Recommended for students in international studies, foreign languages, and for prospective teachers in the humanities or social studies. (May not be offered every year.)

381 GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE (4 credits). A regional analysis of the cultural, economic, physical and landscape patterns of the European cultural region. NOTE: Recommended for students in Euro-Spring, International Studies, foreign languages, and prospective teachers. (Applies to Liberal Education Area VII). (May not be offered every year.)

382 GEOGRAPHY OF EAST ASIA (4 credits).A geographic analysis of the physical, economic and cultural aspects of the East Asian region. NOTE: Recommended for students in international studies, foreign languages, and prospective teachers.(Applies to Liberal Education Area VII ).

383 GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH ASIA (4 credits). Geographic analysis of cultural, economic and environmental patterns of South Asia with comparisons to other major world regions. Emphasis is on the contemporary situation. NOTE: Recommended for students in international studies, foreign languages, and prospective teachers.

400 GEOGRAPHY OF POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT (4 credits). Problems of the growth of world population in relation to food supply and natural resources. Political and social implications of demographic and economic disparities between the underdeveloped and the developed nations. Analysis of world variations in settlement forms and urbanization. Systematic. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: GEOG 202 or consent of instructor.

402 URBAN GEOGRAPHY (4 credits). Functions and distribution of cities. Urban sizes, hierarchies, and external relations with the countryside. The central place and other theories of the spacing of cities. Internal structures and functions of cities, the growth of cities, urban slums, urban sprawl, and city planning. Systematic. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: GEOG 202 or consent of instructor.

409 FIELD GEOGRAPHY (4 credits). Field studies of selected geographic problems. Prerequisite: GEOG 322 or consent of instructor.

411 ADVANCED PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY (4 credits). Study of the origin and distribution of land-form assemblages with emphasis on the effects of weather and climate on morphology. Systematic. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: GEOG 201 or consent of instructor.

420 QUANTITATIVE PROCEDURES IN GEOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION (4 credits). Techniques of computer-aided analysis and quantitative methods related to spatial problems. Introduction to geographic source materials. Systematic. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: Any introductory statistics course and GEOG 322 or consent of instructor.

421 THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHIC THOUGHT (4 credits). Development of the discipline of Geography with emphasis on both the historical and recent developments in the field. Includes a critical analysis of writing of representative geographers. Note: Capstone course in the B.A. and B.S., option A. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: Senior status geography major or minor.

422 ADVANCED CARTOGRAPHY (4 credits). An extension of cartographic topics and techniques emphasizing computer applications, quantitative and thematic mapping. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: GEOG 322.

450 RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND NEEDS ANALYSIS IN OUTDOOR RECREATION (4 credits). Inventory and evaluation of resources and programs in relation to user needs and demands of outdoor recreation and tourism at the local, regional, and state levels. Emphasizes techniques and methods for evaluating supply and demand in the planning and management of outdoor recreation in both the public and private sectors. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: GEOG 330 or consent of instructor.

451 SITE ANALYSIS AND PLANNING (4 credits). Techniques and methods in the location, analysis, evaluation, and design of sites. Focuses especially on identifying use potentials and impact limitations for outdoor recreation planning and management. Extensive out-of-doors study. Note: Capstone course in the B.S., option C. (May not be offered every year.) Prerequisite: GEOG 330 or consent of instructor.