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GEOG 1000 - Introduction to Physical Geography

A non-laboratory introduction and survey of Earth’s natural environment, including earth-sun relationships, weather and climate, landforms, soils, and vegetation. The effects of these physical elements on human activity are also stressed. The course presents both global and regional perspectives.


GEOG 1500 - World Regional Geography

This course studies the geography of the world’s major culture regions. Emphasis is placed on the geographic foundations and cultural characteristics, changes, and divisions that provide insight and understanding to current world events and issues.

Credit: 3


GEOG 2000 - Visualizing Human Geography

Prerequisite: Any WC&IL I course.

GEOG 2000 introduces students to critical thinking from a human geography perspective. Students engage this perspective through innovative assignments using Google Earth and other media, as well as through a final project that emphasizes a multi-methodology approach to the study of urban place. This class is intended to introduce students to a uniquely geographic way of understanding the world and, more importantly, it is intended to serve as a foundation for all future studies and professional endeavors.

Credit: 3


GEOG 2500 - Maps and Civilization

Prerequisite: Any WC&IL I course.

A study of how maps reflect the politics, economics, culture, and aesthetics of both Eastern and Western societies throughout history. How maps are used to communicate or distort information is also explored. Other topics include map reading, cartographic conventions and techniques, map types and uses, maps as art, and automated mapping techniques.

Credit: 3


GEOG 3200 - Geography of Hawai‘i and the Pacific

Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course.

An introduction to the human and physical geography of Oceania. Class readings, discussions, presentations, and writing assignments will illustrate the complex socio-geographic aspects of this region. Special attention is given to Hawai‘i, emphasizing its unique physical geography and its contemporary and historical links to the Pacific.

Credit: 3


GEOG 3310 - Geography of Japan

Prerequisite: Any introductory social science course.

A course that begins with the physical and cultural foundations of Japan, including the origin of the Japanese islands, climate, and natural hazards and how various historic periods are visible on the Japanese cultural landscape today. Other topics include populations, agriculture, industry, urbanization, recreation, minority groups, and Japanese concepts of living space.

Credit: 3


GEOG 3600 - Geography of Travel and Tourism

Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course.

An exploration of the major themes, concepts, and contemporary issues focused on in tourism geography. The major areas of focus involve defining tourism and its relationship to geographic inquiry, an overview of tourism from a world regional perspective, and more specifically the impact of tourism in Hawai‘i and Oceania.

Credit: 3


GEOG 3700 - Sustainable Cities

Prerequisite: Any lower division geography, anthropology, international studies or sociology course; and any WC&IL II with a C- or better

The course explores urban sustainability from an historical, social, and environmental perspective. It examines the development of cities from their ancient beginnings to the early part of the 21st century. With that foundation, students will gain an in-depth knowledge of challenges and opportunities facing urban centers around the world and be able to identify solutions for developing sustainable cities of the future.

Credit: 3


GEOG 3720 - Population Dynamics

Prerequisite: Any introductory social science course.

This course begins with historical growth, current trends, and future projections of global population distributions and their resource needs. The course then moves to its core emphasis on the major components of human population change, namely fertility, mortality, and migration. Special attention is given to the role of population structure as a predictor of political instability.

Credit: 3


GEOG 3730 - Economic Geography

Prerequisite: ECON 2010 or 2015; GEOG 2000 or 2600.

An analysis of human economic activities in relation to resources, spatial dimensions of economic systems, social and environmental consequences of location decisions, and alternative use of resources.

Credit: 3


GEOG 3750 - Military Geography

Prerequisite: GEOG 1000; any introductory social science course.

Military operations are inherently geographic in nature, so this course studies the impact of physical and human geography on the conduct and outcome of such operations. In addition to specific war-fighting cases from history, the course covers geopolitics and the geographic aspects of peacekeeping, terrorism, disaster management, humanitarian assistance, recruiting, and training.

Credit: 3


GEOG 4700 - Geographic Information Systems

Prerequisite: GEOG 1000 or 2000.

A course that provides students with the fundamental concepts underlying geographic information systems (GIS). The nature and analytical use of spatial information are discussed. During the laboratories, students acquire skills in utilizing the popular software package ArcView GIS. Laboratories provide hands-on experience with ArcView GIS.

Credit: 3