Department of Geography
Christiane von Reichert, Chair
Geography provides 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 that they face.
Geographers are often found working in business, industry, government, and education. Those in planning might be called upon to determine the most satisfactory location for a new school or an airport, or undertake the environmental or socioeconomic studies required for community and regional planning. Others enter fields such as environmental law, diplomacy, intelligence, and teaching. Graduates trained in cartography and Geographical Information Systems find professional opportunities creating digital maps and doing spatial analysis for a wide array of government entities. No academic discipline offers a greater range of employment opportunities.
The Department of Geography maintains particular strengths in each of the following major branches within the discipline: 1) physical geography (geomorphology, mountain environments, climate and global change); 2) human–environment interaction (environmental rehabilitation, water policy, and mountain-society interactions); 3) geography and society (sustainable cities, economic geography of rural areas, and migration and population change); 4) regional geography (with particular strengths in the geography of Montana, North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe); 5) geographical techniques (cartographic principles and design, Geographic Information System GIS, remote sensing, transport planning and GIS-T, field methods, quantitative and qualitative method).
The Department of Geography offers the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts and Master of Sciences degrees in geography. For a B.A. in geography, an option in community and environmental planning is available. For a B.S. in geography an option in physical geography is available. Also offered are a minor in geography and a teaching major and minor in geography. Several interdisciplinary minors are available to students: a minor in mountain studies, a minor in climate change and a minor in international development studies. 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, planning, GIS, or related fields. Graduate programs prepare candidates for a relatively 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 pursue an option within the M.S. program in the following areas: community and environmental planning, or cartography and GIS. See the Graduate School website for more information concerning the M.A. and M.S. programs.
A certificate in GIS Sciences and Technologies, jointly offered by the Department of Geography (College of Arts and Sciences) and the Department of Forest Management (College of Forestry and Conservation), is also available. This GIST certificate is a complement to an existing major or to a bachelor’s degree already obtained. For details, please see below or the GIST website.
Special Degree Requirements
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See index.
General Education Requirements for Geography Majors
Geography majors must meet the mathematical literacy requirement by taking M 115 (MATH 117) or an M or STAT course higher than 150. Students obtaining a B.A. geography degree without an option, may meet the university-wide symbolic system requirement either by taking one year of foreign language instruction (100-level or higher) or by taking M 115 (MATH 117) and STAT 216 (MATH 241). Students choosing the CEP option must meet the university-wide symbolic system requirement by taking M 115 (MATH 117) and STAT 216 (MATH 241). Students obtaining a geography B.S. degree (with or without an option) must meet the symbolic systems requirement by taking M 115 and STAT 216 (Math 117 and Math 241), or just one of M 162, M 181H, or STAT 451 (Math 150, 152H, or 444). Regular calculus M 171 (Math 152) is strongly recommended. The upper-division writing expectation for the B.A. (with or without option) must be met by successfully completing an upper-division writing course from the approved list in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog (see index), or by writing a senior thesis in geography. Those students completing the B.S. degree must select a science-based writing class for their writing course (GPHY 335 (GEOG 335), GEO 320 (GEOS 320), GEO 499 (GEOS 499), BIOO 470 (BIOL 304), BIOO 475 (BIOL 306), etc.) approved by their advisor or complete a senior thesis in geography.
Requirements for a Major in Geography
A major in geography requires a minimum of 36 (maximum of 60) credits. All geography majors take a 25-credit core consisting of the following courses: GPHY 111N (GEOG 102N), GPHY 112 (GEOG 105), GPHY 121S (GEOG 101S), GPHY 284 (GPHY 381 and 382), GPHY 385 (GEOG 385), GPHY 141S (GEOG 103S) or other regional course, three 300- or 400-level courses, one each from the systematic emphases of physical geography, human-environment interaction, and geography and society.
Students who pursue a B.S. degree or an option in physical geography, or in community and environmental planning, also must meet the course requirements of the option (see below).
General Geography B.A.
The general geography B.A. degree (without option) is very flexible. In addition to meeting the core requirements for all geography majors, students may take a wide range of electives in geography (minimum 11, maximum 35 elective credits). Electives may be chosen from the fields of regional geography, geographic methods and techniques, or systematic geography (physical geography, human-environment interaction, or geography and society).
General Geography B.S.
The B.S. in Geography is designed to accommodate those students who are interested in pursuing more science-based and technical areas of study and work in the field of Geography, such as aspects involving physical geography and geospatial technologies, or environmental planning. Those pursuing a geography B.S. degree (with or without an option) must complete 6-10 additional credits (a two-course sequence) of science coursework. The classes must be selected and approved by the student and advisor as appropriate to individual student goals (e.g., BIOO 105N (BIOL 120N), BIOE 172N (BIOL 121).
Physical Geography Option
In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a B.S. degree in geography, a student pursuing the option in physical geography must complete additional requirements, including ERTH 303N (GEOG 322N), GPHY 317 (GEOG 324), and GPHY 411N (GEOG 426N), though substitutions which broaden the students curriculum may be approved by their advisor. Also, students must complete an additional appropriate math course above the 150 level to complement the one used to fulfill their symbolic systems requirements (the second semester of Calculus is recommended), and the two-course sequence in science used to fulfill the B.S. requirement MUST be one of the following: CHMY121N-123N (CHEM 151N-152N), CHMY 141N-143N (CHEM 161N-162N), PHSX 205N-207N (PHYS 121N-122N), PHSX 215N-217N (PHYS 211N- 212N), or BIOO 105N (BIOL 120N), BIOE 172N (BIOL 121N)).
Community and Environmental Planning Option
In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a B.A. degree in geography, the student desiring to achieve an option in community and environmental planning must complete: GPHY 465 (GEOG 465), at least one of the following two courses: GPHY 468 (GEOG 468) or GPHY 486 (GEOG 486) (with corequisite laboratories GPHY 469 (GEOG 469) or GPHY 489 (GEOG 489)), plus four of the following five courses: GPHY 323S (GEOG 315S), GPHY 335 (GEOG 335), GPHY 421 (GEOG 412S), GPHY 432 (GEOG 432), GPHY 435 (GEOG 435). (These courses can be used to satisfy the 300- or 400-level core requirement in geography and society, and human-environment interaction.) An internship is strongly recommended.
Requirements for a Minor in Geography
To earn a minor in Geography, the student must complete a minimum of 19 credits including: GPHY 111N (GEOG 101S and 102N); GPHY 121S and GPHY 141S (GEOG 103S) or other regional course; GPHY 112 (GEOG 105), GPHY 284 (GPHY 381 and 382), or GPHY 385 (GEOG 385); two upper-division systematic courses from the fields of physical geography, geography and society, and human-environment interaction.
Minor in Mountain Studies
Mountain Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study focusing on the physical and human dimensions of mountain environments. Coursework in the minor emphasizes physical geography and mountain-society interactions, including a critical analysis of the processes of change and influence shaping local and regional mountain environments today. The minor in Mountain Studies takes advantage of existing faculty expertise and an array of courses to provide students with a science-based curriculum and global perspective. Students pursuing the minor in mountain studies will develop knowledge and skills appropriate for graduate study and for working with government and non-government agencies and groups.
General Requirements
In addition to completing the requirements for a major in any discipline, students electing the minor in Mountain Studies must complete a minimum of 18 additional credits as follows:
1. Six credits must be core courses:
GPHY 314 Global Mountain Environments (3 cr.)
GPHY 338 Mountains and Society (3 cr.)
2. Six credits must be selected from the following list of region-specific mountain studies courses:
BIOL 342 Field Ecology (5 cr.) (summer field course at the Flathead Lake Biological Station)
BIOL 459 Alpine Ecology (3 cr.) (summer field course at the Flathead Lake Biological Station)
BIOO 101N Survey of Montana Wildlife & Habitats (3 cr.)
BIOO 335 Rocky Mountain Flora (3 cr.)
EVST 395/NRSM 311 Field Studies in Ecological and Human Communities; Section: Community and Conservation in the Northern Rockies (3 cr.)
EVST 395/NRSM 311 Field Studies in Ecological and Human Communities; Section: Ecological Restoration in Greater Yellowstone (3 cr.)
EVST/PTRM 418 Winter Wilderness Field Studies (3 cr.)
EVST/RSCN 382 Biogeography of Northwest Montana (3 cr.)
GEO 231 Geosciences Field Methods (2 cr.)
GPHY 138 Montana’s Mountains (3 cr.)
GPHY 344 Crown of the Continent (3 cr.)
GPHY 391 Environmental Geography of the Northern Rockies (3 cr.)
GPHY 442 Regionalism and the Rocky Mountain West (3 cr.)
GPHY 438 Mountain Field Study (3 cr.)
GPHY 444 High Asia (3 cr.)
NRSM/GPHY 352 Himalayan Environment and Development (3 cr.)
NRSM/GPHY 353 Tourism and Sustainability in the Himalaya (3 cr.)
3. Six credits must be selected from the following list of
upper-division advanced mountain studies courses:
BIOL 451 Landscape Ecology (field course at Flathead Lake Biological Station) (3 cr.)
FORS 330 Forest Ecology (3 cr.)
GEO 391 Special Topics (3 cr.)
GEO 433 Global Tectonics (3 cr.)
GEO 488 Snow, Ice and Climate (3 cr.)
GPHY 317 Geomorphology (3 cr.)
GPHY 411 Biogeography (3 cr.)
GPHY 538 Mountain Studies Seminar (3 cr.)
NAS 351 Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Action (3 cr.)
NRSM 311 Field Studies in Ecological and Human Communities; Section: Conservation Biology in the Northern Rockies (3 cr.)
NRSM 385 Watershed Hydrology (3 cr.)
PTRM 482 Wilderness and Protected Area Management (3 cr.)
Certificate in GIS Sciences and Technologies
The Certificate in GIS Sciences and Technologies, jointly offered by the departments of Geography, and Forest Management, is aimed at present or future professionals or scientists who require skills in GIS technologies. The purpose of this program is to provide undergraduate students or individuals possessing an undergraduate degree with the training, knowledge, and understanding necessary to acquire, process, analyze, and properly display digital geographic data.
Special Requirements for the Certificate
To earn a certificate in GIS Sciences and Technologies, students must either complete or have completed an undergraduate degree and complete a minimum of20 semester credit hours of course work, including 9 to 11 required credits and 9 to 11 elective credits as described below. Students must achieve at least an overall grade point average of 3.0 for courses within the program in order to earn a certificate. The certificate will be awarded upon the successful completion of all of the requirements of the certificate and the undergraduate degree.
Background Courses:
It is recommended that students complete the university symbolic systems requirements before beginning this program because these courses promote basic quantitative reasoning (M 115 (MATH 117), STAT 216 (MATH 241), FORS 201 (FOR 201), SOCI 202 (SOC 202)).
Required Courses (9-11 cr.): All 3 of the following requirements must be fulfilled.
1. GPHY 284 Introduction to GIS and Cartography - 3 cr. autumn/spring (Prior to Fall 2013 this was fulfilled by either FORS 250 and 350 or GPHY 381 and 382)
2. FORS 351 (FOR 351) Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing - 3 cr. spring
OR
GPHY 487/489 (GEOG 487/489) Remote Sensing & Raster GIS (3 cr.) & Lab (1 cr.) - 4 cr. autumn
3. FORS 350 (FOR 350) Geographic Information Systems and Applications - 3 cr. spring
OR
GPHY 488/489 (GEOG 488/489) Thematic Cartography and GIS (3 cr.) and Lab (1 cr.) - 4 cr. spring
Advanced Elective Courses (9-11 cr.): (Although elective courses are organized by topical specialty, no specialization is necessary). Additional and experimental courses are offered intermittently; please see faculty or website for current semester offerings. Faculty may submit course syllabi to the GIS Certificate Committee for possible inclusion in the Certificate.
Raster GIS, Remote Sensing, and Image Analysis
G GPHY 587/589 (GEOG 587/589) Image Analysis and Modeling (3 cr.) and Cartography/GIS Lab 91 cr.) - 4 cr. odd spring
G FORS 551 (FOR 551) Digital Image Processing - 3 cr. varies
Vector GIS and Networks
UG GPHY 486/489 (GEOG 483/489) Transport Planning and GIS (3 cr.) and Cartography/GIS Lab (1 cr.) - 4 cr. winter or spring
G GPHY 588/589 (GEOG 588/589) Vector GIS (3 cr.) and Cartography/GIS Lab (1 cr.) - 4 cr. autumn
G GPHY 580 (GEOG 580) Seminar in GIS and Cartography - 3 cr. spring
Data Management and Programming
UG GPHY 468/469 (GEOG 468/469) Community and Regional Analysis (3 cr.) and Planning & Analysis Lab (1 cr.) - 4 cr. autumn
UG FORS 505 (FOR 505) Sampling Methods - 3 cr. spring
U CSCI 250 (CS 177) Computer Modeling for Science majors - 3 cr. autumn
GIS Applications
UG GPHY 385 (GEOG 385) Field Techniques - 3 cr. autumn, some spring
UG GPHY 467 (GEOG 467) Planning Decision Support Systems - 3 cr. some spring
UG GPHY 482/489 (GEOG 484/489) Spatial Analysis and GIS ( 3 cr.) & lab (1 cr.) - 4 cr. varies
UG GPHY 481 (GEOG 495) Digital Mapping & Advanced Cartographic Design - 3 cr. autumn
GPHY 564 (GEOG 564) Planning Design - 3 cr. even spring
FORS 503 (FOR 503) Predictive Distribution Modeling I - 3 cr. odd spring
WILD 562 (WBIO 562) Wildlife Habitat Modeling - 3 cr. odd fall
Note: It is a standard of The University of Montana that G designated courses can be taken only by graduate students or undergraduate students who have senior standing with an accumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and permission of the instructors.
No more than 4 credits of Independent Study or Internships can be used towards the Certificate.
Teacher Preparation in Geography
Students who want to be licensed to teach geography at the middle and high school level must complete the B.A. degree requirements in geography (general geography, no option required). They also must complete a teaching major or minor in a second field of their choice and the professional licensure program in the College of Education. Students may also earn a teaching minor in geography. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction for information about admission to the Teacher Education Program and completion of the licensure program.
Additional Information for Majors
Advisor
Every geography major will be assigned a geography faculty member to act as advisor. The advisor offers assistance in designing a program and in monitoring progress. In addition to guiding students toward meeting degree requirements, advisors also can direct students toward special opportunities, such as study abroad and field experiences, as well as scholarship and internship opportunities. All course substitutions must be approved by the advisor. The advisor also reviews and initials a student’s application for graduation before the application is signed by the chairperson.
International and Field Experience for Geographers
Students obtaining a degree in geography are strongly encouraged to explore study-abroad options and field experiences. Geography credits obtained through approved studies abroad will be applied toward the geography degree. With approval of the student’s advisor, additional credits obtained through studies abroad and field experiences may count toward geography electives.
Suggested Course of Study
B.A. in Geography (General Geography without option):
| First Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 111N (GEOG 102N) Introduction to Physical Geography |
3 |
- |
| GPHY 112 (GEOG 105) Introduction to Physical Geography Laboratory |
1 |
- |
| GPHY 121S (GEOG 101S) Introduction to Human Geography |
- |
3 |
| M 095 (MATH 100) Intermediate Algebra |
3 |
– |
| M 115 (MATH 117) Probability and Linear Math |
– |
3 |
| WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) College Writing I |
3 |
– |
| Electives and General Education |
5 |
9 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Second Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 141S (GEOG 103S) Geography of World Regions or other regional geography course |
3 |
– |
| STAT 216 (MATH 241) or 100–level foreign language |
0–5 |
3–5 |
| Electives and General Education |
V |
V |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Third Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 284 (GPHY 381 and 382) Introduction to GIS and Cartography |
3 |
– |
| GPHY 385 (GEOG 385) Field Techniques |
3 |
– |
| Upper division courses in Physical Geography, Geography & Society, and Human–Environment Interaction |
3–6 |
3–6 |
| *Upper–division writing course |
– |
3 |
| Electives including study abroad/internship |
5 |
5 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Fourth Year |
A |
S |
| Electives including study abroad/internship/ senior thesis |
15 |
15 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
B.S. in Geography (General Geography without option):
| First Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 111N (GEOG 102N) Introduction to Physical Geography |
3 |
– |
| GPHY 112 (GEOG 105) Introduction to Physical Geography Laboratory |
1 |
- |
| GPHY 121S (GEOG 101S) Introduction to Human Geography |
– |
3 |
| M 121 College Algebra |
3 |
– |
| M 122 College Trigonometry |
– |
3 |
| WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) College Writing I |
3 |
– |
| Electives and General Education |
5 |
9 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Second Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 141S (GEOG 103S) Geography of World Regions or other regional geography course |
3 |
– |
| Approved Science Sequence in Chemistry, Physics, or Biology |
3–5 |
3–5 |
| M 451 and M 452 Statistical Methods I and II |
3 |
3 |
| Upper division course in Physical Geography |
- |
3 |
| Electives and General Education |
4-6 |
4-6 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Third Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 284 (GPHY 381 and 382) Introduction to GIS and Cartography |
3 |
– |
| GPHY 385 (GEOG 385) Field Techniques |
3 |
– |
| Upper division courses in Physical Geography, Geography & Society, and Human–Environment Interaction |
3–6 |
3–6 |
| *Upper–division writing course |
– |
3 |
| Electives including study abroad/internship |
5 |
5 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Fourth Year |
A |
S |
| Electives including study abroad/internship/ senior thesis |
15 |
15 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
B.A. in Geography with option in Community and Environmental Planning:
| First Year: Same as General Geography |
| Second Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 141S (GEOG 103S) Geography of World Regions, or other regional geography course |
3 |
– |
| STAT 216 (MATH 241) Statistics |
– |
3 |
| General Education and electives |
12 |
12 |
| |
15 |
15 |
| Third Year: Same as General Geography |
| Fourth Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 465 (GEOG 465) Planning Principles and Processes |
3 |
– |
| GPHY 468 /469 (GEOG 468/469) Community & Regional Analysis and Laboratory OR GPHY 486/489 (GEOG 486/489) Transport, Planning, and GIS and Laboratory |
4 |
– |
| Upper–division courses in Geography & Society, and Human–Environment Interaction |
3 |
3 |
| Electives including study abroad, internship/senior thesis |
5 |
12 |
| |
15 |
15 |
B.S. in Geography with option in Physical Geography:
| First Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 111N (GEOG 102N) Introduction to Physical Geography |
3 |
– |
| GPHY 112 (GEOG 105) Introduction to Physical Geography Laboratory |
1 |
- |
| GPHY 121S (GEOG 101S) Introduction to Human Geography |
– |
3 |
| Approved Science Sequence in Chemistry, Physics, or Biology |
3-5 |
3-5 |
| M 151 (MATH 121) Precalculus |
- |
4 |
| WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) College Writing I |
3 |
- |
| Electives and General Education |
4 |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Second Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 141S (GEOG 103S) Geography of World Regions or other regional geography course |
3 |
– |
| M 171 and 172 (MATH 152 and 153) Calculus I and II |
4 |
4 |
| Upper division course in Physical Geography |
3 |
3 |
| Electives and General Education |
5 |
8 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Third Year |
A |
S |
| GPHY 284 (GPHY 381 and 382) Introduction to GIS and Cartography |
3 |
– |
| GPHY 385 (GEOG 385) Field Techniques |
3 |
– |
| Upper division courses in Physical Geography, Geography & Society, and Human–Environment Interaction |
3–6 |
3–6 |
| *Upper–division writing course |
– |
3 |
| Electives including study abroad/internship |
5 |
5 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
| Fourth Year |
A |
S |
| Electives including study abroad/internship/ senior thesis |
15 |
15 |
| Total |
15 |
15 |
Courses
R- before the course description indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R. Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.
Geography (GPHY) - Course Descriptions
111N, 112, 121S, 141S, 144, 191, 191X, 199, 241, 243X, 245, 284, 291, 314, 317, 323S, 335, 336, 338, 342, 344, 347, 348, 352, 353, 378, 381, 382, 385, 391, 399, 411N, 413, 421, 423, 432, 433, 434, 435, 438, 442, 443, 444, 445, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 481, 482, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 491, 492, 497, 498, 499, 500, 504, 505, 515, 520, 525, 535, 538, 550, 560, 561, 562, 564, 578, 588, 589, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599
Earth Systems (ERTH) - Course Descriptions
303N
Faculty
Professors
Sarah J. Halvorson, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder, 2000
David D. Shively, Ph.D., Oregon State University, 1999
Christiane von Reichert, Ph.D., University of Idaho, 1992
Associate Professors
Ulrich Kamp, Ph.D., Technical University of Berlin, 1999
Anna Klene, Ph.D., University of Delaware, 2005
Lecturers and Adjuncts
Richard Graetz, D.H.L. (Hon), The University of Montana, 2004
Kevin G. McManigal, M.S., The University of Montana, 2011
Emeritus Professors
John M. Crowley, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1964
Evan Denney, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1970
John J. Donahue, Jr., Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1971
Chris Field, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1966
Jeffrey A. Gritzner, Ph.D., The University of Chicago, 1986
Darshan S. Kang, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, 1975
Paul B. Wilson, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, 1972
