Regional climates of the world and underlying general atmospheric circulation patterns. Climate classification, physical climatic processes, spatial and temporal aspects of climate, climate changes. Sources and use of climate data.
Graduate Courses
GEO 303 Severe and Hazardous Weather
Basic understanding and scientifically accurate discussion of all types of severe and hazardous weather. Including extratropical cyclones, freezing precipitation and ice storms, lake effect snowstorms, cold waves, blizzards, thunderstorms, tornadoes, downbursts, tropical cyclones, floods, drought, and heat waves.
GEO 326 Cartographic Design and Production
A study of the elements of map design including planning, layout, typography, color theory and selection, and user issues. Techniques of map production, for both printed and electronic display.
GEO 401 Geography of Plants of North America
A study of the distribution of plants and vegetation in North America including the ecological processes and human impacts responsible for this geography. Includes opportunities for field study.
GEO 402 Agricultural Climatology
A study of the relationships between climate and agriculture in resource assessment, water budget analysis, meteorological hazards, pests, crop-yield modeling, and impacts of global climate change.
GEO 403 Dynamic Meteorology
Principles of fluid dynamics and their application to the atmosphere.
GEO 405 Weather Analysis and Forecasting
Dynamic and thermodynamic principles of atmospheric science applied to the development and evolution of extratropical cyclones. Laboratory sessions include analysis of current observations and satellite imagery.
GEO 407 Regional Geomorphology of the United States
A survey of the geomorphic characteristics of the major physiographic and landform regions of the United States.
GEO 408 Soils Geomorphology Field Study
Field observations of the common geographic relationships among soils, landforms, and vegetation in lower Michigan including the description, analysis, and genesis of soils, surficial processes and landscapes.
GEO 409 Global Climate Change and Variability
An analysis of climate change and variability at various time and space scales. Includes climate systems, paleoclimatology, global warming, climate models, and climate impact assessment.
GEO 410 Geography of Food and Agriculture
A survey of the spatial patterns of contemporary global agriculture and food systems. Includes human-environment interactions of selected agricultural practices and food systems and the effects of agricultural practices on natural and human resources.
GEO 411 Stream Systems and Landforms
A study of the themes associated with stream systems including the evolution of drainage basins and channel hydrology, the nature of flowing water, stream discharge, and flooding. Special topics include human controls of stream behavior, channel patterns and landform development. A field project focuses on Michigan stream systems.
GEO 413 Urban Geography
A study of the theories and models of urban spatial form including the underlying structures and processes of cities. Special emphasis on socio-spatial dimensions of modern urbanism and differentiation and locational conflict in residential, commercial, and industrial space.
GEO 414 Geography of Transportation
Spatial principles of transportation including theories of interaction, network structures, and location-allocation models. Special emphasis on the role of transport and transport planning.
GEO 415 Location Theory and Land Use Analysis
Classical and neoclassical, static and dynamic models of industrial location and spatial organization. Includes land rent theory, central place theory, multi-locational organization, and growth transmission.
GEO 418 The Ghetto
Analysis of the U.S. urban ghetto including its spatial organization and structure including the distribution of racial and ethnic populations.
GEO 424 Advanced Remote Sensing
A study of the measurable interaction of solar radiation with the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Includes introductory digital image processing, radar and thermal remote sensing, earth-resources satellite sensors, data products, and applications.
GEO 425 Problems in Geographic Information Systems
Advanced theoretical and technical issues in geographic information science utilizing a problems-oriented approach. Development and implementation of geographic information science solutions and formal documentation of work.
GEO 426 Thematic Cartography
Principles, techniques, and decision making in thematic mapping including the use of computer-mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) software to produce individual thematic maps and map series. Emphasis on the electronic delivery of thematic maps.
GEO 428 Digital Terrain Analysis
Theoretical and technical issues of collection, management, analysis, and display of terrain data. Application of photogrammetry, geographic information systems, and cartography to earth landforms.
GEO 429 Geoprocessing
Applications of computer programming to address geographic information problems. Integration of digital space data, geographic information systems, spatial analysis, and expert systems.
GEO 432 Environmental Ethics
Ethical dimensions of environmental and spatial issues and associated public policies.
GEO 435 Geography of Health and Disease
Spatio-environmental concepts and techniques applied to health problems including disease transmission cycles, community nutrition, and health-care planning.
GEO 436 Spatial Analysis of Populations
Concepts and methods to measure and evaluate geo-spatial and temporal trends in populations and their components, such as natality, mortality, migration, and characteristics at different geographic scales. Topics include sources of spatial population data and visualization and analysis of data in maps.
GEO 440 Critical Geopolitics
Political geographies of origins and conduct of nation-states. Includes identity-place dynamics, colonialism and imperialism, resistance and terrorism, and resource and environmental politics.
GEO 441 Cultural Geography
Survey of the geographic study of world cultures, cultural ecologies, cultural landscapes, and cultural influences on societies’ patterns of spatial organization.
GEO 453 Metropolitan Environments
Study of the physical fabric of the city and the growth of regional centers in the American urban landscape. Includes land use change and other issues associated with urban developments, practices and patterns in the 20th century and the resulting metropolitan form and function. Extensive use of geographic information software in spatial analysis of urban patterns.
GEO 454 Geography of Environment and Development
Spatial patterns and processes associated with regional development in selected world areas.
GEO 459 Tourism in Regional Development
The role of tourism in regional development with examples from Michigan, the United States, and other nations. Special emphasis on environmental issues.
GEO 480 Senior Seminar
A review of the history, philosophy, and methodology of the geographic discipline as it has evolved within academic and social contexts. Includes resume building and semester projects.
Geo 490 Independent Study
Supervised individual study in an area supplementary to regular courses.
GEO 492 Geographic Research Problems
Supervised original research on selected aspects of geography.
GEO 495 Field Study
Supervised original research on selected aspects of geography.
GEO 498 Internship in Geography
Individual experience in geography in an approved organization.
GEO 802 Geospatial Technology
Comprehensive introduction to geotechnologies including concepts and theories of remote sensing, image interpretation and processing, global positioning systems, spatial data structures, and geographic information systems.
GEO 802V Geospatial Technology Online
An online comprehensive introduction to geotechnologies including concepts and theories of remote sensing, image interpretation and processing, global positioning systems, spatial data structures, and geographic information systems.
GEO 813 Seminar in Urban and Economic Geography
Review of research on selected topics in urban and economic geography.
GEO 816 The World System of Cities
Modern global economic restructuring and its social, economic, and political impacts on the world system of cities.
GEO 817 China and Globalization
Theoretical debates and empirical discussions on current social, economic, environmental, and spatial challenges facing contemporary urban China in an era of globalization. Comparative and thematic approach.
GEO 826 Geocomputation
Research on topics in cartography, geographic information systems, and remote sensing.
GEO 827 Digital Image Processing
Use of computers to classify and enhance satellite images and to extract information from them. Includes combining images from different sources and accuracy assessment of resulting information.
GEO 837 Remote Sensing of the Biosphere
Remote sensing for environmental and global change research. Advanced image interpretation and applications with emphasis on independent research projects.
GEO 865 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography
Statistical and mathematical approaches to analyzing spatial data including multiple regression, principal components and factor analysis, discriminant analysis and related taxonomic methods.
GEO 866 Spatial Data Analysis
Theory and techniques for statistical analysis of point patterns, spatially continuous data, and data in spatial zones.
GEO 869 Geosimulation
Theoretical concepts related to simulating dynamic geographic phenomena in the intersection between human and natural systems. Innovative agent-based methodology applied to complex social-environmental systems with hands-on experience of agent-based modeling and with special emphasis on modeling human decision-making and its impact on the natural environment.
GEO 871 Seminar in Physical Geography
Research on topics in physical geography.
GEO 872 Seminar in Human Geography
Research on topics in human geography.
GEO 873 Seminar in Human-Environment Geography
Research on topics in human-environment geography.
GEO 874 Seminar in Geographic Information Science
Research on topics in GIS.
GEO 886 Research Design in Geography
Research and writing in geography. Identification of geographic problems and their relative importance including structuring and stating hypotheses, data acquisition and research writing.
GEO 890 Advanced Readings in Geography
Advanced independent readings.
GEO 892 Advanced Research in Geography
Advanced independent research.
GEO 899 Master’s Thesis Research
Master’s thesis research.
GEO 986 Theories and Philosophies in Geography
Historical development of the discipline within social and intellectual contexts. Philosophical approaches behind geographic research and theory.
GEO 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research
Doctoral dissertation research.