University Catalog 2016-2017

University of Colorado Boulder
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Geography

    The Geography Department offers theoretical and applied work in human geography, environment and society geography, physical geography, and geographic information science.  Each subfield covers a broad range of topics. Human geography includes political, cultural, development, feminist, population, and urban geography.  Environment and society geography includes political ecology, natural hazards, and conservation practice.  Physical geography includes climatology, geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeography.  Geographic information science includes spatial analysis using GIS, remote sensing, and cartography.  The Department also offers regionally focused courses on mountain geography and geographies of China, Latin America, Africa, and South Asia.  To complement its curriculum, the Department also offers internship opportunities for geography majors.  

    The Department of Geography offers BA, MA and PhD degree programs in geography.

    The undergraduate degree in geography emphasizes knowledge and awareness of:

    • the unique contributions of the discipline to understanding the spatial components of problems and the diverse factors relating to human interaction with the environment;
    • the spatial distributions of physical and human characteristics on the Earth surface, the general patterns these form and the processes that have created and are changing these patterns;
    • major themes of geographical analysis, including human and physical characteristics of place; human-environmental relations; movement of people, ideas and products; and regionalization; and
    • the general geographical principles of human-environment interaction, global change and human spatial organization.

    In addition, students completing the degree in geography are expected to acquire proficiency in:

    • one or more of the specific geographic skill areas of cartography, remote sensing and geographic information systems;

    • writing, quantitative methods, computer literacy, and library and field methods of data collection; and

    • identifying the geographic dimensions of a problem and analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating relevant data and applying geographic principles offering a geographic perspective on that problem.

    MAPS (Minimum Academic Preparation Standards)

    To fulfill a MAPS deficiency in Geography, students may take one of the following courses: GEOG 1962, GEOG 1972, GEOG 1982, GEOG 1992 or pass the Geography Exemption Exam.  For more information on the exemption exam, contact Testing Services at 303-492-5854 or www.colorado.edu/career/testing-services.  Declared majors or minors with junior standing (57 credits minimum) or transfers with junior standing may take GEOG 3682, GEOG 3742, or GEOG 4712 to fulfill the MAPS deficiency.

    The course code for this program is GEOG.  

    Bachelor's Degree Program(s)

    Undergraduate Study in Geography

    Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses below.  In addition to a standard degree in Geography, the Department offers transcripted concentrations in Geographic Information Science, Human Geography, Environment-Society Geography, and Physical Geography. Coursework required for each concentration is listed below.  Students must complete at least 37 and no more than 45 credit hours in Geography with grades of C- or better (23 hours must be upper division).  No pass/fail grades are allowed in the major.  Transfer students majoring in Geography must complete at least 12 hours of upper-division Geography courses at CU-Boulder.  No course may be used to fulfill more than one requirement for the major. All courses marked with an * can be used to meet College of Arts and Sciences core curriculum requirements.

    Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours (all concentrations):

    • GEOG 1001* Environmental Systems I: Climate and Vegetation—4
    • GEOG 1011* Environmental Systems II: Landscapes and Water—4  
    • One of the following human geography courses:
      • GEOG 1962 Geographies of Global Change—3
      • GEOG 1972 Environment-Society Geography—3
      • GEOG 1982 World Regional Geography—3
      • GEOG 1992 Human Geography—3
    • GEOG 3023 Statistics for Geography—4
    • One of the following mapping courses:
      • GEOG 2053 Mapping a Changing World—4
      • GEOG 3053 Cartography I: Visualization and Information Design—4
    • One of the following methods courses:
      • GEOG 4023 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography (prereq GEOG 3023)—4
      • GEOG 4043 Cartography II: Interactive and Multi-media Mapping (prereq GEOG 3053)—4
      • GEOG 4093 Remote Sensing of the Environment—4
      • GEOG 4103 Introduction to Geographic Information Science (prereqs: GEOG 3053; GEOG 3023 or equivalent introductory statistics course)—4
      • GEOG 4173 Research Seminar—3
      • GEOG 4722 Field Methods in Human Geography—3  
    • General Geography Degree
      • Take one of the following:
      • GEOG 3351 Biogeography—3
      • GEOG 3402 Natural Hazards—3
      • GEOG 3422 Political Ecology—3
      • GEOG 3511 Introduction to Hydrology—4
      • GEOG 3601 Principles of Climate—3
      • GEOG 3672* Gender and the Global Economy—3
      • GEOG 3682 Geography of International Development—3
      • GEOG 3692 Introduction to Global Public Health—3
      • GEOG 3742 Place, Power, and Contemporary Culture—3  

    * core curriculum course

    • Take upper division electives within Geography to reach 23 upper division credits in the major.

    Human Geography Concentration

    • Take one of the following:
      • GEOG 3742 Place, Power, Contemporary Culture (prereq 1962, 1972, 1982, or 1992)—3
      • GEOG 3682 Geography of International Development—3
    • A third-year university-level proficiency in a foreign language appropriate to the geographic concentration is required. This requirement may be met by completion of one or two semester-long, third year, university-level grammar courses (depending on the language) with a grade of C- or better, while also satisfying language department requirements for advancement through the sequence.
    • Take three electives from the following list (unless noted, Department enforced prereq. for all courses is 1962, 1972, 1982, or 1992) (* core curriculum course):
      • GEOG 3422 Political Ecology  (no prereq)—3
      • GEOG 3672* Gender and the Global Economy—3
      • GEOG 3682 Geography of International Development (no prereq)—3  
      • GEOG 3692 Introduction to Global Public Health—3
      • GEOG 3742 Place, Power, and Contemporary Culture—3
      • GEOG 3812 Geography of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean—3
      • GEOG 3822* Geography of China—3  
      • GEOG 3832* Geography of South Asia—3  
      • GEOG 3862 Geography of Africa—3
      • GEOG 4173 Research Seminar—3
      • GEOG 4292 Migration, Urbanization, and Development—3
      • GEOG 4622 City Life—3
      • GEOG 4632 Development Geography—3  
      • GEOG 4712 Political Geography—3
      • GEOG 4852 Health and Medical Geography—3
      • GEOG 3930 Internship (3) and GEOG 4990 Senior Thesis (3) may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis.

    * core curriculum course

    • Take one upper division elective in Geographic Information Science, Environment and Society, or Physical Geography.

    Environment and Society Geography Concentration

    • Take one of the following:
      • GEOG 3402 Natural Hazards—3
      • GEOG 3422 Political Ecology—3
    • Take ENVS 2000: Applied Ecology—4
    • Take three electives from the following list (unless noted, Department enforced prereq. for all courses is 1962, 1972, 1982, or 1992):
      • GEOG 3402 Natural Hazards—3
      • GEOG 3422 Political Ecology (no prereq)—3
      • GEOG 3682 Geography of International Development (no prereq)—3
      • GEOG 3672* Gender and the Global Economy—3
      • GEOG 3692 Introduction to Global Public Health—3
      • GEOG 3812 Geography of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean—3
      • GEOG 3822 Geography of China—3
      • GEOG 3862 Geography of Africa—3
      • GEOG 4173 Research Seminar—3
      • GEOG 4501 Water Resources and Water Management in the Western U.S.—3
      • GEOG 4742* Topics in Environment and Society—3
      • GEOG 4812* Environment and Development in South America—3  
      • GEOG 4822* Environment and Development in China—3
      • GEOG 3930 Internship (3) and GEOG 4990 Senior Thesis (3) may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis.

    * core curriculum course

    • Take one upper division elective from either the Geographic Information Science, Human Geography, or Physical Geography list.

    Physical Geography Concentration

    • Take Calculus I & 2 (one of the following sequences)
      • MATH 1300—5 and MATH 2300—5
      • APPM 1350—4 and APPM 1360—4
    • Take three semesters (total) of Physics and Chemistry, including related labs.
      • PHYS 1110—4
      • PHYS 1120 (and PHYS 1140 lab)—5
      • CHEM 1113 (and CHEM 1114 lab)—5
      • CHEM 1133 (and CHEM 1134 lab)—5
    • Take two of the following (GEOG 1001 and GEOG 1011, or equivalent, required for all 3000 and 4000 level courses):
      • GEOG 3351 Biogeography—3
      • GEOG 3511 Introduction to Hydrology—4
      • GEOG 3601 Principles of Climate—3
      • GEOG 4241* Principles of Geomorphology—4
    • Take two electives from the following list (GEOG 1001 and GEOG 1011, or equivalent, are prereq. for all 3000 and 4000 level courses):
      • GEOG 3251 Mountain Geography—3
      • GEOG 3301* Analysis of Climate—3
      • GEOG 3351 Biogeography—3
      • GEOG 3511 Introduction to Hydrology—4
      • GEOG 3610 Principles of Climate—3
      • GEOG 4120 Special Topics—3
      • GEOG 4173 Research Seminar—3
      • GEOG 4201 Biometeorology—3
      • GEOG 4241* Principles of Geomorphology—4
      • GEOG 4251 Fluvial Geomorphology—4
      • GEOG 4261 Glaciers and Permafrost—3
      • GEOG 4271 Arctic Climate—3
      • GEOG 4311 Watershed Biochemistry—3  
      • GEOG 4321 Snow Hydrology—3-4
      • GEOG 4331 Mountain Climatology – 3-4
      • GEOG 4371 Forest Geography—3
      • GEOG 4401 Soil Geography—3
      • GEOG 3930 Internship (3) and GEOG 4990 Senior Thesis (3) may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis.

    * core curriculum course

    • Take one upper division elective from either the Geographic Information Science, Human Geography, or Environment and Society Geography list.

    Geographic Information Science Concentration

    • GEOG 4103 Introduction to Geographic Information Science (prereq GEOG 3023 and GEOG 3053)—4
    • Take three electives from the following list:
      • GEOG 4043 Cartography II: Interactive and Multimedia Mapping (prereq GEOG 3053)—4
      • GEOG 4093 Remote Sensing of the Environment—4
      • GEOG 4110 Special Topics—4
      • GEOG 4120 Special Topics—3
      • GEOG 4173 Research Seminar—3
      • GEOG 4203 Geographic Information Science Modeling Applications—4
      • GEOG 4303 Geographic Information Science Programming—4
      • GEOG 3930 Internship (3) and GEOG 4990 Senior Thesis (3) may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis.
    • Take one upper division elective from either the Human Geography, Environment and Society Geography, or Physical Geography list.

    Graduating in Four Years

    This applies only to the “General Geography” degree. Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility.  The concept of “adequate progress” as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee: it is not a requirement for the major.  To maintain adequate progress in geography, students should meet the following requirements:

    • Complete GEOG 1001, GEOG 1011, and one of the following: GEOG 1962, GEOG 1972, GEOG 1982, or GEOG 1992, by the end of the third semester.
    • Complete GEOG 1962, GEOG 1972, GEOG 1982, or GEOG 1992 or an approved upper-division human geography course (must be different than the course used to complete the previous requirement) and 9 credit hours of upper-division geography courses by the end of the sixth semester.
    • Complete GEOG 2053 or GEOG 3053 and GEOG 3023 by the end of the sixth semester.
    • Complete the remaining upper-division credit hours by the eighth semester.

    Geography Honors Program

    Students interested in earning honors with their work in geography should contact the departmental honors advisor during their junior year.

    Geography Internship Program

    To complement its curriculum, the Department offers geography majors internship opportunities that can be used to earn credit towards their degree. Students interested in pursuing an internship should contact the Department for information on eligibility and terms.

    Residential Academic Program

    Geography students specializing in environmental issues may want to contact the Baker Residential Academic Program.  Students may visit the Geography Department office or refer to the Residential Academic Programs section of the Catalog.

    Minor in Geography

    The Department offers a minor in Geography.  Declaration of a minor is open to any student enrolled at CU-Boulder, regardless of college or school affiliation.

    • Participation in the minor program is optional on the part of the student.
    • A minimum of 18 credit hours must be taken in the minor area, including a minimum of 9 upper-division credit hours.
    • All course work applied to the minor must be completed with a grade of C- or better.  No pass/fail work may be applied.  The GPA of all minor degree course work must equal 2.00 (C) or greater.
    • Student pursuing an individually structured major, or who are pursuing a major in distributed studies, will not be eligible to earn a minor.
    • Students will be allowed to apply no more than 9 credit hours (including 6 upper-division) of transfer work toward a minor.
    • Students may earn no more than two minors.
    • Course work applied toward a minor may also be applied toward general education (core/college list) and major requirements.

    No specific concentration is required.  However, students who do wish to focus on one area of geography should see the suggested course lists below.  The list of courses may change at the Department’s discretion.

    Physical Geography

    • The following two courses are prerequisites to all upper division courses listed further below.  
      • GEOG 1001 Environmental Systems 1: Climate and Vegetation*
      • GEOG 1011 Environmental Systems 2: Landscapes and Water*
    • Among upper division courses, the following sequences are suggested: 
      • Climatology:  GEOG 3301; 3601; 4331 
      • Biogeography:  GEOG 3351; 4351; 4371; 4401 
      • Hydrology and Geomorphology: GEOG 3511; 4241; 4321; 4401 
    • In addition, you will find it important to complete one course in statistics at the time you commence upper division work in physical geography. Students considering graduate school in physical geography are strongly encouraged to complete a year of coursework in general chemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics. 
    • Upper Division Courses: 
      • GEOG 3301 Analysis of Climate and Weather Observations*  (Prereq: GEOG 1001 or ATOC 1050/1060, 3600 and a statistics course) 
      • GEOG 3601 Principles of Climate*  (Prereq: 1 semester calculus or instructor approval) 
      • GEOG 3351 Biogeography  (Prereq: GEOG 1001) 
      • GEOG 3511 Introduction to Hydrology*  (Prereq:  GEOG 1011) 
      • GEOG 4241 Principles of Geomorphology*   (Prereq: GEOG 1011)  (Restricted to Jr/Sr GEOG/GEOL/ENVS majors) 
      • GEOG 4261 Glaciers and Permafrost   (Recommended Prereq:  GEOG 4241)  
      • GEOG 4271 The Arctic Climate System   (Prereq:  GEOG 1001) 
      • GEOG 4311 Watershed Biogeochemistry   (Prereq:  GEOG 1011, 3511) 
      • GEOG 4321 Snow Hydrology (Prereq: GEOG 1001 and 1011; any statistics course)   
      • GEOG 4331 Mountain Climatology  (Prereq GEOG 1001 or ATOC 1050/1060) 
      • GEOG 4371 Forest Geography: Principles and Dynamics  (Prereq: GEOG 1001) 
      • GEOG 4401 Soils Geography  (Prereq 1011; Recommended Prereq inorganic chemistry) 

    *core curriculum course 

    Human Geography

    • One of the following four courses are prerequisites to all upper division courses listed further below.  
      • GEOG 1962 Geographies of Global Change 
      • GEOG 1972 Environment-Society Geography
      • GEOG 1982 World Regional Geography 
      • GEOG 1992 Human Geographies 
    • Upper Division Courses. Additional prerequisites are listed. 
      • GEOG 3672 Gender and Global Economy* 
      • GEOG 3682 Geography of International Development   
      • GEOG 3742 Place, Power, and Contemporary Culture*  
      • GEOG 3812 Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean  
      • GEOG 3822 Geography of China* 
      • GEOG 3832 Geographies of South Asia*
      • GEOG 3862 Geography of Africa 
      • GEOG 4023 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Human Geography (Prereq: GEOG 3023) 
      • GEOG 4292 Migration, Urbanization, and Development  
      • GEOG 4622 City Life* 
      • GEOG 4712 Political Geography 
      • GEOG 4732 Population Geography  
      • GEOG 4742 Environment and Peoples* 
      • GEOG 4812 Environment and Development in South America*   (Recommended Prereq: GEOG 3812 or 3422) 
      • GEOG 4822 Environment & Development in China* 
      • GEOG 4832 Geography of Tibet  (Prereq:  GEOG 3822)

    *core curriculum course 

    Environment-Society Geography

    • The following two courses are prerequisites to all upper division physical geography courses listed further below.  
      • GEOG 1001 Environmental Systems 1: Climate & Vegetation* 
      • GEOG 1011 Environmental Systems 2: Landscapes & Water* 
    • GEOG 1972 Environment-Society Geography is a prerequisite for all upper division human and environment society geography courses.  
    • Upper Division Courses.  Additional prerequisites may be listed. 
      • GEOG 3251 Mountain Geography 
      • GEOG 3301 Analysis of Climate and Weather Observations*  
      • GEOG 3351 Biogeography 
      • GEOG 3402 Natural Hazards 
      • GEOG 3412 Conservation Practice and Resource Management 
      • GEOG 3422 Political Ecology
      • GEOG 3511 Introduction to Hydrology* 
      • GEOG 3601 Principles of Climate* 
      • GEOG 3612 Geography of American Cities 
      • GEOG 3682 Geography of International Development 
      • GEOG 3692 Introduction to Global Public Health 
      • GEOG 3812 Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean 
      • GEOG 3822 Geography of China*  
      • GEOG 3862 Geography of Africa 
      • GEOG 4401 Soils Geography  (Prereq: GEOG 1011; Recommended Prereq: inorganic chemistry) 
      • GEOG 4430 Seminar: Conservation Trends* 
      • GEOG 4501 Water Resources and Water Management in the Western US 
      • GEOG 4742 Environments and Peoples* 
      • GEOG 4632 Development Geography 
      • GEOG 4812 Environment and Development in South America* 
      • GEOG 4822 Environment and Development in China* 
      • GEOG 4852 Health and Medical Geography* 

    *core curriculum course 

    Geographic Information Science

    • The following are prereqs for all upper division courses, unless otherwise noted.
      • GEOG 3023 Statistics for Geography
      • GEOG 3053 Cartography: Visualization and Information Design (Restricted to Jr/Sr GEOG/ENVS major) 
    • Upper Division Courses
      • GEOG 4023 Intro to Quantitative Methods in Human Geography (Prereq: GEOG 3023 or equivalent) 
      • GEOG 4043 Cartography 2: Interactive and Multimedia Mapping  
      • GEOG 4093 Remote Sensing of the Environment  
      • GEOG 4103 Introduction to Geographic Information Science 
      • GEOG 4203 Geographic Information Science: Modeling Applications 2 (Prereq: GEOG 4103/5103) 
      • GEOG 4173 Research Seminar* (Restricted to Sr GEOG/ENVS major) 
      • GEOG 4303 Geographic Information Science: Programming  (Prereq: 4103 or 5103) 
      • GEOG 4983 Field Problems  (Restricted to Jr/Sr Geography major)   

    *core curriculum course 

    Graduate Degree Program(s)

    Graduate Study in Geography

    Students wishing to pursue graduate work in geography leading to candidacy for advanced degrees should read carefully the requirements for advanced degrees in the Graduate School section. Graduate-level course work at the Boulder campus may be combined with graduate courses offered at the Denver and Colorado Springs campuses. Additional information should be obtained from the Department of Geography.

    Prerequisites - MA and PhD:

    For admission without deficiency and to meet the department mandatory requirements for a knowledge of basic geography, all entering graduate students are required to possess the knowledge presented in freshman level introductory courses in physical and human geography.

    Students may acquire this knowledge in any way they choose: by formally taking the introductory courses, by auditing the courses, by reading the textbooks themselves or by other means. This knowledge will enable the student to perform at the level expected in the GEOG 5152–5161 required core classes.

    In addition to knowledge of basic geography, it is desirable that the student has course work in at least two areas outside geography in cognate fields in the social and natural sciences. Students are encouraged to have some background in college math, statistics and computer skills.

    The following are departmental requirements.

    Master’s Degree in Geography

    General Requirements. The minimum requirements for an MA in geography may be fulfilled by completing 30 semester hours of graduate work, including a thesis, which carries up to 6 credit hours (i.e., 24 hours of course work at the 5000 level or above, plus a minimum of 4 but not more than 6 hours of thesis). Master students may, with the written approval of their advisor, use a maximum of 6 hours of 3000- or 4000-level course work to reach the required 30 hours.

    Doctoral Degree in Geography

    General Requirements. The PhD degree is not conferred merely upon the satisfactory completion of a course of study. The candidate must also demonstrate proficiency in some broad subject of learning, and be able to critically evaluate work in the field, show the ability to work independently in the chosen field and make an original contribution of significance to the advancement of knowledge.

    The minimum requirements are 30 credit hours of course work numbered 5000 or above and 30 credit hours of dissertation. Ordinarily the number of course work hours and dissertation hours will be greater than 30 each. At least 20 of these hours must be taken at the University of Colorado; up to 10 credit hours from another institution may be transferred upon approval.

    A 3.00 (B) average or higher must be maintained in all course work.

    Six semesters of residence are required beyond the bachelor’s degree, of which four must be at the University of Colorado; this may include two semesters for the master degree. Students with a University of Colorado master degree in geography, with departmental approval, may apply all credit hours from 5000 or above courses (except thesis credits) to the PhD requirements.

    Certificate Program(s)

    Undergraduate Certificate Program in Public Health

    As the world becomes more interconnected, our communities and populations face increasingly complex health challenges emerging through the interaction of individual vulnerability and behavior, cultural and social factors, environmental and geographic influences as well as economic and political dynamics. Addressing these public health challenges requires innovative approaches arising from multiple disciplines.

    The Undergraduate Certificate in Public Health encourages students to extend the breadth of their undergraduate education to include elements of public health. Students are encouraged to take courses from a variety of participating departments to develop an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of public health.

    Requirements:

    The certificate requirements include a minimum of 18 credits (not to exceed 24) of coursework including at least 9 upper division credits. There are two required core public health courses (6 credits - upper division):

    • GEOG 3692 (3) Introduction to Global Public Health (First offered: Fall 2015) and
    • IPHY 3490 (3) Introduction to Epidemiology (First offered: Spring 2015);

    Students are also required to take several public health electives (6 credits - primarily upper division), at least one of which must be from outside their major.  Students participating in the certificate program must also complete foundational coursework in biology and statistics. Please visit www.colorado.edu/publichealthprogram/requirements.html for the detailed requirements.

    Graduate Certificate in Development Studies

    The department offers a graduate certificate in development studies. Development Studies is a well-established, interdisciplinary field of research with institutional centers at a number of major universities and several scholarly journals dedicated to its study. The certificate provides training in development studies to graduate students through a structured yet flexible program built around courses taught by CU faculty in a number of social science departments. Because development issues such as agrarian change, labor migration, new social movements, industrial growth, urban planning and natural resource use cut across disciplinary divides, the study of development demands interdisciplinary approaches. For more information, visit geography.colorado.edu/grad_program/certificates.

    Graduate Certificate in Population Studies 

    Offered through the Population Program of the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS), the Graduate Certificate in Population Studies recognizes master’s and doctoral degree students for interdisciplinary work in demography. The Population Program, which is international in scope and has an applied and policy-oriented focus, fosters research on population trends and patterns and provides training in population analysis. Students who are earning graduate degrees through the Departments of Economics, Geography or Sociology and are interested in majoring in demography are eligible to petition for admission to the program.

    The Population Program emphasizes research training through direct faculty/student interaction and involvement in research projects. Students are required to take three core courses:

    • ECON 8666 Economic Demography
    • GEOG 6732 Formal Population Geography
    • SOCY 6012 Population Issues, Problems and Policies

    Students are granted a certificate on the basis of the three core courses, their independent research and their thesis or dissertation.

    Questions about the certificate program in population studies should be directed to the Population Program, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, 484 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0484; 303-492-7986; www.colorado.edu/ibs/pop; or cupc@colorado.edu.