Department Information
The Geography Department offers a range of topics in contemporary geography and geospatial science, rich and lively cultural and learning environments, B.A. and B.S. undergraduate degrees, M.A., M.S., and PhD degrees, as well as the largest Medical Geography program in the United States.
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CONTACT
Email | 352.392.0494 (tel) | 352.392.8855 (fax)
P.O. Box 117315
330 Newell Drive
3141 TURLINGTON HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-7315
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Curriculum
Courses
GEA 1000 Geography for a Changing World 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
The spatial organization of society. Emphasizes the political regions of the world. (S and N)
Attributes: General Education - International, General Education - Social Science
GEA 2270 Geography of Florida 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Geographic conditions and human adjustments in the major regions in Florida. The natural environment, population, routes of communication, industries, resources and strategic location in their geographical and historical aspects. (WR)
Attributes: Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEA 3405 Geography of Latin America 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines the interconnecting land, life and welfare throughout Latin America. (WR)
Attributes: Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEA 3500 Geography of Europe 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Comprehensive and systematic survey of the population, natural resources, geographic regions and potentialities of Europe and the significance of this region in the economic and political affairs of the world. (N and S)
Attributes: General Education - International, General Education - Social Science
GEA 3600 Geography of Africa 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Comprehensive and systematic survey of the population, natural resources, geographic regions and potentialities of Africa and the significance of this region in the economic and political affairs of the world. (S and N) (WR)
Attributes: General Education - International, General Education - Social Science, Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEA 4465 Amazonia 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
The biophysical basis of natural resource management, cultural diversity and economic development in Amazonia. Appreciating the complexity and variability of soils, vegetation, aquatic ecosystems and climate in the region offers clues for understanding human settlement and development as well as the potential and limitations of the rich natural resource base. (S and N)
Attributes: General Education - International, General Education - Social Science
GEA 4911 Undergraduate Research in Regional Geography 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Provides firsthand, supervised research in Regional Geography. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application in Regional Geography.
GEO 2006 Natural Hazards Geography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines global weather, climate, and geophysical hazard events through geographic lens of human-environment interactions to understand how disasters emerge not only due to extreme events but from complex social, cultural, psychological, political, and economic forces. Discusses historical, recent, and ongoing hazard events to connect theory to individual and shared experiences.
Attributes: General Education - International, General Education - Social Science
GEO 2200 Physical Geography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Studies the development and distribution of landforms, climates, minerals, soils and water resources. Interrelationships among the physical environment and regional patterns formed by these elements are analyzed against man's utilization of them. (P)
Attributes: General Education - Physical Science
GEO 2200L Physical Geography Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Laboratory in physical geography, for lab science credit. (P)
Corequisite: GEO 2200 or GEO 2201.
Attributes: General Education - Physical Science
GEO 2242 Extreme Weather 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces the science of weather (what we get short term) and climate (what we expect long term) and current scientific developments in such areas as extreme weather prediction, global climate change and improved forecasting of events. (P)
Attributes: General Education - Physical Science
GEO 2351 Geographical Sciences and Sustainability 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
An examination of the most critical environmental issues facing the world today. Emphasis is placed on the sustainability of both human and physical systems in the 21st century utilizing cutting edge geographic technologies: spatial analysis, GIS and satellite imagery.
Prerequisite: any Biological Sciences or Physical Sciences general education course.
GEO 2410 Social Geography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces geography as a social science. Various social concepts presented from a spatial perspective. (S and D)
Attributes: General Education - Diversity, General Education - Social Science
GEO 2420 Introduction to Human Geography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces cultural geography with an emphasis upon the development and spatial arrangement of the major societies of the modern world. (S and N)
Attributes: General Education - International, General Education - Social Science
GEO 2426 Pop Music and Culture: a Geographic Perspective 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines the geographic origins, development and diffusion of contemporary pop music and the regional dynamics of pop music culture from the 1950s to present. (S)
Attributes: General Education - Social Science
GEO 2500 Global and Regional Economies 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Contemporary perspectives, themes and research in economic geography, focusing on issues and problems associated with regional and global economic and demographic change. Regional variations and disparities in growth and development are analyzed and policy implications discussed. (S) (WR)
Attributes: General Education - Social Science, Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces elementary geographical data analysis, including spatial measurement, spatial statistics and spatial forecasting. Students apply statistical concepts and the use of spreadsheet computer software. (P)
Prerequisite: STA 2023 or instructor permission.
Attributes: General Education - Physical Science
GEO 3250 Climatology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Genesis of regional climates and their global distribution. Emphasis on world regional climatology. Secondary topics include applied climatology and climate change. (P)
Prerequisite: MET 1010 or GEO 2200 or GEO 2242.
Attributes: General Education - Physical Science
GEO 3280 Principles of Geographic Hydrology 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines the effects of physical geography on the land-based portion of the hydrologic cycle at the regional and basin scales. Includes discussion of precipitation, infiltration and runoff. (P)
Prerequisite: GEO 2200 or instructor permission;
Corequisite: GEO 3162C.
Attributes: General Education - Physical Science
GEO 3315 Geography of Crop Plants 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Studies the biological structure, means of survival, propagation and distribution of plants, with emphasis on their relationship to the culture and diffusion of man throughout the world and his part in their development and improvement. (B)
Attributes: General Education - Biological Science
GEO 3334 Managing for a Changing Climate 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
An interdisciplinary survey of climate variability and change. Topics include the physical science basis for climate change, followed by sectoral analysis of climate impacts, adaptation, and mitigation options. Active learning, discussions, and roleplaying facilitate understanding of critical issues facing the human and natural world.
GEO 3341 Extreme Floods 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines the world's most extreme floods from the Pleistocene through present due to various causes. Discusses physical and human aspects of flood warning, preparedness, response and recovery throughout the world. (N and P)
Attributes: General Education - International, General Education - Physical Science
GEO 3352 The Human Footprint on Landscape 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Studies human-environment relationships from a primarily geographic perspective, focusing on the human forces that shape landscapes.
GEO 3372 Conservation of Resources 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Surveys natural resources and a study of wise and wasteful practices of these resources. Satisfies resource certification for social studies teachers.
Prerequisite: sophomore standing or higher or instructor permission.
GEO 3427 Plants, Health and Spirituality 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Issues and controversies surrounding organic food, genetically-modified crops, medicinal plants, plants used to achieve altered states of consciousness and the importance of ornamental plants as inspiration for artists and in worship.
GEO 3430 Population Geography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Geographical analysis of populations, including population description, distribution, change and characteristics; demographic processes; and the consequences of development, conflict and population control diseases. (S)
Attributes: General Education - Social Science
GEO 3452 Introduction to Medical Geography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Medical geography deals with human-environment interactions and the influence of these interactions on public health. Provides a broad and comprehensive survey of geographic approaches in medical studies. (B)
Prerequisite: sophomore standing or higher; entry-level knowledge of statistics (STA 2023 or GEO 3162C or equivalent) recommended.
Attributes: General Education - Biological Science
GEO 3454 Peoples and Plagues 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in the context of previous outbreaks, focusing on geography, origin, and management response. Explores basic models of infectious diseases processes, transmission cycled, and life-histories of host-vector systems, and the ecological and landscape conditions that favor emergence.
Prerequisite: sophomore standing.
GEO 3502 Economic Geography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
A comprehensive geographical survey of major economic activities such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, manufacturing and commerce. Emphasizes the study of the characteristics of distribution and the regional patterns of these activities. (S) (WR)
Attributes: General Education - Social Science, Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEO 3602 Urban and Business Geography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
An empirical and theoretical spatial analysis of the various economic, population and social facets within and between urban settlements. (S) (WR)
Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor permission.
Attributes: General Education - Social Science, Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEO 3611 Housing, People and Places in a Spatially Diverse America 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines the housing, people and places that comprise the diverse contemporary human settlement patterns in the U.S. Topics focus on the quality of life found in the housing and neighborhoods of these urban and rural landscapes. (S and D)
Attributes: General Education - Diversity, General Education - Social Science
GEO 3803 Geography of Alcohol 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Origins and fission of alcoholic beverages and associated crops on a global scale.
GEO 3930 Special Topics 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Rotating topics in geography.
GEO 4167C Intermediate Quantitative Analysis for Geographers 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Surveys various multivariate techniques commonly used to analyze geographic data. Emphasis on hypothesis testing, inference, multiple regression, analysis of variance and cluster analysis. Introduces time-series regression and grouped estimation procedures, factor analysis, probit/logit modeling and trend-surface interpolation. (WR)
Prerequisite: GEO 3162C or the equivalent.
Attributes: Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEO 4169 Spatial Econometrics and Modeling 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces regression models capable of dealing with spatial auto-correlation; develop statistical models and estimate with computer software.
Prerequisite: GEO 4167C or equivalent.
GEO 4281 River Forms and Processes 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines the nature and variety of fluvial processes and the origin and modification of fluvial landforms. Includes discussion of environmental changes in rivers and human activities in drainage basins.
Prerequisite: GEO 2200 or GLY 2010C, or instructor permission.
GEO 4285 Models in Geographic Hydrology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Investigates the numerical and computational techniques available for the extraction of geographic information from hydrometeorologic data. (WR)
Prerequisite: GEO 3162C and (GEO 3280 or STA 3032).
Corequisite: GEO 4167C.
Attributes: Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEO 4300 Environmental Biogeography 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Description and explanation of spatial patterns of biodiversity and the underlying biophysical factors of human-environment interactions. Investigates past and present distributions of organisms and how patterns of environmental variation influence organisms. How biogeography is used to design nature reserves and how forecasting climate change may affect organisms and explain human adaptations to environmental variability.
Prerequisite: GEO 2200 or equivalent.
GEO 4306C Geography of Vector-borne Diseases 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces the spatial epidemiology of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) and geospatial methods for monitoring, mapping and modeling them. Provides hands-on experiences for mapping and modeling risk of VBDs via GIS-based labs.
Prerequisite: GEO 3452 or GIS 3043 or permission of the instructor.
GEO 4554 Regional Development 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
The problems of regional development and regional growth within the context of economic, political and spatial relationships. (S) (WR)
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
Attributes: General Education - Social Science, Satisfies 6000 Words of Writing Requirement
GEO 4612 Shelter and Care Options for U.S. Elderly 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines the strengths, weaknesses and demand for housing and care alternatives addressing the needs of both active and frail American elderly persons.
Prerequisite: refer to the department.
GEO 4905 Individual Work 1-5 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Qualified students and the instructor concerned may choose a particular topic or problem for study.
Prerequisite: undergraduates only with 9 credits of geography and instructor permission.
GEO 4911 Undergraduate Research in Geography 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Provides firsthand, supervised research in Geography. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application in Geography.
GEO 4930 Senior Seminar 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Integrates geographic concepts for graduating seniors; provides introduction to professional geography for students entering the job market.
Prerequisite: geography seniors only.
GEO 4938 Selected Topics in Geography 1-4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Rotating geography topics.
GEO 4944 Internship 1-10 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Experimental learning in position with city, county, regional and state government agencies.
Prerequisite: senior standing.
GEO 4970 Honors Thesis 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Completion of an honors thesis that meets department specifications during the semester in which the student is enrolled.
Prerequisite: senior standing and participation in department honors program.
GIS 2002 The Digital Earth 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Focuses on how the Earth's surface is visualized, explored, and analyzed in digital formats (e.g. maps, satellite images, aerial photos). Provides an introduction to fundamental concepts of digital geographic data to understand the Earth environment and human society based on the vast quantities of geographic information in our ever-changing world.
GIS 3001C Spatial Maps and Graphs 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Analyzes cartographic problems with exercises in techniques of presentation, including map projections and symbols and problems in statistical representation by graphic methods.
Prerequisite: sophomore standing or above.
GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as the technology for creation, modification, display and analysis of spatial information. Develops knowledge of GIS, competence in geographic databases and familiarity with computer software and hardware.
Prerequisite: GEO 2200, GEO 3162C and 2000-level human geography course.
GIS 3420C GIS Models for Public Health 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Focuses on the design of GIS-based models to address health and healthcare issues. Topics include a conceptual framework, landscape epidemiology models, disease diffusion models, health accessibility, human health behavior and location-allocation of health services. Laboratory section provides hands-on experience applying these models with GIS tools.
GIS 4021C Aerial Photo Interpretation 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles of aerial photography, identification and interpretation of physical and cultural features, sketching and simple map-making, and uses of aerial photography.
Prerequisite: GEO 2200 or instructor permission.
GIS 4037 Digital Image Processing 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces the theory and application of digital imagery data in geographical research with a hands-on, lab-based approach.
Prerequisite: instructor permission.
GIS 4102C GIS Programming 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces basic programming concepts; instruction in popular programming languages for geospatial processing, applications, and modeling in ArcGIS environment.
Prerequisite: GIS 3043C or equivalent.
GIS 4113 Introduction to Spatial Networks 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Many phenomena of interest in physical, social and cyber environments can be thought of as networks within geographic context. Teaches methods for analyzing these spatial networks, and introduces their applications in geography, transportation, hydrology, epidemiology, social science, etc.
Prerequisite: Entry level knowledge of statistics or instructor permission. Prior experience with ArcGIS is preferred.
GIS 4115 Applied Geostats 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces fundamentals and practices of advanced geostatistical analysis (kriging), which addresses optimal spatial interpolation. Geostatistics are currently applied in diverse disciplines such as geography, geology, engineering, hydrology, urban studies and epidemiology.
Prerequisite: (STA 2023 or GEO 3162C or equivalent) and GIS 3043 or equivalent or instructor permission.
GIS 4324 GIS Analysis of Hazard Vulnerability 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Geographic and cartographic techniques for geospatial analysis of risk, vulnerability, and resilience using ArcGIS. Learn to utilize physical and human geographic datasets for multiple hazard contexts including hydrometeorological, climatological, and geophysical hazards.
GIS 4424C Applications in GIS for Zoonoses and Disease Ecology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Focus is on GIS applications in spatial analysis and ecology to address common research issues related to zoonotic diseases (those affecting animals and humans).
GIS 4500 Population GIS 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Instruction on geographic and cartographic techniques for geospatial analysis of population, demographic, and socioeconomic data using ArcGIS Pro. Students identify and utilize current and historical secondary population data sources for GIS analysis of population changes, and for mapping of segregation, inequality, and well-being indicators.
Prerequisite: GIS 3043 or GIS 3001C or URP 4273 with minimum grades of C, or GEO 3430 or SYD 4020.
GIS 4911 Undergraduate Research in Geospatial Trends 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Provides firsthand, supervised research in Geospatial Trends. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application in Geospatial Trends.
GLY 4734 Coastal Morphology and Processes 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examines the nature and variety of coastal processes, and the origin and modification of environmental changes along coasts, including human activities in the coastal zone.
MET 1010 Introduction to Weather and Climate 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
A course for non-science students interested in understanding the phenomena of daily weather. Several principles of physics are introduced. (P)
Prerequisite: high school algebra.
Attributes: General Education - Physical Science
MET 3503 Weather and Forecasting 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Provides hands-on experience using weather instruments and making forecasts.
MET 4230 Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Detailed survey of atmospheric thermodynamics, which deals with energy transfers and processes involving moisture and stability that affect atmospheric motions and weather systems. Lecture material reinforced and supplemented through lab exercises. This class will appeal to those who intend to pursue a profession in meteorology, physics, atmospheric/climate science or engineering.
Prerequisite: MET3503 and CHM 2045 and MAC 2312 and PHY 2048/L with minimum grades of C.
MET 4410 Radar and Satellite Meteorology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
An overview of radar and satellite remote sensing as used in the atmospheric sciences, including the principles of atmospheric radiative transfer, the retrieval of atmospheric variables, and emphasis on geospatial interpretation of imagery for different weather systems.
MET 4500C Synoptic Meteorology 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Comprehensive survey of mid-latitude storm systems using conceptual and theoretical frameworks established through lecture material, and application of these concepts through immersive labs. Content includes atmospheric circulation, mid-latitude cyclones, fronts, jet streams, winter weather and severe storm environments. Appropriate for students seeking a career in atmospheric science or related field.
Prerequisite: MET3503 and CHM 2045 and MAC 2312 and PHY 2048/L with minimum grades of C.
MET 4531 Mesoscale Meteorology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Covers the major dynamic and thermodynamic processes of the atmosphere that govern the structure, development, and evolution of weather systems generally smaller than those of the synoptic scale.
Prerequisite: MAC 2312 and PHY 2049;
Corequisite: Synoptic Meteorology.
MET 4532 Hurricanes 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Meteorological and climatological concepts related to hurricanes. Forecasting current activity, researching past storms and analyzing storm structure, damage and future trends.
MET 4560 Atmospheric Teleconnections 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Atmospheric teleconnections are recurring large-scale patterns of pressure and circulation anomalies. They can influence temperature, rainfall, storm tracks and jet stream location and intensity. Examines how these patterns were discovered, how the index that characterizes the phase of each teleconnection is calculated and the weather associated with different phases.
MET 4750 Spatial Analysis of Atmospheric Data using GIS 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
How atmospheric data are collected and analyzed for meteorologic and climatologic-scale research. Where various types of data are obtained and how to analyze data to answer specific research questions.
MET 4911 Undergraduate Research in Meteorology and Climatology 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Provides firsthand, supervised research. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application.