University of Montana 2000-2001 Catalog

Department of Geography

Paul B. Wilson, Chair

Geography aims to provide a broad-ranging perspective on humans as inhabitants and transformers of the face of the earth. The search for this understanding involves thorough study of the physical earth, its habitation by humans, and the resulting diversity of regions and places. Geographers study the physical earth by examining the interlocking systems of the natural environment, including climate, landforms, soils, and biota. Humans are studied by examining those diverse historical, cultural, social, economic, and political structures and processes which affect the location and spatial organization of population groups and their activities. Regions and places, whether described as nations, cities, ecological units, or landscapes, are studied by integrating and interpreting their physical and human relationships in an effort to better understand them and the problems they face.

Geographers are often found working in business, industry, government, planning and teaching. Their tasks may range from determining the optimal location for a new supermarket to doing the biophysical and socioeconomic studies required for urban and regional planning. Geographers trained in cartography may find professional opportunities in the various aspects of making and communicating with maps.

The Department of Geography maintains particular strengths in each of four major branches within the discipline: 1) human geography--cultural, economic, migration studies, human-environmental interaction, and towns and rural settlement; 2) physical geography--landform analysis, biogeography, paleoecology, and global-environmental change; 3) regional geography--China, the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, Africa, Europe, and the North American West; 4) geographic concepts, methods, and techniques--map and air photo interpretation, cartography and GIS, field techniques, quantitative methods, and historical geography. These groupings correspond more or less to the geography courses listed in this catalog.

The Department of Geography offers the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in geography. Also offered are a minor in geography, a teaching major and minor in geography, and options in cartography, physical geography, and rural, town and regional planning. The bachelor degree program provides a broad liberal education; it qualifies graduates for a variety of professional jobs; and it prepares students who excel for graduate studies in geography, cartography, planning, or related fields. The Master of Arts program prepares the candidates for a somewhat greater range of employment, including teaching in community and junior colleges, and for doctoral studies in geography and allied disciplines. In addition to a general degree in geography without option, students may elect one of two options within the Master of Arts program--cartography and GIS or rural, town and regional planning. See the graduate catalog for more information concerning the M.A. program.

Special Degree Requirements

Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See index.

Requirements in Geography

A minimum of 37 credits in geography (maximum 60), including the following:

Course Credits

101S Introduction to Human Geography 3

102N Introduction to Physical Geography 3

104 Introduction to Maps and Air Photographs 3

105 Map and Air Photo Laboratory 1

385 Field Techniques 3

386 Quantitative Techniques in Geography 3

387 Principles of Digital Cartography 3

One regional geography course numbered 200 or above 3

Two upper-division human geography courses and one

upper-division physical geography course, or the reverse 9

Electives in geography 6-29

Total 37-60

With the approval of the student's advisor, other courses deemed relevant may be accepted as part of the requirements in geography. Geography majors may not take geography courses on the pass/not pass system after having chosen geography as their major, except for those courses offered only on this basis. The student may pursue the cartography option, the physical geography option, or the rural, town and regional planning option described below or take the degree without an option.

Cartography Option

In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a degree in geography, the student desiring to achieve an option in cartography must complete GEOG 482, 488 and 489; and twelve credits selected from the following electives: ASTR 131N, 132N, 134N, 135N; GEOG 330N, 486, 587, 588, 589 and 586; FOR 351, 452, 503, 504 and 551; and GEOL 100N and 105N. Also required are CS 203, 204, or 205, and MATH 150. These requirements are designed to satisfy qualifications for cartography positions with various governmental agencies.

Physical Geography Option

In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a degree in geography, a student must complete, at minimum, the following: six credits of introductory physical geography (GEOG 102N, 112N, or equivalents), nine credits of upper-division physical geography (excluding non-classroom-oriented courses such as cooperative education, independent study, and research) and three credits of undergraduate thesis devoted to a theme in physical geography, GEOG 499. In addition, a student must complete a two-course sequence in mathematics (either MATH 152 and 153 or MATH 444 and 445 (or equivalents), and two two-course sequences in science, either chemistry (CHEM 151N and 152N or equivalents), or physics (PHYS 121N and 122N or equivalents), or biology (BIOL 120N and 121N or equivalents).

Rural, Town and Regional Planning Option

In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a degree in geography, the student desiring to achieve the option in rural, town and regional planning must complete Geog 421S, 479, 482, 488; PHIL 427E; and SOC 340. An additional three credits chosen from the following: GEOG 446N, 489, 587, 588, or 589 also must be taken.

Advisor

Every geography major is required to obtain the consent of a geography faculty member to act as advisor. The student must meet with this advisor periodically to design a program and monitor progress. All proposals for course substitutions and program alterations must be submitted to the advisor. The student's application for graduation must be approved and initialed by the advisor before being reviewed and signed by the chairman.

Teacher Preparation in Geography

Major Teaching Field of Geography: For an endorsement in the major teaching field of Geography, a student must complete the requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in geography (an option is not required) including GEOG 259S and 281 (or 481). Students also must complete C&I 428, gain admission to Teacher Education and Student Teaching and meet the requirements for certification as a secondary teacher (see the School of Education section of this catalog).

The demand in Montana high schools for teaching of courses in this field is increasing.

Minor Teaching Field of Geography: For an endorsement in the minor teaching field of Geography, a student must complete GEOG 101S, 102N, 259S, 281 (or 481) and six elective credits in geography. Students also must complete one upper-division human geography course or upper-division physical geography course and C&I 428, gain admission to Teacher Education and Student Teaching, and meet the requirements for certification as a secondary teacher (see the School of Education section of this catalog).

Suggested Course of Study

This suggested course of study should be used as a guide only. Students should consult with their advisors for individual course planning.

First Year A S

+GEOG 101S Introduction to Human Geography 3 -

+GEOG 102N Introduction to Physical Geography - 3

GEOG 103S World Regional Geography - 3

+MATH course above 100 3 3

+ENEX 101 Composition 3 -

+General Education 6 6

15 15



Second Year

+GEOG 104 Introduction to Maps

and Air Photographs 3 -

+GEOG 105 Map and Air Photo Laboratory 1 -

+Regional geography course 200 level or above - 3

+*CS 131 Fundamentals of Computer Science I 4 -

+*CS 132 Fundamentals of Computer Science II - 4

Electives and General Education 7 8

15 15

Third Year

+GEOG 385 Field Techniques 3 -

GEOG 386 Quantitative Techniques in Geography - 3

+GEOG 387 Principles of Digital Cartography 3 -

GEOG 395 Digital Cartography Laboratory 1 -

GEOG 486 Cartography/GIS Laboratory - 1

GEOG 488 Thematic Cartography and GIS - 3

+Upper-division human or physical

geography course 3 -

*CS 204 C Programming (or

other higher-level computing language) 3 -

+General Education 2

Electives - 8

15 15

Fourth Year

+GEOG 496 Independent Study 3 -

Upper-division human geography course - 3

Upper-division physical geography course 3 -

Electives 9 12

15 15

+Offered autumn and spring semesters.

*A course sequence in a foreign language may be substituted.

Requirements for a Minor

To earn a minor in Geography the student must complete a minimum of 18 credits including: GEOG 101S and 102N; two courses from GEOG 104, 385, 386 and 387; and one upper-division human or physical geography course.

Courses

U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.

U 101S Introduction to Human Geography 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Introduction to human geography: population, culture, settlement, land uses and spatial interaction.

U 102N Introduction to Physical Geography: Weather, Climate and Vegetation 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., MATH 100 or above, or appropriate score on math placement exam. Introduction to major natural environmental systems: weather, climate, vegetation: their components, classification, spatial distributions, interrelationships, and formation.

U 103S World Regional Geography 3 cr. Offered intermittently. An overall view of how the lands and peoples of the world are organized into coherent geographical regions, how landscapes differ from region to region, and how the people differ in terms of their traits, beliefs, ways of life, and economic livelihood.

U 104 Introduction to Maps and Air Photographs 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., MATH 100 or above, or appropriate score on math placement exam. Introduction to the concepts and techniques needed to understand and analyze the information contained in maps, aerial photographs, and other graphics.

U 105 Map and Air Photo Laboratory 1 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq. or coreq., GEOG 104. Determination of spatial variables from maps/air photos using a variety of equipment. Involves techniques of data acquisition and applications of basic Geographic Information Systems (GIS) procedures.

U 112N Landforms, Water, and Soils 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq. or coreq., GEOG 102N. Introduction to the major natural terrestrial environmental systems, of landforms, water, and soils: their components, classification, spatial distributions, interrelationships, and formation.

U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 281 Geography for Teachers 3 cr. Offered autumn. Geographical concepts, methods, and subject material needed for teaching geography effectively at the elementary or secondary level.

U 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

Human Geography

UG 305S Cultural Geography 3 cr. Offered spring. A survey of historical and contemporary cultural-environmental patterns. Emphasis is upon the emergence and distribution of cultural adaptations, the human use of natural resources, and the creation and transformation of cultural landscapes.

UG 315S Economic Geography 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., GEOG 101S or consent of instr. Spatial order and changing locational patterns of human economic activity. Emphasis on concepts and theories of agriculture, industrial and urban location.

UG 405 Food and Famine 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years. Exploration of the production, distribution, and consumption of food; the causes and consequences of hunger; and measures that might be taken to relieve hunger.

UG 421S Towns and Rural Settlement 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., GEOG 101S. The spatial, functional, and locational attributes of regional centers and towns in the context of the patterns of rural settlement.

UG 425 The Human Role in Environmental Change 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., upper-division or graduate standing or consent of instr. Same as EVST 425. A systematic examination of the ways in which the major physical systems and ecosystems of the earth have been modified by human activity.

G 510 Advanced Human Geography 3 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Advanced topics in economic geography, urban geography, cultural geography, population and migration, settlement, and historical geography. Topic titles will appear in the class schedule.

G 588 GIS in Human Geography 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. Applications of GIS in human geography. Concentration on the topology and structures of data in vector format. Vector to raster conversions. Mapping and map analysis methods which concern census data, the TIGER Files, city and county data bases, county surveyors maps, and others.

Physical Geography

UG 330N Meteorology 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., GEOG 102N or consent of instr. Origin, composition, structure, and dynamics of the atmosphere, gas and radiation laws, energy budget and balance, weather elements and North American weather systems.

UG 340 Landform Geomorphology 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., GEOG 102N or equiv. Important landforms, the biophysical processes and environments of their formation and associated morphological problems.

UG 443 Geomorphology and Soils 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., GEOG 340, FOR 210 or consent of instr. Classification, morphology, and distribution of soils and paleosoils as consequences of bio-climatic geomorphological processes.

UG 446N Biogeography 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., GEOG 102N or equiv. Changing patterns of plant and animal distributions in space and time. Combination of historical and ecological approaches to biological species and communities. Study of external causes of plant and animal migration, especially climatic change and human impacts.

G 530 Advanced Physical Geography 3 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Advanced topics in landform analysis, biogeography, the geography of soils, water resources, etc. Topic titles will appear in the class schedule.

G 587 GIS in Physical Geography 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Analysis of physical landscape by means of spatial and statistical techniques drawn from raster-based geographic information systems.

Regional Geography

U 213S Southwest Asian Culture and Civilization 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Same as AS and LS 213S. A survey of the biophysical and cultural geography of Southwest Asia and North Africa. Emphasis on environmental change, cultural-historical development, socio-economic diversity, and the broader political significance of the region.

U 214S Central Asian Culture and Civilization 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as AS, HIST, LS 214S. Introduction to Central Asia's history, culture and ways of thinking. Focus on the political and social organization of Central Asia and cultural changes as expressed in art and interactions with China, India and the Middle East.

U 242S South Asia/Land and People 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Same as SOC 242S. The physical setting of South Asia, its history, culture and socio-economic organization. Examines regional differences, changing social patterns and the relationship between people and the environment.

U 250 North America 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years. A spatial examination of the physical, cultural, historical and economic elements of Canada, United States, northern Mexico and adjacent regions. Emphasis is on the cultural, social and historical changes, spatial patterns and spatial organization that shape the geographic identity of the area.

U 256S North American West 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Consideration of the spatial integration and arrangement of the physical, cultural and economic traits which give to the western parts of the United States and Canada their geographic personality. Emphasis on spatial organization, landscape contrasts and the various geographic subregions of the West.

U 257 Pacific Northwest 3 cr. Offered spring. An examination of the physical and socioeconomic characteristics of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana with emphasis on the regional economy, resource problems and policies.

U 259S Montana 3 cr. Offered spring. The spatial integration and arrangement of the physical, cultural and economic traits which give to Montana its geographical personality.

U 277S Africa 3 cr. Offered autumn. A survey of the biophysical and cultural geography of Sub-Saharan Africa. Emphasis is on the region's cultural-historical development and current ecological, demographic, and economic patterns.

UG 351 Geography of a Selected Region 3 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Selected regions will be listed as appropriate in each class schedule.

UG 366S China 3 cr. Offered autumn. The spatial integration and arrangement of the physical, cultural and economic traits of China.

UG 451 Advanced Regional Geography 3 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. In-depth treatment of a geographic region, a particular regional problem, or the methodology of regional geography. Topics vary.

Geographical Thought, Methodology, and Techniques

UG 376 Historical Geography 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., GEOG 101S and 102N or consent of instr. Geography of past periods with the aim of understanding geographical patterns and processes, both past and present.

UG 385 Field Techniques 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., MATH 117 and twelve credits in geography or consent of instr. Field techniques used by geographers and planners in making field observations and in collecting data.

UG 386 Quantitative Techniques in Geography 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., MATH 117 and twelve credits in geography or consent of instr. Quantitative analysis of spatial data; measurements of aggregation and concentration; description of areal distributions; techniques of regionalization; computerized data analysis.

UG 387 Principles of Digital Cartography 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., GEOG 104 or consent of instr. Concepts, principles, and methods of cartography as applied to computerized mapping and geographical information systems. Topics include scale, coordinate systems, projections, digital map topology, data acquisition, geocoding, compilation, typography, and design. Computer mapping exercises.

UG 479 Rural, Town and Regional Planning 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., GEOG 101S or consent of instr. Land planning principles, practices and problems in small towns and rural environments.

UG 481 Workshop in Teaching Geography 3 cr. Offered summer. Prereq., consent of instr. Modern concepts and techniques in geography with emphasis on their use in teaching geography in Montana schools. Students are required to prepare and present a teaching unit project.

UG 482 Models in Geography and Planning 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., GEOG 386 or consent of instr. Review of the theoretical and conceptual basis of models employed by applied geographers, planners, regional economic analysts, etc. Computer application of widely used techniques such as population and employment projections, interaction and location-allocation models. A project-oriented course.

UG 486 Cartography/GIS Laboratory 1 cr. (R-3) Offered spring. Coreq., GEOG 488 or 489. Lab to accompany GEOG 488 or 489.

UG 488 Thematic Cartography and GIS 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., GEOG 387 or consent of instr. Communicating and analyzing topical information with maps. Theories of map symbolism, generalization, compilation and design. Choropleth maps, dot maps, proportional figure maps, isarithmic maps, and others. Includes computer mapping and GIS exercises.

UG 489 Computer Map Production and Design 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., GEOG 387 or consent of instr. Advanced compilation, design, production and actual printing of maps using digital techniques. Topics include principles of map and graphic design, elements of composition, spot and four-color process printing, vector and raster digital file manipulation, and use of GIS data in map production.

U 493 Omnibus Variable cr. (R-15) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. University omnibus option for independent work. See index.

UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Specialized aspects of geography. Topics vary.

UG 496 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Independent study in any subfield of geography.

U 498 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-9) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements within governmental agencies or the business community.

U 499 Undergraduate Thesis 3 cr. (R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., senior standing or consent of instr. Independent research project in any geographic topic supervised by faculty member, and leading to completion of baccalaureate degree.

G 500 Geography Graduate Colloquium 1 cr. (R-3) Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. Graded pass/not pass only. Enrollment required every semester graduate students are in residence. Presentation of faculty and student research interests. Guest lecturers.

G 505 Research Methods 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Methods of research appropriate for geography including research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation. Preparation of a thesis proposal.

G 550 Seminar in Geography 3 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Seminar topics in human geography, physical geography, regional geography, or geographical techniques.

G 577 Seminar in Geographical Thought 3 cr. Offered autumn. Geographical ideas, concepts, approaches, and techniques from ancient to modern times.

G 579 Seminar in Rural, Town and Regional Planning 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., GEOG 479 or consent of instr. A critical analysis of land planning theories, concepts and current practices with a focus on local, regional, and state planning problems.

G 582 Planning Design 3 cr. Offered odd-numbered years. Prereq., consent of instr. Analysis of land-use problems and design.

G 586 Cartography/GIS Laboratory 1 cr. (R-3) Offered autumn and spring. Coreq., GEOG 588 or 589. Laboratory to accompany GEOG 588 or 589.

G 589 Seminar in GIS and Cartography 3 cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Seminar topics in cartography and geographic information systems. Applications to advanced studies in human and physical geography.

G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

G 596 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Independent research in geography or planning.

G 598 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-9) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus.

G 699 Thesis Variable cr. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of advisor.

Faculty

Professors

John M. Crowley, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1964 (Emeritus)

Evan Denney, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1970 (Emeritus)

John J. Donahue, Jr., Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1971

Chris Field, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1966 (Emeritus)

Jeffrey A. Gritzner, Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1986

Darshan S. Kang, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, 1975 (Emeritus)

Paul B. Wilson, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, 1972 (Chairman)

Associate Professor

H. W. Bockemuehl, Ph.D., Massey University, 1973 (Emeritus)

Assistant Professors

Eric G. Edlund, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1996

Christiane von Reichert, Ph.D., University of Idaho, 1992

Instructors

Steven R. Holloway, M.A., The University of Montana, 1992