Brief Descriptions of Undergraduate Geography Courses (Prefix GEO):

100 Geographic Perspectives and World Issues (3)
Worldwide variations in the physical, economic, political, and social environments, and their impacts on the individual. LEC

101 Physical Environmental Geography (3)
Studies contemporary aspects of geography: physical and environmental. Lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere of the earth. LEC

102 Introduction to Human Geography (3)
Examines contemporary issues from a spatial perspective, including population and demography, cities and urban development, global economic relations, political trends, social problems and the environment. LEC

103 Geography of Economic Systems (3)
Theoretical and empirical assessment of the world’s natural and human resources, and analysis of the spatial systems of production, exchange, and consumption. LEC

106 Physical Environmental Geography II (4)
Prerequisite: GEO 101
Investigates how humans have impacted the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, landform, soil, and ecological systems. Impacts include climate change, water pollution, desertification, and deforestation. The role of science in identifying and solving these problems are emphasized in the lectures and in the lab assignments. Students may not obtain credit for both this course and GLY101 or GLY102. LEC/LAB

120 Maps and Mapping (3)
Map reading and interpretation. Uses of air photos for geographic research and everyday life. LEC

200 The Ocean World (3)
Introduces oceanography and its relationship to environmental, economic, and strategic aspects; impact of humans on the ecological balance among the oceans, continents, atmosphere, and living things. LEC

201 Disasters: A Study of Hazards (3)
Studies natural and human-induced disasters: storms, earthquakes, floods, fires, chemical pollution, war. Case studies, slides, films. LEC

231 U.S. Contemporary Problems (3)
Examines spatial structures and growth processes involving contemporary spatial dynamics of the American socioeconomic systems. LEC

330 Dynamics of International Business (3)
Dynamics of the international environment of trade and direct investment; problems and decision-making strategies associated with international corporations. LEC

333 Bases of World Commerce (3)
Theoretical and empirical study of the spatial aspects of commodity flows among countries and regions; conditions leading to trade and barriers to the movement of goods. LEC

334 International Environments and Commercial Problems (3)
Designed to help students who are preparing for careers in international business to gain a better understanding of the cultural differences among peoples. Emphasis is on the problems that these differences may pose for business travelers, and suggests the attitudes and types of information that such individuals must acquire if they are to work effectively in foreign areas. LEC

347 Climatic Geomorphology (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or permission of instructor
Geomorphic processes and landform development in humid, arid, periglacial, and glacial landscapes; impact of climatic change on landform development. LEC

348 Landform Development (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or GLY 103 or permission of instructor
Studies plate tectonics; structure; volcanism; minerals; rocks; weathering; slope development; and fluvial and coastal geomorphology. LEC

350 Landform Field and Laboratory Techniques (4)
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or permission of instructor
Studies use and application of various surveying instruments; measurement of hill slope and channel processes; analysis of sediment size, shape, and fabric. LEC/LAB

352 Introduction to Soils (3)
Introduces soil-forming processes, composition and classification of soils, and the spatial distribution of major soil categories. Analysis of soil properties, soil/plant relationships, nutrients, land management practices, and ecological problems. LEC

355 Landscape Ecology (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or permission of instructor
Examines the spatial structure, function, and dynamics of ecosystems. Applies this perspective to landscape management and conservation problems. Topics include community classification, natural disturbance, species dispersal, and biodiversity. LEC

356 Environmental Change (3)
Investigates how landscapes, and vegetation systems in particular, have changed over the past 10,000 years in response to environmental changes. Focuses on methods of fossil pollen and tree ring analyses as tools to reconstruct changes in environmental factors, such as climate, fire, earthquakes, and pollution. LEC

366 Urban Geography (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 103 or permission of instructor
External relationships and internal spatial structure of cities in general; industrial, commercial, and residential patterns. LEC

367 Urban Social Geography (3)
Explores the urban hierarchy and relations between cities as the internal functions (and disfunctions) of cities. Focuses on social problems, economic processes, political forces, and the built environment in contemporary urban life. LEC

381 Cartography (4)
Prerequisite: GEO 120
Systematically introduces cartography; elements of mapping and map analysis; statistical maps and their use; drafting and computer graphics techniques. LEC/LAB

386 Cartographic Internship (1-9)
Prerequisites: GEO 381, permission of instructor
Intensive training in cartography at a mapping facility. TUT

389 Business Geographics (4)
Prerequisites: GEO 103, GEO 120
Businesses manage large amounts of information related to customers, inventory, sales, and others. Storage and spatial referencing of this data are two processes that need to be carried out to make any business successful. GIS can help not only in these tasks but also in the identification of patterns and relationships that can save companies money and increase their profit. The focus of this course is the application of GIS in business, both in the private and public sectors. LEC/LAB

410 Univariate Statistics in Geography (4)
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or GEO 102 or GEO 103 or permission of instructor
Introduces use of statistical techniques in geography; simulation experiments conducted in the laboratories; introduces SPSS computing. LEC/LAB

411 Multivariate Statistics in Geography (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 410 or permission of instructor
Analysis of variance; simple and multiple regression; factor and cluster analysis. LEC

418 Population Geography (3)
Examines recent trends in population redistribution in the United States. Methods for producing population estimates and forecasts. Applications of population analysis to the planning problems of government and business. LEC

419 Transportation and Society (3)
Prerequisites: GEO 103 and GEO 411, or permission of instructor
Studies evolution of the U.S. transportation system; contemporary transportation problems; provision of transportation, transport networks, transport flows, urban transportation, logistics, information technologies; transport and urban forms. Formerly GEO331. LEC

420 Transportation and Spatial Information (4)
Prequisites: GEO 419, and GEO 389 or GEO 481
Overview of data used in transportation, including travel behavior surveys, vehicle locations, and traffic information. The course also covers GIS-T data models, data accuracy, primary and secondary data collection and storage approaches, geo-processing of network data, principles of Intelligent Transportation Systems, and location-based services. LEC/LAB

425 Industrial Geography (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 103 or permission of instructor
Theoretical and empirical interpretation of manufacturing location; global patterns of production and decision making of the firm; locational change and interdependence of world regions. LEC

426 Senior Geography Seminar (3)
Prerequisite: senior standing in geography; for majors only
Topics vary each semester. SEM

430 Applied Urban Geography (4)
Applied Urban Geography is the study of the spatial structure of urban and metropolitan areas. Among other topics, it includes: (1) a study of the changing form of urban areas over time; (2) the behavior of people that gives rise to particular urban forms; (3) the ways in which the internal structure of cities affects individual and group behavior and welfare; and, (4) the various ways in which people perceive and interact with their environment.

440 Geographic Internship (3)
For advanced students. Work opportunity in a local governmental agency or firm. See the director of undergraduate studies for more information. TUT

444 Earth System Science (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or permission of instructor
The lecture presents and discusses concepts, theories and applications in Earth system science investigating the complexity of physical, chemical and biological processes in geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and ecosphere. Fundamental understanding of the Earth system includes emphasizing these dynamic processes and their interaction that extend over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The lecture aims to create an interdisciplinary learning environment that supports understanding and communicating with other scientists about environmental issues. LEC

449 Fluvial Geomorphology (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or permission of instructor
Hill slope hydrology; erosion, water, and sediment yields from drainage basins. Water and sediment in stream channels; channel geometry; humans’ impact on stream channels. LEC

451-453 Special Topics in Cartography (3 cr each)
Prerequisite: GEO 481 or GEO 485 or permission of instructor
Advanced seminar. Topics vary each semester. Independent projects in the field being covered required. SEM

454 Soils Laboratory Methods (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 352
Studies soils laboratory techniques; field surveying methods. Soil surveying, slope measurement. LEC/LAB

460 Geography of Development (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 103 or GEO 330 or GEO 333 or permission of instructor
Reviews the literature dealing with the spatial and regional processes of economic development in the last half of the twentieth century. Emphasis is placed on the influence of the evolving global economy upon the geographic patterns of economic development. LEC

462 Network and Location Analysis (4)
Prerequisites: GEO 419, GEO 481
This course examines the basic theories and concepts behind transportation networks, their structure and operation as well as their need in different applications such as location theory. The topics covered will be approached from both a theoretical and a GIS perspective. LEC/LAB

464 Mobility and Flows (4)
Prerequisites: GEO 419, GEO 481
The study of spatial problems such as optimal location, logistics, and retail market analysis has long been one of the main areas of geographic research. However, the individual human component, which constitutes one of the main actors in these problems, is commonly missing. This course focuses on the study of the human decision-making process underlying spatial mobility, which results in the creation of patterns and daily routines. It covers the different environments and theories involved in the process, as well as the modeling techniques that have been used with an emphasis on the application of geographic information systems. LEC/LAB

470 Integrated Watershed Management (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or permission of instructor
This interdisciplinary course introduces an integrated framework for environmental management that addresses biophysical, social, and economic issues affecting natural resources such as water, soil, air, plant and animal communities and their use through agriculture, forestry, fishery, mining, human settlements and industry. The multidisciplinary approach equips the participants with the necessary approaches and techniques to develop sound management policy and practice in the context of the watershed scale ranging from small watersheds to large basins. The course outlines methods for problem definition and goal setting to elect management strategies and procedures for monitoring and implementation. LEC

475 Landscape Modeling with GIS (3)
Prerequisite:GEO 481 or permission of instructor
The lectures and computer lab exercises introduce concepts, theories and applications of geo-spatial analysis and modeling tools in a raster-based GIS. The new techniques enable students to analyze and assess geo-spatial physical and non-physical processes in landscapes. However, the lectures also present and discuss methods to analyze spatial problems in Geology, Environmental Science, Engineering, Ecology, Business and Human Geography. LEC

479 GIS and Environmental Modeling (4)
Emphasizes GIS applications in environmental research. Methodology design is the primary focus and is discussed under the following topics: direct application of GIS functions, integrating GIS with statistics, and interfacing GIS and environmental models. Case studies are introduced. The last section of the course covers advanced topics in GIS research. Lab exercises familiarize students with basic operation of GIS projects. LEC/LAB

481 Geographic Information Systems (4)
Prerequisite: basic introduction to computer programming
Introduces students to the various uses of computers in geography, including spatial data handling. Principles of geographic information systems (GIS) and the basic internal operations of a GIS are covered. Introduces students to the geographic information systems operating in the Geographic Information and Analysis Laboratory. LEC/LAB

483 Remote Sensing (4)
Prerequisite: GEO 481 or GEO 485 or permission of instructor
Principles, characteristics, and applications of remote sensing; practical training in the methods and techniques of the interpretation and analysis of aerospace remotely sensed data. LEC/LAB

484 GIS Applications (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 481
Explores capabilities for micro- and minicomputer applications of geographic information systems, including such topics as data volumes, data partitioning, and database construction and maintenance. Applications to urban-planning and natural-resource management will be explored using ARC/INFO. LEC

485 Cartography and Geographic Visualization (4)
Prerequisite: GEO 120 or GEO 381 or permission of instructor
Examines current issues in cartography and geographic visualization (GVIS), focusing on the use of maps and other visual representations to facilitate thinking, problem solving, and decision making in geography. Lectures focus on the history and conceptual background of cartography and GVIS, visual functions and forms, and such topics as interface design, animation, multimedia, hypermedia, color, sound, multivariate displays, terrain, etc. Lab sessions provide hands-on experience in constructing basic cartographic visualization tools with various hardware and software packages. LEC/REC

486 Spatial Decision-Support Systems (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 481
Adds the spatial element to decision-support systems by integrating analytic modeling and GIS; issues in system design and implementation. LEC

487 Thematic Cartography (4)
Applies formal principles of graphic design with skills of computer and manual cartographic production. Introduces principles and skills of computer-assisted cartographic production, and of photographic and digital-enhancement techniques that may be incorporated in the map production process. LEC

488 GIS Design (4)
Prerequisite: GEO 481
Emphasizes problems and methods for defining GIS user needs and the development cycle. Methods and software engineering are adapted to the GIS planning process. Topics include product identification, data sources, system selection, and implementation scheduling. LEC/LAB

489 GIS Algorithms and Data Structures (4)
Examines the data models for geographic information systems. Student programming projects emphasize alternative methods of implementing common GIS operations. LEC/LAB

490 Geography Honors Program (3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
Students who have completed at least 96 credit hours and who have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in geography and overall are eligible to participate in the honors program. See director of undergraduate studies for more information. TUT

495 Database Design for Geographic Information Systems (3)
Prerequiste: Students should have completed an introductory computer programming course. This course offers a theoretical foundation for representation of knowledge in spatial information systems and logic based programming as a tool for fast prototyping and design of geographic systems. Key topics discussed are methods for formalizing interactions of geographic objects; characteristics of various information models including hierarchical, network, relational and object-oriented; overview of database management systems and their suitability for spatial data; the transaction concept; and the design of database scheme for geographic applications using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Oracle RDBMS. Lecture concepts are reinforced through a set of laboratory exercises. LEC

496 Children's Urban Geographies (4)
A service-learning course involving a seminar focused on the cutting-edge field of children?s geographies and the opportunity to conduct community service and qualitative research projects with low-income children in Buffalo through an after-school program in the city. Dual-listed with GEO596, the course is open to undergraduates and graduate students who are interested in critical urban geographies, children and education, creative hands-on qualitative research, community service. SEM

497 Geostatistics (3)
Prerequisite: GEO 410 or equivalent
Introduces the basic concepts, assumptions, statistical principles, and applications of geostatistics. Topics include spatial interpolation; the relationship of geostatistics to geographic information systems. Students also gain experience in the use of a geostatistics software package. LEC

499 Independent Study (1-4)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. TUT