Courses Offered

Undergraduate Courses

GEO 100 Regions and Nations of the World. (3) A.
Survey of the physical, cultural, and economic geography of the world’s major regions, with an emphasis on regions undergoing change and currently of international concern. Gen. Ed. 12. (Formerly GEO 200.)

GEO 101 Introduction to Geography. (3) A.
Study of the principles of geography stressing cultural change as it pertains to human and physical environment distributions, relationships, and interactions over the earth. Gen. Ed. 09.

GEO 201 Historical Geography I: Pre-industrial Era. (3) A.
The study, from a geographic perspective, of the earth’s early human occupancy and the divergent development of culture systems and technologies prior to the industrial revolution. Gen. Ed. 10.

GEO 202 Historical Geography II: Modern World. (3) A.
Study of the elements of cultural convergence in the modern world and how human technologies have advanced to become the dominant agencies in changing the geography of the earth in the modern period of human occupancy. Gen. Ed. 11.

GEO 205 World Travel. (3) A.
Examines the development of travel and tourism through the history of global exploration, the formation of popular tourism destinations around the world, and the emerging structure of the international tourism industry.

GEO 210 Introduction to Physical Geography. (3) A.
Study of natural processes operating at the earth’s surface with special emphasis on weather and climate and landforms as explanations for how and why physical and human phenomena vary from place to place. 2 Lec/2 Lab. Gen. Ed. 14.

GEO 220 Human Geography. (3) A.
Introduction to geographic study of human occupance of the earth, including patterns and processes of human activity and human/land interaction.

GEO 225 Planning for Livable Places. (3) A.
Formerly PLA 220. Introduction to the history and practice of community and regional planning in the U.S. Topics include transportation, economic development, environmental and social issues, urban and landscape design, and citizen participation in local and regional decision-making.

GEO 300 Geography. (3) A.
Designed for study of special topics. The specific orientation (cultural, physical, field studies, etc.) will follow course title. May be retaken to a maximum of nine hours provided subject matter differs each time.

GEO 302 Global Environmental Problems. (3) A.
Examination of environmental problems and conservation strategies in the context of global change, with case studies from exemplary world regions, including rainforest, mountain, desert, and island biomes. Gen. Ed. 12.

GEO 304 Travel and Tourism Industry. (3) A.
Prerequisite: GEO 205 or departmental approval. Examination of the industry as a system: the suppliers, the intermediaries, and the market. Theoretical underpinnings of the tourism system are included along with principal publications and practices.

GEO 305 Tourism Development. (3) A.
An in-depth study of the planning process, the determination of marketing strategies, and the economic impact of tourism development.

GEO 315 Meteorology. (3) A.
Formerly GEO 215. Prerequisite: MAT 107 or higher. This course focuses on important phenomena and physical processes that occur in Earth's atmosphere, including atmospheric dynamics, radiation, stability, moisture, wind systems and severe storms.

GEO 321 Urban Geography: ______. (3) A.
Study of city functions, patterns, and past and current problems confronting the city, including the problems of planning, zoning, community housing, shopping centers, and urban renewal. Gen. Ed. 12.

GEO 322 World Geopolitics. (3) A.
Study of world political structures and events organized by territorial and regional frameworks. Specific attention to forces of global political change, including globalization processes, conflict and peace, ethnic separatism, and international mediation. Gen. Ed. 12.

GEO 325 Environmental Land Use Planning. (3) A.
Examines how principles of landscape ecology, resource conservation, and environmental impact analysis are incorporated into land use decisions and public policy. Emphasizes practical application at the site and regional scales.

GEO 330 Economic Geography. (3) A.
Geographic patterns and processes of production, trade, finance, and other services at local, regional, and global scales.

GEO 343 Geography of Kentucky. (3) A.
Topical regional approach to the physical characteristics, cultural complexity, and economic aspects of Kentucky with an emphasis on understanding the state’s historical development and current environmental, political, and economic issues from a geographic perspective.

GEO 347 Regional Geography: ______. (3) A.
Physical, cultural, and economic geography of a selected region (e.g., Africa, North America, Oceania) with emphasis on the region’s current problems. May be retaken to a maximum of 12 hours provided subject matter differs each time.

GEO 349 Applied Learning/Cooperative Education. (1-8) A.
Prerequisite: departmental approval. Work in placement related to academic studies. One to eight hours credit per semester or summer. Total hours for baccalaureate, 16. A minimum of 80 hours employment required for each semester hour credit. No more than six hours may count toward the major.

GEO 351 Geographic Techniques. (3) A.
Prerequisites: Three hours of geography or departmental approval. Introduction to the range of techniques used in geographic research and applications, including mapping, image interpretation, GIS, GPS, field work, quantitative analysis, library and Internet research, and others. Practical experience focus.

GEO 353 Geographic Information Systems. (3) A.
Prerequisite: Three hours of geography or departmental approval. Introduction to GIS principles, methods, operations, mapping, and applications. Topics include introduction to cartography, spatial data, databases, GIS analysis, models, site suitability, environmental and social applications, and more. Hands-on emphasis using ArcView and ArcGis. 2 Lec/2 Lab.

GEO 405 Issues in Travel and Tourism. (3) A.
Prerequisite: GEO 205, GEO 305, and GEO 351; or departmental approval. A comprehensive study of current issues, trends, problems, and opportunities in the travel and tourism industry. Field trip and research paper required.

GEO 425 Land Use Decisions and Controls. (3) A.
Examines social and economic influences on land values, and how zoning and other controls are used to balance public needs with private landowners’ rights. Emphasizes legal framework governing the practice of community and regional planning.

GEO 430 Sustainability in Appalachia. (3) A.
Examination of Appalachia’s ecological, social, and economic patterns, and the processes through which residents can ensure their social, economic and ecologocial sustainability in the future.

GEO 435 Biogeography. (3) A.
Study of plant and animal distributions and the nature of earth’s major terrestrial biomes, with an emphasis on formulating sound hypotheses to explain the variety and ever-changing geographic ranges of living organisms.

GEO 450 Field Studies. (3) A.
Field techniques and applied case studies of geographic topics in local and regional environs.

GEO 456 Geographic Image Interpretation. (3) I.
Formerly GEO 355. Prerequisite: GEO 353 or departmental approval. Principles, data sources, acquisition, interpretation, analysis, and application of geographic imagery, including maps, airphotos, shuttle photography, and satellite digital data. Manual and computer techniques. Hands-on emphasis. 1 Lec/4 Lab.

GEO 490 Senior Seminar. (3) A.
Prerequisite: Senior standing or departmental approval. A capstone course for majors that integrates students’ academic experiences with their career development options.

GEO 495 Practicum. (3-6) A.
Prerequisite: GEO major. Students will work under departmental supervision in governmental, corporate, or private enterprises which are engaged in applied geography. Determination of the number of hours will be made by the department, depending upon the range and depth of activities to be engaged in. May not be retaken.

GEO 498 Independent Study. (1-3) A.
Student must have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty supervisor and departmental chair prior to enrollment.

GEO 501 Advanced Geography: ______. (3) A.
Prerequisite: departmental approval. In-depth study of physical, cultural, economic, geographic technique (GIS) themes. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours if subject matter differs each time.

GEO 525 Seminar in Planning: ______. (3) A.
In-depth study of urban or regional planning topics, such as growth management and land use. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours provided subject matter differs each time.

GEO 553 Advanced GIS. (3) II.
Prerequisite: GEO 353 or departmental approval. Advanced concepts, operations, and applications of raster and vector GIS. Spatial analysis using scanning, imagery, GPS, global data sets, and derived data for natural and social applications. Use of standards, metadata, open GIS, and other advances.

GEO 555 Advanced Cartography. (3) A.
Prerequisite: GEO 355 or instructor approval. Advanced techniques of cartographic presentation of data to include computer applications. 1 Lec/4 Lab.

GEO 556 Advanced Geographic Imagery. (3) II.
Prerequisite: GEO 355 or equivalent. Characteristics, interpretation, integration and applications of advanced geographic imagery, including remote sensing and GIS digital data. Attention on satellite and multispectral imagery, including image processing. Hands-on emphasis. 2 Lec/2 Lab.

GEO 597 Special Studies in Geography. (1-3) A.
Prerequisite: departmental approval. Directed work in geography. Students must have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty supervisor and department chair prior to enrollment.

Graduate Courses

GEO 701 Advanced Geography: ______. (3) A.
Prerequisite: departmental approval. In-depth study of physical, cultural, economic, geographic technique (GIS) themes. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours if subject matter differs each time.

GEO 725 Seminar in Planning: ______. (3) A.
In-depth study of urban or regional planning topics, such as growth management and land use. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours provided subject matter differs each time.

GEO 753 Advanced GIS. (3) II.
Prerequisite: GEO 353 or departmental approval. Advanced concepts, operations, and applications of raster and vector GIS. Spatial analysis using scanning, imagery, GPS, global data sets, and derived data for natural and social applications. Use of standards, metadata, open GIS, and other advances.

GEO 755 Advanced Cartography. (3) A.
Prerequisite: GEO 355 or instructor approval. Advanced techniques of cartographic presentation of data to include computer applications. 1 Lec/4 Lab.

GEO 756 Advanced Geographic Imagery. (3) II.
Prerequisite: GEO 355 or equivalent. Characteristics, interpretation, integration and applications of advanced geographic imagery, including remote sensing and GIS digital data. Attention on satellite and multispectral imagery, including image processing. Hands-on emphasis. 2 Lec/2 Lab.

GEO 797 Special Studies in Geography. (1-3) A.
Prerequisite: departmental approval. Directed work in geography. Students must have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty supervisor and department chair prior to enrollment.