GPH 111 Introduction to Physical Geography. (4)
fall and spring
Spatial and functional relationships among climates, landforms, soils, water, and plants. Credit is allowed for only GPH 111 or 411. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab, field trips. Fee.
General Studies: SQ
GPH 200 Orientation to Geography. (1)
fall
Basic introduction to the Department of Geography faculty, undergraduate graduation requirements, and possible jobs and skills in geography. Cross-listed as GCU 200. Credit is allowed for only GCU 200 or GPH 200.
GPH 210 Society and Environment. (3)
fall
Examines the interaction between social processes, key environmental issues, and nature’s role as a resource at global and regional scales.
General Studies: G
GPH 211 Landform Processes. (3)
spring
Geographic characteristics of landforms and earth-surface processes, emphasizing erosion, transportation, deposition, and implications for human management of the environment. Fee. Prerequisites: ENG 101 (or 105); GPH 111.
General Studies: L
GPH 212 Introduction to Meteorology. (3)
fall
Fundamentals of weather and climate, including basic atmospheric processes and elements. Students whose curricula require a laboratory course must also register for GPH 214. Prerequisite: GPH 111 or instructor approval.
General Studies: SG (if credit also earned in GPH 214)
GPH 213 Introduction to Climatology. (3)
spring
Fundamentals of meteorological/climatological analysis, including terminology and symbology. Recommended for meteorology/climatology program students. Prerequisite: instructor approval.
GPH 214 Introduction to Meteorology Laboratory. (1)
fall
Introduces basic meteorological/climatological data and measurements. Suggested concurrent enrollment in GPH 212. 3 hours lab.
General Studies: SG (if credit also earned in GPH 212)
GPH 215 Introduction to Climatology Laboratory. (1)
spring
Fundamentals of meteorological/climatological map analysis and interpretation. Recommended for meteorology/climatology program students. May be taken concurrently with GPH 213. Prerequisite: instructor approval.
GPH 271 Maps and Map Reading. (3)
once a year
Map types, uses, limitations, and evolution. Communication via paper and digital medium. Navigation, interpretation, projections, sources, symbols, classification, case, handling.
GPH 314 Global Change. (3)
fall
Response of Earth’s natural systems (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere) to past environmental change, and effects of potential future changes.
General Studies: HU, G
GPH 370 Geographic Information Technologies. (3)
fall and spring
Introduces modern geographic information technologies, including cartography, GIS, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and statistical analyses. Lecture, lab.
General Studies: CS
GPH 371 Cartography. (3)
fall and spring
Philosophy and practical aspects of map production; employs communications, symbolism, data manipulation, presentation, decision making, generalization, linework, lettering, digital media. Prerequisite: GPH 111.
General Studies: CS
GPH 372 Air Photo Interpretation. (3)
once a year
Subset, remote sensing, includes: photography, films, aerial geometry, image components, stereoscopy, photogrammetry, ground truthing; interpret physical, cultural, economic, intelligence information. Prerequisite: GPH 211 or a course in Cultural Geography (GCU) or instructor approval.
GPH 373 Geographic Information Science I. (4)
once a year
History and basic aspects of GIS including map and data file structure, conversions, and synthesis with a computerized environment. Prerequisite: GPH 370.
General Studies: CS
GPH 381 Geography of Natural Resources. (3)
once a year
Nature and distribution of natural resources and the problems and principles associated with their use.
General Studies: G
GPH 394 Special Topics. (1 – 4)
fall and spring
Topics may include the following:
| • | Geographic Information Science. (3) |
GPH 401 Topics in Physical Geography. (1 – 3)
once a year
Open to students qualified to pursue independent studies. Possible field trips. Prerequisite: instructor approval.
GPH 405 Energy and Environment. (3)
spring
Sources, regulatory and technical controls, distribution, and consequences of the supply and human use of energy. Prerequisite: a course in physical or life sciences or instructor approval.
GPH 409 Synoptic Meteorology I. (4)
fall
Diagnostic techniques and synoptic forecasting. Includes techniques of weather analysis, map interpretation, and satellite and radar analysis. Prerequisites: MAT 270; PHY 131, 132.
GPH 410 Synoptic Meteorology II. (4)
spring
Diagnostic techniques and synoptic forecasting. Includes techniques of weather analysis, map interpretation, and satellite and radar analysis. Prerequisite: GPH 409.
GPH 411 Physical Geography. (3)
once a year
Introduces physiography and the physical elements of the environment. Credit is allowed for only GPH 411 or 111. Field trips.
GPH 412 Physical Climatology. (3)
once a year
Physical processes in the earth-atmosphere system on regional and global scales; concepts and analysis of energy, momentum, and mass balances. Prerequisites: both GPH 212 and 213 or only instructor approval.
GPH 413 Meteorological Instruments and Measurement. (3)
once a year
Design and operation of ground-base and aerological weather measurement systems. Collection, reduction, storage, retrieval, and analysis of data. Field trips. Prerequisites: both GPH 212 and 213 or only instructor approval.
GPH 414 Climate Change. (3)
spring
Survey of three climate research areas: paleoclimatology, theories (e.g., greenhouse warming), numerical modeling. Prerequisite: GPH 212 or instructor approval.
General Studies: G
GPH 418 Landforms of the Western United States. (3)
once a year
Studies landforms and geomorphic processes in the western United States, including lecture, topographical maps, aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and field trips. Lecture, critical inquiry, laboratory, field work. Fee. Prerequisites: GPH 211 (or its equivalent); a General Studies L course.
General Studies: L
GPH 422 Plant Geography. (3)
selected semesters
Plant communities of the world and their interpretation, emphasizing North American plant associations. Cross-listed as PLB 422. Credit is allowed for only GPH 422 or PLB 422. Prerequisites: preferably both PLB 200 and 201 or only BIO 187 or only GPH 111.
GPH 433 Alpine and Arctic Environments. (3)
selected semesters
Regional study of advantages and limitations of the natural environment upon present and future problems involving resource distribution, human activities, and regional and interregional adjustments. Field trips. Prerequisite: GPH 111 or instructor approval.
General Studies: G
GPH 471 Cartographic Design. (3)
fall
Advanced design using desktop mapping. Cartographic decision making, qualitative and quantitative symbol design, projections, color. Prerequisites: GPH 371 or instructor approval.
General Studies: CS
GPH 473 Geographic Information Science II. (3)
fall
GIS as a basis for microcomputer spatial analysis and synthesis. Includes digitizing, database organization, spatial retrieval, and graphics. Lecture, lab. Prerequisites: GPH 373 (or instructor approval); CSE 100.
General Studies: CS
GPH 474 Dynamic Meteorology I. (3)
fall
Large-scale atmospheric motion, kinematics, Newton’s laws, wind equation, baroclinics, vorticity, and the midlatitude depression. Prerequisites: GPH 213, 215; MAT 271; PHY 131, 132.
GPH 475 Dynamic Meteorology II. (3)
spring
Topics in climate dynamics. General circulation, numerical modeling, teleconnection phenomena, and surface-atmosphere interaction. Prerequisite: GPH 474 or instructor approval.
GPH 481 Environmental Geography. (3)
once a year
Problems of environmental quality, including uses of spatial analysis, research design, and field work in urban and rural systems. Field trips. Prerequisite: instructor approval.
GPH 483 Geographic Information Analysis. (3)
fall
Basics of spatial data analysis. Topics include point pattern analysis, spatial autocorrelation, spatial regression, and kriging. Lecture, lab. Prerequisites: both one 200-level or above course in geography or biology or plant biology or geology or planning and one basic statistics course (GCU 495).
GPH 484 Physical Geography Internship. (3)
fall and spring
Assist in teaching sixth-grade students a simplified version of GPH 111 using hands-on activities.
GPH 491 Geographic Field Methods. (3)
spring and summer
Field techniques, including use of aerial photos, large-scale maps, and fractional code system of mapping; urban and rural field analysis to be done off campus. Fee. Prerequisites: GCU 102, 121; GPH 111.
GPH 494 Special Topics. (1 – 4)
selected semesters
Topics may include the following:
| • | Geographic Information Analysis |
GPH 511 Fluvial Processes. (3)
once a year
Geographical aspects of processes of river erosion, transportation, sedimentation: emphasizing spatial characteristics of forces, resistance, landforms, sediment; includes computer applications. Prerequisites: both GPH 111 (or GLG 101) and 211 (or GLG 362) or only instructor approval.
GPH 533 Snow and Ice. (3)
spring
Processes, distribution, climatic interactions of snow/ice emphasizing mass balance, snow stratigraphy/metamorphism and glacier/snowpack climatology. Lecture, field work. Prerequisite: instructor approval.
GPH 573 Geographic Information Science III. (3)
spring
In-depth look at programming within GIS. Focuses on programming and methodology, utilizing specific software, and basic scientific computing. Lecture, lab. Prerequisite: GPH 473 or instructor approval.
GPH 575 Geographic Applications of Remote Sensing. (3)
selected semesters
Uses imaging and nonimaging methods of remote acquisition of data, including satellite sensors, airborne radar, multiband scanning, conventional photographic sensors, and ground-based equipment. Field trips. Prerequisites: GCU 585 (or GPH 491); GPH 372.
GPH 591 Seminar. (1 – 3)
fall and spring
Selected topics in physical geography. Possible field trips.
GPH 596 Advanced Spatial Statistics. (3)
spring
Multivariate and advanced statistical techniques including Box-Jenkins modeling and spectral analysis. Requires project papers and presentations. Seminar. Prerequisite: GCU 495 (or its equivalent).
GPH 598 Special Topics. (1 – 4)
selected semesters
Topics may include the following:
| • | Intermediate Geographic Information Systems |
GPH 599 Thesis. (6)
fall and spring
Omnibus Courses. For an explanation of additional courses offered but not specifically listed, see “Omnibus Courses.”