1013 Fundamentals of Geography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Introduction to the study of physical and cultural features of the earth and
their distributions, causes, and consequences to man. Topics include landforms,
climate, natural resources, population, human behavior in spatial context, economic
growth, and urbanization. [TCCN: GEOG 1300.]
1023 World Regional Geography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Study of the world's regions, focusing on salient physical, cultural, economic,
and political characteristics, including physiography, climate, natural resources,
population, economic structure and development, urban growth, cultural institutions,
and political structure. Regions include North America, Latin America, Europe,
Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia, the former
USSR, and Australasia. (Formerly GRG 2633. Credit cannot be earned for both
GRG 1023 and GRG 2633.) [TCCN: GEOG 1303.]
2613 Physical Geography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Study of the earth's major landforms and climatic patterns, the processes giving
use to these patterns, and their relationship to human activity. [TCCN: GEOG
1301.]
2623 Human Geography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Study of the relationship between the social and spatial structures of society,
including spatial stereotyping, spatial perception, human territoriality, innovation
diffusion, migration, and spatial planning. [TCCN: GEOG 1302.]
2633 Introduction to Geographic Methods
(3-0) 3 credit hours.
Broad survey of geographic research methods. May include Map Interpretation,
Basic Field Techniques, Archival Research Methods, Geographic Information Systems,
Computer Cartography, Digital Remote Sensing, and Spatial Statistics. Students
will be exposed to ways geographic data is used to address social and environmental
problems and will receive some hands-on experience with modern computer-based
geographic technologies. This course is strongly recommended before upper-division
courses in geographic techniques (GIS, Computer Cartography, Spatial Analysis,
or Remote Sensing).
3113 Geography of the United States and Canada
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Selected geographic aspects of the major regions of the United States and Canada,
emphasizing current social and economic issues in these regions.
3123 Geography of Latin America
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Selected geographic aspects of Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and
South America, emphasizing economic development and social change.
3133 Geography of Europe
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Survey of the European culture area, including Western Europe, Eastern Europe,
and the Baltics. Discussion of urban, political, ethnic, and economic forces
shaping the post-Cold War geography of Europe, including the European Union
and the Russian Federation.
3143 Geography of Mexico
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Investigation of Mexico's physical and social geography, including climatic
and geomorphologic influences, the historical imprint of the Amerindians and
the Spanish, population growth and migration, urbanization, patterns of agriculture
and industry, and current social and economic issues.
3153 Geography of Texas
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
A topical and regional examination of the physical, cultural, and economic patterns
of the state. Includes demographic characteristics, agriculture, mining, manufacturing,
selected urban areas, and current social issues. May include a field trip to
the non-metropolitan hinterland of San Antonio.
3213 Cultural Geography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Study of human culture hearths, the distribution of languages and religion,
environmental perception, environmental determinism, and human settlement patterns.
3314 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
(3-2) 4 hours credit.
An introductory course on the application of the computer to the acquisition,
manipulation, analysis and display of geographic data; overview of projection
systems, data acquisition issues, and presentation techniques. Three lecture
and two laboratory hours per week. It is strongly recommended students take
GRG 2633 or have equivalent experience before enrolling in GRG 3314. (Formerly
GRG 3313. Credit cannot be earned for both GRG 3314 and GRG 3313.)
3323 Spatial Analysis
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Conceptualization and statistical analysis of spatial variables. Topics may
include the scientific method in the social sciences, research design, spatial
sampling, spatial pattern analysis, and the univariate and multivariate analysis
of areal data. May include the application of computer-based geographic information
systems to the analysis of spatial patterns and distributions.
3334 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
(3-2) 4 credit hours. Prerequisite: GRG 3313 or GRG 3314.
Advanced topics in the use of computer-based analysis of geographic information
including data acquisition, modeling complex datasets, and an introduction to
scripting to customize an industry-standard software package. (Formerly GRG
3333. Credit cannot be earned for both GRG 3334 and GRG 3333.)
3343 Analytical and Computer Cartography
(2-2) 3 hours credit.
The design, construction, production, and reproduction of maps; cartographic
theory, computer cartography, and an introduction to techniques of geographic
visualization.
3423 Geopolitics of Russia and Eurasia
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Multidisciplinary introduction and regional study of the Russian Federation
and the Eurasian realm, including the Caucasus, Central Asian nations, Afghanistan,
and Mongolia. Both the geography and the politics of this area will be analyzed.
Historical and contemporary geopolitical topics include nation-building, regional
civilizations, revolution, terrorism, the nineteenth century "Great Game," the
rise of the USSR, and the current transition of the Russian Federation to an
uncertain future. (Same as POL 3423. Credit cannot be earned for both GRG 3423
and POL 3423.)
3433 The Geography and Politics of the Asian Rim
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
An analysis of the states spanning from the Indian subcontinent through Indo-China
to Japan and China. Examination of their physical and social geographies and
the regional political dynamics prevalent in the modern era. Selected themes
will include population dynamics, cultural hearths, immigration patterns, economic
development, and regional integration.
3513 Urban Geography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Topics include the relationship between the physical environment and urbanization;
the origin and evolution of cities; urban hierarchies; models of internal structure;
and land uses in American, Third World, and other urban centers.
3523 Introduction to Urban Planning
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
An introduction to the nature, use, purpose, and preparation of a master plan
for the future physical growth and development of a community. The course focuses
on the planning process by which a city prepares and implements its master plan.
3533 Geography of Economic Activity
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Analysis of the location of economic activities at local, regional, and national
levels. Case studies of agricultural, industrial, retail, and service locations
are analyzed through relevant theories and models.
3613 Conservation of Resources
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
A survey of world resources, environmental policies, and global conservative
strategies. Topics include agriculture, water resources, air pollution, endangered
species, wildlife preservation, habitat conservation, scenic and recreational
resources, and other selected components of the biosphere and lithosphere.
3633 Geography of Development
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Survey and analysis of economic growth and social change in different parts
of the world. Topics may include the evolution of global inequalities, the definition
of development, the impacts of population growth and migration, and the role
of agriculture, industry, and transportation.
3643 Political Geography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Investigates the role of the political state in society and the evolution of
state organization from classical times to the present. Topics may include centrifugal
and centripetal forces, geopolitics, territorial morphology, boundaries, core
areas, and emerging supranationalism.
3653 Geographic Perspectives on Women
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
The course studies the role of women in the spatial organizations of society.
Of particular importance is the question of whether men and women differ in
their perceptions of physical, social, and built environments, and the consequent
policy expressions in political and built environments.
3713 Weather and Climate
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Analysis of the elements and causes of daily weather, climatic classifications,
and climate change. Study of world distributions and components of climate,
with studies of air pressure, precipitation, air masses, optical phenomena,
and wave cyclones. Regional attention to weather patterns, including tornadoes
and hurricanes.
3723 Physiography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Description and interpretation of relief features of the earth's surface, by
examination of regions with particular patterns of landforms and topography.
3733 Urban and Regional Analysis
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
Applied models of urban and regional growth, structure, interaction, influence,
and inequality over space, with emphasis on the United States. Stresses practical
skills.
4313 Remote Sensing
(2-2) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: GRG 2633 or GRG 3314.
Introduction to the use of electromagnetic energy to sense objects in the natural
and built environment; interpretation and recognition of patterns detected by
satellite and aircraft-borne sensors. Application of computer software to the
analysis and interpretation of remotely-sensed information.
4911-3 Independent Study
1 to 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Permission in writing (form available) of
the instructor, the student's advisor, the Department Chair, and the Dean of
the college in which the course is offered.
Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction
of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester
credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a
bachelor's degree.
4933,6 Internship in Geography
3 or 6 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of internship coordinator and faculty
supervisor.
Supervised experience relevant to geography within selected community organizations.
A maximum of 6 semester credit hours may be earned through the internship.
4953 Special Studies in Geography
(3-0) 3 hours credit.
An organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally
or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. Special Studies
may be repeated for credit when topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit
hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor's degree.
4993 Honors Thesis
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: Enrollment limited to candidates for Honors in
Geography during the last two semesters; completion of honors examination and
consent of the Honor College.
Supervised research and preparation of an honors thesis. May be repeated once
with advisor's approval.