2005-2006 CATALOG
GEOG 1001 World Regional Geography 3 cr.
Offered each semester. The nations of Europe (including the Soviet Union) and the Americas; emphasis on the analysis of physical and cultural relationships and interactions between countries in time and space.
GEOG 1002 World Regional Geography 3 cr.
Offered each semester. The nations of Asia and Africa; emphasis on the analysis of physical and cultural relationships and interactions between countries in time and space.
GEOG 1500 Elements of Geography 3 cr.
A survey of the basic concepts in physical and cultural geography.
GEOG 1600 Environmental Geography 3 cr.
An analysis of the interactions between humankind and the world’s physical environments which have led to present-day environmental stresses. Topics include the utilization of resources, population growth, food supplies, energy, and air and water pollution.
GEOG 1690 Other People, Other Places 1 cr.
An examination of changing landscapes. Topics will vary each semester. Most topics will emphasize man’s impact on his environment; other topics will stress the natural environment. Two hours of lecture per week for one-half semester.
GEOG 2151 Elements of Physical Geography 3 cr.
An examination of the fundamentals of the natural landscape and their interactions. Includes weather and climate processes, world climate patterns, soil and vegetation types, and landforming processes.
GEOG 2158 Conservation 3 cr.
An analysis of the basic principles of the conservation of the natural resources of the world. Emphasis will be placed on the United States.
GEOG 2254 Elements of Economic Geography 3 cr.
Examination of factors influencing the location of economic activities with individual treatment of the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, and analysis of transportation and regional development problems.
GEOG 2356 Cultural Geography 3 cr.
A consideration of cultural factors which influence the human use of the environment; emphasis on resulting patterns of settlement, resource utilization, and landscape modification.
GEOG 2401 Geography of Louisiana 3 cr.
An examination of the physical and cultural landscapes of Louisiana. Emphasis placed upon the geographical implications of the state’s varied cultural heritage. A sampling of topics includes Acadian settlement, rural folk housing, folk occupations, and the evolution of the New Orleans urban landscape.
GEOG 2402 Geography of the United States and Canada 3 cr.
The physical and cultural geography of the United States and Canada. Emphasis on the physical landscape, culture, land use, urbanization, and economic development.
GEOG 2404 Geography of Latin America 3 cr.
The natural environments, cultures, and economic resources of Latin America - from Amazonia to the Andes. Emphasis is placed on the effects of both traditional and modern land use systems on cultural diversity and change and on the internal and external forces that have limited the economic development of Mexico and the nations of Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
GEOG 2406 Geography of the U.S. South 3 cr.
A survey and analysis of the physical and cultural environments of the southern United States. Emphasis on the physical landscape, culture, land use, urbanization, and economic development.
GEOG 2422 Geography of Western Europe 3 cr.
A survey and analysis of the physical, cultural, and economic environments of Europe excluding the states of the former Soviet Union.
GEOG 2424 Geography of Russia and Neighboring States 3 cr.
A survey and analysis of the physical, cultural, and econonomic environments of Russia and the new countries that emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union.
GEOG 2431 Geography of the Middle East 3 cr.
A survey and analysis of the physical and cultural environment of the Middle East. Emphasis on physical landscape, land use, and economic and political development.
GEOG 2441 Geography of Asia 3 cr.
A survey and analysis of the physical and cultural environments of Asia. Emphasis on the physical landscape, land use, and economic development.
GEOG 2451 Geography of Africa 3 cr.
A survey and analysis of the physical, cultural, and economic environment of Africa. Emphasis on physical landscape, culture, land use, urbanization, disease, and economic development.
GEOG 2701 Geographical Literature and Research Aids 1 cr.
An examination of the important elements in geographical study and the basic literature and research aids used by geographers.
GEOG 2801 Quantitative Methods in Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisites: MATH 1115 or consent of department. An introduction to quantitative methods and models used in analyzing geographic problems.
GEOG 2810 Map Reading and Interpretation 3 cr.
Basic introduction to the skills and reasoning ability needed to appreciate and use maps as research tools and illustrative devices. Emphasis on reading and geographic analysis of U.S. topographic maps. Two hours lecture and two hours laboratory per week.
GEOG 3390 Special Topics in Cultural Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 2356 or consent of department. The examination of selected regions and social institutions to illustrate the manner in which the geographer achieves an understanding of the man-land relationship. Topics will vary from semester to semester. May be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 3490 Special Topics in Physical Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 2151 or consent of department. An examination of selected topics in physical geography. Designed to provide an in-depth examination of specific features of the physical landscape and to analyze the manner in which man has altered the natural environment. Topics will vary from semester to semester. May be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 3595 Academic Year Abroad: Special Topics in Geography 3 cr.
This course in only offered through UNO’s Academic Year Abroad (AYA) in Innsbruck, Austria and can be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 3805 Fundamentals of Mapping and GIS 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 2801 (or equivalent) or consent of department. Lecture-based introduction to the basic concepts and technologies important to mapping geographic information systems (GIS) and image analysis. Topics include map design fundamentals thematic mapping statistical cartography the relationship of mapping to GIS essential elements of GIS data acquisition and analysis visualization of output remotely sensed imagery and GIS GIS functions and associated applications and spacial decision support systems. This course will meet the needs not only of students who intend to do additional work in geographic techniques but those who need only a one-semester of concepts. Students who have earned credit in GEOG 4805 may not take GEOG 3805 for credit.
GEOG 3850 Geography Internship 3 cr.
Prerequisite: consent of department. Each semester the department makes available internships with the City of New Orleans and other government agencies in the metropolitan area. Internships provide the opportunity to learn about geography from the perspective of the participating agency. This course may be repeated once for credit for a total of six hours.
GEOG 3895 Senior Honors Thesis 1-6 cr.
Prerequisites: consent of department and the director of the Honors Program. The design and written preparation under faculty supervision of a major geographic research project. May be repeated for up to a total of six credits. Section number will correspond with credit to be carried.
GEOG 4150 The Geography of Hazards & Disasters 3 cr.
Recommended: Geography 1600. Students are introduced to the geographic study of natural hazards, technological hazards, and disasters. Special emphasis will be given to the spatial patterns and mapping science of both the risk and impact of each type of environmental hazard. Additionally, students will explore the geographic context of creating and managing environmental hazards, contemporary efforts to seek “all-hazards” solutions to the management of environmental hazards and disasters, and the multi-scale (i.e. global, regional, local) challenges presented by environmental hazards.
GEOG 4158 Environmental Impact Assessment 3 cr.
Prerequisites: GEOG 2151; and BIOS 1073 and 1083, or BIOS 1053 and 1063, or consent of department. Three hours of statistics are recommended. The course addresses the legal framework and provisions of environmental impact statement preparation as prescribed by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and subsequent legislation and guidelines. Methodologies are considered for both analyzing and evaluating human impacts on the natural environment.
GEOG 4220 Agricultural Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: three hours of geography or consent of department. An examination of physical, historical, and cultural factors influencing agricultural production in both industrialized and developing nations with emphasis on case studies representative of diverse agricultural systems. Topics include soil, water, and climatic regulators, small-scale subsistence systems versus mechanized Green-Revolution farming, tropical diets and nutritional diseases, promising new agricultural products and technologies, and home gardening as intensive agriculture.
GEOG 4230 Geography of Manufacturing 3 cr.
A survey and analysis of the spatial dimension of manufacturing activities, including an examination of location factors, theories of location, and contemporary trends in the location of North American manufacturing. ECON 2203 is recommended.
GEOG 4290 Special Topics in Economic Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 2254 or consent of department. An examination of selected topics in economic geography designed to illustrate the manner in which man has changed and organized the earth’s surface. Topics will vary from semester to semester. May be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 4310 Political Geography 3 cr.
Examination of the spatial structure of the state spatial interactions among states, geopolitical theories, law of the sea, electoral patterns within the United States, and urban political geography.
GEOG 4320 Tropical Lands and Their Utilization 3 cr.
The varying utilizations of savanna and rainforest environments by different cultural groups at different times and places; problems of human adaptation to tropical lands; emphasis on South America.
GEOG 4513 Meteorology 3 cr.
GEOG 2151 is recommended as a prerequisite. An examination and analysis of the elements of weather and the techniques and problems of weather forecasting.
GEOG 4514 Climatology 3 cr.
GEOG 2151 is recommended as a prerequisite. An analysis of climatic processes and their organization into regional patterns. Also includes inter-relationships among climate, vegetation, soils and landforms, applications of climatic information, and climatic modification and change.
GEOG 4530 Biogeography 3 cr.
A study of the origin distribution adaptation and association of biota (plants and animals) emphasizing geographical relationships. Plant communities are correlated with climate and soil on a worldwide basis. Methods of dispersal and migration are studied along with past geological events that have affected biotic distribution.
GEOG 4540 Biogeography of Birds 3 cr.
This course will investigate bird distribution patterns and resource use patterns on several spatial scales. Broad geographic patterns will be discussed, including patterns of migration and avian zoogeography. Distributional patterns will be interpreted in terms of the habitat use and behavior of birds at different stages in their annual cycles. Field observations of species nesting around the UNO campus will be incorporated to complement lecture information.
GEOG 4550 Geography of Coastal Environments 3 cr.
A study of the coastal areas of the world as natural environments, as resources, and as human habitats. Topics covered will include the geomorphology of coasts, coastal oceanography, coastal resources, prehistoric and modern human settlement patterns, the coast as an environmental hazard, and coastal zone management. A substantial amount of time will be devoted to Southern Louisiana.
GEOG 4600 History and Practice of Planning 3 cr.
(MURP 4600 and GEOG 4600 are cross-listed) This course introduces students to the history and practice of urban planning in the United States from its origins in the colonial era through the evolution of planning thought and programs in the 20th century. It also provides students with an understanding of how planning has evolved through recent history, and is being practiced currently. Emphasis will be placed on the components of comprehensive planning, the implementation of modern city plans, and the discussion of current planning issues.
GEOG 4610 Urban Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: three hours of geography or consent of department. An analysis of the origin and diffusion of cities, their internal arrangement, and external relations and the problems associated with urban living.
GEOG 4620 Geography of the Western City 3 cr.
Prerequisite: three hours of geography or consent of department. Examination of the spatial patterns of urban evolution in Europe and North America. Emphasis on the form, function, and connectivity of Western cities from classical times to the present.
GEOG 4630 Geography of the Third World City 3 cr.
Prerequisite: three hours of geography or consent of department. Geographic analysis of urbanism as a way of life and the physical processes of urbanization in the Third World developing countries.
GEOG 4768 Selected Geographic Concepts for Teachers and
Prospective Teachers 3 cr.
This course is designed to provide teachers and prospective teachers with a basic understanding and working knowledge of selected geographic concepts and skills. Topics include map use and interpretation, weather and storms, world climates, landforms, human ecology and pollution, reserves and utilization of natural resources, population growth, and Third World economic development and urbanization.
GEOG 4801 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 2801 or consent of department. An advanced course in the analysis of geographic data, focusing on the refinement of research design skills, the use of multivariate statistical techniques, and the application of commonly employed geographic sampling procedures in spatial and environmental analysis.
GEOG 4805 Fundamentals of Mapping and GIS 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 2801 (or equivalent) or consent of department. Lecture and project-based introduction to the basic concepts and technologies important to mapping, geographic information systems (GIS), and image analysis. Topics include map design fundamentals, thematic mapping, statistical cartography, the relationship of mapping to GIS, essential elements of GIS, data acquisition and analysis, visualization of output, remotely sensed imagery and GIS, GIS functions and associated applications, and spatial decision support systems. This course will meet the needs not only of students who intend to do additional work in geographic techniques, but those who need only a one-semester survey of concepts. Students who have earned credit in GEOG 3805 may not take GEOG 4805 for credit.
GEOG 4810 Introduction to Remote Sensing 3 cr.
Prerequisite: three hours of geography or consent of department. A comprehensive introductory course that deals with fundamental physical principles of the science of remote sensing, the theory and practice of image interpretation, and information extraction techniques for aerial photos and satellite imagery. Includes remote sensing applications pertaining to management of natural resources and contemporary environmental issues. Practical exercises expose students to image processing and interpretation techniques.
GEOG 4815 Animation and Hypermedia in Cartography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3805 or 4805 or consent of department. Lecture and lab-based examination of principles of catographic animation, and the role of hypermedia; and the World Wide Web in the dissemination access, and display of geospatial information. Topics include: the history of catographic animation, principles and mechanics of animation, digital color systems, affine transformations, autotracing and shapeblending, digital relief and fly-bys, interactivity in animation, hypermedia and Web GIS.
GEOG 4820 Remote Sensing II: Digital Image Processing
and Analysis 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 4810 or consent of department. This course examines the quantitative, computational, and applied aspects of remotely sensed data, with the goal of providing students with an in-depth understanding of image processing analysis, and interpretation techniques. Topics include scientific visualization, geometric, radiometric, and atmospheric correction: image enhancement and manipulation, information extraction, land-use and land-cover change detection, integration of GIS and remote sensing data and spatial modeling. Class applications will address issues related to environmental analysis, land and water resource inventory and use, and urban analysis. Practical exercises expose students to image processing and information extraction techniques.
GEOG 4821 Remote Sensing for Water Resource Analysis 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 4810 or the consent of the department. Lecture and lab-based examination of the use of remote-sensing concepts and technologies to describe the geography of water resources, to monitor and to evaluate their content, and to assess their impact on physical settings and human communities. Topics include the spectral properties of water, measurement of selected water column constituents, and analysis of their impact on upwelling spectral signals. Also included are other applications to aquatic systems such as spectral identification, classification, and delineation of wetlands; and land-cover change detection.
GEOG 4822 Geomorphology 3 cr.
(GEOG 4822 and GEOL 4822 are cross-listed) A study of land forms and the processes that have shaped the natural landscape. A study of the physical geography and geology of the United States through maps and aerial photographs is undertaken in the laboratory. Two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
GEOG 4825 Cartographic Design 3 cr.
Prerequisites: GEOG 4805 or consent of department. A detailed examination of modern computer-based map creation, with particular focus on map design issues. Lecture topics include map generalization, text labeling , color schemes, classification of statistical data, and various univariate and multivariate mapping techniques. Class exercises aim to develop practical skills in the use of GIS and graphic design software for cartographic purposes.
GEOG 4830 GIS Theories and Concepts 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3805 or 4805 or consent of department. Detailed lecture and lab-based examination of theories and concepts important to geographic information systems (GIS). Topics include GIS as a communication system, data acquisition and management, error management, GIS functions, GIS-based spatial analysis, GIS and regional scale, visualization concepts, the role of GIS in spatial decision support.
GEOG 4831 GIS Applications 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 4830 or consent of department. Lecture and lab-based examination of the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in specific problem-solving contexts. Activities include identification of GIS uses in different socioeconomic and physical contexts, analysis of advanced technical issues (e.g., network analysis, location-allocation modeling, facilities management) and investigation of implementation issues.
GEOG 4833 Terrestrial Plant Ecology 3 cr.
(BIOS 4833 and GEOG 4833 are cross-listed). Prerequisite: Consent of department. A broad overview of the specialized branches of plant ecology which will examine the essential interactions between plants and their environment. The focus of the course will be threefold: first, theoretical considerations providing students a solid background from which to examine plant environment interactions; second, the dynamic processes that continually shape the structure of plant communities; third, methodologies for sampling and analyzing plant communities. At least two field trips can be anticipated.
GEOG 4901 Field Methods in Geography 4 cr.
Prerequisites: nine hours of geography including GEOG 2801 or equivalent and consent of department. Techniques of geographic field research. Projects will emphasize methods of gathering and organizing field data and subsequent geographical analysis of collected data. Two hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory.
GEOG 4991 Independent Work in Geography 1 cr.
Prerequisite: admission by consent of department. Independent research under the direction of a designated faculty member. Regular conferences between the student and the instructor are required. GEOG 4991, 4992, 4993 may not be taken for a total of more than six hours credit. In no case may a student register in GEOG 3850 and 4991 through 4993 for a total of more than nine hours credit.
GEOG 4992 Independent Work in Geography 1 cr.
Prerequisite: admission by consent of department. Independent research under the direction of a designated faculty member. Regular conferences between the student and the instructor are required. GEOG 4991, 4992, 4993 may not be taken for a total of more than six hours credit. In no case may a student register in GEOG 3850 and 4991 through 4993 for a total of more than nine hours credit.
GEOG 4993 Independent Work in Geography 1 cr.
Prerequisite: admission by consent of department. Independent research under the direction of a designated faculty member. Regular conferences between the student and the instructor are required. GEOG 4991, 4992, 4993 may not be taken for a total of more than six hours credit. In no case may a student register in GEOG 3850 and 4991 through 4993 for a total of more than nine hours credit.
GEOG 6001 Problems in Land Use and Environmental Analysis 1 cr.
Required of all master of arts in geography students. Examination of procedures and concepts important to the geographical analysis of human and environmental resources focusing on land resources. Topics include spatial analysis of rural and urban land use patterns, environmental consequences of land use decisions, and the role of environmental perception in land use decision-making behavior.
GEOG 6310 Seminar in Regional Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Advanced analysis of the geography of a specific region. Region emphasized will vary depending on instructor. Course may be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 6330 Seminar in Cultural Historical Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Intensive study of a topic in cultural and/or historical geography. Topic emphasized will vary depending on instructor. Seminar may be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 6530 Seminar in Environmental Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: consent of department. Intensive research into selected topics, including but not limited to environmental processes, human-environment interactions, environmental impact assessment, ecological risk analysis, and public policy making. Focus on the course will vary depending on instructor. Seminar may be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 6550 Seminar in Physical Geography 3 cr.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Intensive study of selected problems in soils analysis, climatology, bioclimatology, plant geography, zoogeography, and geographical ecology. Area of study will vary depending on the instructor. Seminar may be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 6605 Seminar in Land Use Analysis 3 cr.
(GEOG 6605 and MURP 6605 are cross-listed) Prerequisite: consent of department. Intensive research into selected rural and/or urban land-use problems in their environmental and historical contexts. Course may be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 6820 Seminar in Remote Sensing 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 4820 or consent of department. Intensive research into the theories and techniques of digital image processing at advanced level. Application of satellite remote sensing technology and analysis to real world problems, including image preprocessing, image enhancement, supervised and unsupervised classification, change detection, classification accuracy assessment, and methods of interfacing remote sensing derived information with geographic information systems. Seminar may be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 6825 Seminar in Geographical Information Science 3 cr.
Prerequisite: GEOG 4830 or consent of department. Intensive, literature-based discussion of selected topics from Geographic Information Science. Selected topics may derive from geocomputational developments that extend the traditional GIS paradigm towards dynamic, interactive, and visual approaches, including uncertainty modeling, cellular automata, artificial neural networks and exploratory data analysis. Other topics may include Internet GIS and the societal impact of geographic information technology, including information access and privacy issues. Seminar may be repeated once for credit.
GEOG 6887 Geographic Thought and Research Methods 3 cr.
Required of all Master of Arts in Geography students. Historical evolution of geography as an academic discipline and professional career; geographic subfields and career opportunities; and principles of library research and scholarly writing.
GEOG 6990 Directed Study 3 cr.
Enrollment with consent of department. Independent research in the graduate student’s area of specialization under the direction of a designated member of the graduate faculty.
GEOG 7000 Thesis Research 1-9 cr.
To be repeated for credit until thesis is accepted. Section number will correspond to credit to be earned.
GEOG 7040 Examination of Thesis Only 0 cr.
No credit. Open to students in a thesis program who have only (other than application for degree) the final typing and acceptance by the Graduate School of their thesis or dissertation.
