Academics - UndergradGeographyCourses

Undergraduate Geography Courses

GE 102 Human Geography
LASC—Global Perspectives; Human Behavior and Social Processes
Introduction to human geography, emphasizing globalization, human-environment relations and spatial patterns of population, development, economics, politics, urbanization and culture.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 110 World Regional Geography I
LASC—Global Perspectives; Human Behavior and Social Processes
Analysis of the physical, cultural and economic regions of Eurasia.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 111 World Regional Geography II
LASC—Global Perspectives; Human Behavior and Social Processes
Analysis of the physical, cultural and economic regions of Africa, Oceania and the Americas.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 130 Introduction to Energy Studies
Foundation concepts in energy studies. Overview of environmental and societal implications of energy systems – past, present and future.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 193 Special Topics in Geography or Earth Science for First-Year Students
All "193" courses are approved for LASC but may vary by section. See current course listing for specific LASC area approval.
Introductory level course covering topics of special interest to first-year students. Offered only as a First-Year Seminar.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 195 Special Topics
Introductory course to be offered on a trial basis. Topic to be announced in advance
3 credits.

GE 210 Geography of North America
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GE/GL 102, GE/GL 111, HI 111, HI 112, SO 100, UR 101 or permission of instructor
Analysis of the physical and human geography of North America.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GE 220 New England Watersheds: Past, Present and Future
History and industrialization of New England's rivers. Present water resources and environmental issues. Case studies of local watersheds and organizations.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GE 230 Geography of Europe
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GE/GL 102, GE/GL 110, GL 150 or permission of instructor
European landforms, people, culture, economics, and problems facing the individual countries.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GE 240 Energy Conservation
Concepts, technologies and policies for energy conservation. Inefficiencies of current systems; technical and social changes for energy efficiency.
Offered every year. 3 credits

GE 250 Urban Geography
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
Prerequisite: GE/GL 102 or UR 101 or permission of instructor
World urbanization; location, and central place concepts; economy of cities; land use patterns; urban environmental problems.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 255 Geography of Africa
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GE/GL 102, GE/GL 111, GL 150, SO 100, SO 110, UR 101 or permission of instructor
Analysis of the physical and human geography of Africa.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 258 Global Environmental Change
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GE/GL 102, GS 110, GL 150, NS 150, UR 101, CH 106 or permission of instructor
Introduction to the science, political economy and ethics of global environmental change.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 260 Geography of Latin America
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GE/GL 102, GE/GL 111, GL 150 or permission of instructor
Physical, economic, social, and cultural analysis of the individual countries: historical background to present day development.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GE 265 Geography of the Middle East
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GE/GL 102, GE/GL 110, GL 150 or permission of instructor
The Middle East: geography, society, economics and political structure.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GE 285 Sustainable Communities
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; United States and Its Role in the World
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GE/GL 102, GL 150, EC 110, EC 120 or permission of instructor
Exploration of changes in U.S. and global economic landscape, 1970 to present. Approaches to sustainable economic development.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 295 Geography of Russia
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GE/GL 102, GE/GL 110, GL 150 or permission of instructor
Analysis of the physical, cultural, socio-economic and political characteristics of Russian and the near abroad.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GE 299 Special Topics
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Intermediate level course to be offered on a trial basis. Topic to be announced in advance.
3 credits.

GE 307 American Public Lands: Environmental Issues
Prerequisite: GE 258 or permission of instructor
Exploration of environmental management issues on U.S. public lands, such as national parks, national forests, BLM lands.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GE 308 Environment and Development
Prerequisite: GE 258 or permission of instructor
The global ecology of rich and poor. Environmental implications of poverty, economic development, mass consumption, globalization and demographic change.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GE 315 Geographic Research Methods
Prerequisites: GE 102, GS 101, GS 140, GS 216
Overview of the research process; research design in human, physical and environmental geography; quantitative, qualitative and cartographic methods.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 341 Fundamentals of Renewable Energy
Prerequisite: GE 130 (formerly NS 110) or GE 240 (formerly NS/GS 260) or permission of instructor
Analysis of renewable energy concepts, policy and politics. Technologies and methods for renewable energy capture, storage and distribution.
Offered every year. 3 credits

GE 342 Sustainable Housing
Prerequisite: GE 130 (formerly NS 110) or GE 240 (formerly NS/GS 260) or permission of instructor
Principles of green design with an emphasis on building construction. Material and energy flows, choice of materials, designing for sustainability.
Offered every year. 3 credits

GE 359/UR 360 Environmental Systems and Public Policy
Prerequisite: Environmental Studies concentration status
Examination of urban ecosystems, focusing on land uses designed to effectively utilize water, open space and other natural resources.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.

GE/UR 361 Public Policy and Environmental Issues
Prerequisite: Environmental Studies concentration status
Investigation of the factors that determine the formation of public policy on the environment with consideration of the roles played by state and federal regulatory agencies.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.

GE 400 Geography Seminar
Prerequisites: GE 102, GS 101, GS 140, GS 216, GE 315 and senior standing (or permission of department chair)
Capstone course for geography majors. Students conduct independent research projects and present their findings.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GE 410 Independent Study in Geography
Opportunity for advanced students to pursue a topic of special interest involving extensive reading, experimentation, and research.
1-6 credits.

GE 450 Readings and Directed Research
Prerequisites: All department requirements for major fulfilled.
Directed study on selected topics; open to senior majors.
3 credits.

GE 460 Geography Internship
Prerequisites: All department requirements for major fulfilled.
Students assigned to various government and private agencies under joint supervision of agency and faculty.
1-6 credits.

GE 470 Selected Topics in Geography
Topic or subject to be announced in advance; topic to be relevant to student needs and interests and subject to availability of professor.
3 credits.

Undergraduate Earth Science Courses

GS 101 Physical Geography
LASC—Natural Systems and Processes
Introduction to earth systems and processes. Characteristics and distribution of landforms, climates, water, soils, plants and animals.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 105 New England Landscape
Analysis of the geological background of New England’s distinctive scenery. Includes study of bedrock base, glacial features, coastline, and mountains.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 110 Meteorology
LASC—Natural Systems and Processes; Quantitative Reasoning Across the Curriculum
Weather elements, frontal storms, air mass characteristics, winds, temperature, precipitation, and pressure patterns throughout the world; weather instruments, forecasting.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 140 Physical Geology
LASC—Natural Systems and Processes (Laboratory Course)
Introduction to geological science: rocks and minerals, internal and external geologic processes, topographic map and air photo analysis, local field study. Three lecture hours and two laboratory hours per week.
Offered every year. 4 credits.

GS 150 Humans and the Cold Environment
Winter intersession. Examines earth's cold regions, including physical geography, cryosphere's role in earth systems, human adaptations. Includes outdoor activity.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 165 Geology of the National Parks
Examination of the natural features located in each park and of the earth processes which formed them.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 193 Special Topics in Geography or Earth Science for First-Year Students
All "193" courses are approved for LASC but may vary by section. See current course listing for specific LASC area approval.
Introductory level course covering topics of special interest to first-year students. Offered only as a First-Year Seminar.
Offered every year. 3 credits

GS 195 Special Topics
Introductory course to be offered on a trial basis. Topic to be announced in advance.
3 credits.

GS 210 Geomorphology
Prerequisite: GS 101 or GS 140
The study of landforms and the processes that form them. Labs focus on interpretation of maps and aerial photographs.
Offered every year. 4 credits.

GS 214 Maps and Map Interpretation
Introduction to map reading and interpretation and the history and basic principles of cartography.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 216 Geographic Information Systems I
Introduction to the digital production of maps using ArcGIS software.
Offered every year. 4 credits.

GS 218 Introduction to Remote Sensing
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GS 101 or GS 140, NS 150, BI 101, BI 140 or permission of the instructor
Introduction to the use and analysis of remotely sensed images such as aerial photographs and satellite imagery.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 220 Earth History
Prerequisite: GS 140
Historical evolution of the earth, its surface features, and life forms through geologic time.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 225 Oceanography
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GS 101 or GS 140, GS 110, NS 150 or permission of the instructor
The principles of physical, chemical, biological, and geological oceanography.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 230 Biogeography
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GS 101, BI 101 or BI 140 or permission of the instructor
The distribution patterns of plants and animals, processes affecting this distribution, and how these patterns change in space and time.
Offered every other year. 3 credits.

GS 235 Contemporary Climate Change
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GS 101, GS 110, NS 150, CH 106 or permission of the instructor
The global climate system, factors influencing climate, recent climate change and the role of human activity.
Offered every other year. 3 credits.

GS 240 Coastal Environments
Prerequisite: GS 101 or GS 140 or permission of the instructor
Summer session course examining the physical geography of coastal environments including human impacts. Includes field trips.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 245 Planetary Geology
Prerequisites: GS 140 or PY 101 (formerly NS 105) or permission of instructor
Solar system formation and evolution with emphasis on planetary interiors and surface features.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 250 Hydrology
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GS 101, GS 140, GS 110, NS 150 or permission of the instructor
Hydrologic processes, their estimation and measurement. Includes precipitation, evaporation, runoff, groundwater and water resources management.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 260 Introduction to Soil Science
Prerequisite: GS 101 or GS 140 or permission of instructor
The study of the formation, processes, classification and composition of soils with emphasis on environmental applications, including wetland delineation.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 290 Environmental Planning and Landscape Analysis
Prerequisite: ONE of the following: GS 101, GS 140, NS 150 or permission of the instructor
Study of physical environments in the context of land use suitability. Emphasis on rivers, coasts, wetlands, slope stability and soils.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 299 Special Topics
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
Intermediate level course to be offered on a trial basis. Topic to be announced in advance.
3 credits.

GS 305 Geological Hazards
Prerequisite: GS 101 or GS 140
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions; impact of and societal response to such events.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 315 Climate Dynamics
Prerequisite: GS 110 or GS 235 or permission of instructor
Processes that determine climate and contribute to its variability.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 318 Geographic Information Systems II
Prerequisite: GS 216
Advanced production of digital maps using a GIS vector oriented software.
Offered every 2 years. 4 credits

GS 325 Glacial Geology
Prerequisite: GS 140
Glaciers and their dynamics; investigation of the Quaternary Ice Age and its profound effects on world scenery.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 335 Hydrogeology
Prerequisites: GS 140 or GS 250
Underground water and its movement. Aquifer identification and test; wells, contamination and remediation, ground water as a geologic agent.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 355 Geographic Information Systems: Analytical Techniques
Prerequisite: GS 216
Advanced production and analysis of digital maps and digital remotely sensed images.
Offered every 3 years. 4 credits.

GS 365 Climate Change over Earth History
Prerequisite: GS 140 or GS 235 or GS 315 or permission of instructor
A record of change climate on Earth; methods used to reconstruct past climates; relevance of past changes to the current climate.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.

GS 400 Geography Seminar
Prerequisites: GE 102, GS 101, GS 216, GS 140, GE 315 and senior standing (or permission of department chair)
Capstone course for geography majors. Students conduct independent research projects and present their findings.
Offered every year. 3 credits.

GS 410 Independent Study in Geography
Opportunity for advanced students to pursue a topic of special interest involving extensive reading, experimentation, and research.
1-6 credits.

GS 450 Readings and Directed Research
Prerequisites: All department requirements for major fulfilled.
Directed study on selected topics; open to senior majors.
3 credits.

GS 460 Geography Internship
Prerequisites: All department requirements for major fulfilled.
Students assigned to various government and private agencies under joint supervision of agency and faculty.
1-6 credits.

GS 470 Selected Topics in Geography
Topic or subject to be announced in advance; topic to be relevant to student needs and interests and subject to availability of professor.
3 credits