CHAIR: C. ALLEN WILLIAMS (bio_caw@shsu.edu)
The Department of Geography and Geology offers curricula leading to majors in Geography and Geology.
As an academic discipline, Geography is concerned with the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge regarding the spatial interrelationships which exist between man and his environment. Perhaps the core of Geography lies in the study of the cause-and-effect relationships which exist between man and his environment as they vary from one culture to another. Geographers are not only concerned with the ways in which the environment has placed its imprint upon various cultures, but with how man, acting within the framework of his different cultures, has altered his physical surroundings.
The basic function of the Geography Program is to provide students with an increased awareness of the areal differences which are to be noted between the multitude of world cultures and environments, and with a basic understanding of why these differences exist.
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO 131/111, 265 | 7 | GEO 266, 330 | 6 |
| ENG 164, 165 | 6 | Minor | 3 |
| MTH (164 or approved substitute) | 3 | ENG 265, 266, or 267 | 3 |
| CS or MIS 188 | 3 | FL 141, 142 | 8 |
| HIS 163, 164 | 6 | POL 261, 285 | 6 |
| BIO, CHM, or PHY | 4 | PHL 261 | 3 |
| KIN 215 | 1 | Elective | 3 |
| KIN activity or accepted substitute | 1-2 | 32 | |
| 31-32 | |||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| GEO 331, 369 | 6 | GEO advanced electives | 6 |
| GEO 362 or 433 or 434 | 6 | GEO 471 | 3 |
| Minor | 6 | Minor | 9 |
| ART, DNC, MUS, THR | 3 | Electives (HIS 265, 266 recommended) | 11 |
| FL 263, 264 | 6 | ART, DNC, THR, MUS or PHL 366 | 3 |
| ENG (200 level or higher) or SCM | 3 | 32 | |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 33 | |||
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO 131/111, 265 | 7 | GEO 266, 330 | 6 |
| ENG 164, 165 | 6 | GEL 134/114 | 4 |
| HIS 163, 164 | 6 | ENG 265, 266, or 267 | 3 |
| MTH (164 or higher level), | 3 | CS 133 or MIS 188 | 3 |
| MTH or PHL 262 or PHL 362 | 3 | POL 261, 285 | 6 |
| GEL 133/113 | 4 | Minor | 6 |
| KIN 215 | 1 | PHL 261 | 3 |
| KIN activity or accepted substitute | 1-2 | 31 | |
| 31-32 | |||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| GEO 331, 369 | 6 | GEO 442 | 4 |
| GEO 362 or 433, or 434 | 6 | GEO advanced electives | 9 |
| ENG (200 level or higher) or SCM | 3 | Minor | 9 |
| Electives | 6 | Electives | 9 |
| BIO, CHM, or PHY (one department) | 8 | ART, DNC, THR, MUS | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | 34 | |
| 32 | |||
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO 131/111, 161 | 7 | GEO 265, 266 | 6 |
| ENG 164, 165 | 6 | ENG 265, 266 or 267 | 3 |
| MTH 164 (or approved substitute) | 3 | HIS 265, 266 | 6 |
| CS or MIS 188 | 3 | POL 261, 285 | 6 |
| BIO, CHM, or PHY | 4 | FL 141, 142 | 8 |
| HIS 163, 164 | 6 | ENG (200 level or higher) or SCM | 3 |
| KIN 215 | 1 | 32 | |
| KIN activity or accepted substitute | 1-2 | ||
| 31-32 | |||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| GEO 330, 331, 369 | 9 | GEO 362 or 433 or 434 | 6 |
| HIS 463 | 3 | GEO 471, GEO advanced elective | 6 |
| FL 263, 264 | 6 | SOC 261 | 3 |
| ECO 230, 3 hrs. advanced ECO | 6 | POL 331 or 332 | 3 |
| PHL | 3 | ART, DNC, MUS, THR, or PHL 366 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Electives | 11 |
| ART, DNC, THR, MUS | 3 | 32 | |
| 33 | |||
| First Year | Credit | Second Year | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO 131/111, 161 | 7 | GEO 265, 266, 330 | 9 |
| ENG 164, 165 | 6 | ENG 265, 266 or 267 | 3 |
| HIS 163, 164 | 6 | GEL 134/114 | 4 |
| GEL 133/113 | 4 | CS 133 or MIS 188 | 3 |
| MTH (164 or higher level) | 3 | POL 261, 285 | 6 |
| MTH OR PHL 262 OR PHL 362 | 3 | PHL | 3 |
| KIN 215 | 1 | ENG (200 level or higher) or SCM | 3 |
| KIN activity or accepted substitute | 1-2 | 31 | |
| 31-32 | |||
| Third Year | Credit | Fourth Year | Credit |
| GEO 331, 369, 471 | 9 | GEO 362 or 433 or 434 | 6 |
| GEO advanced elective | 3 | GEO 442 | 4 |
| BIO, CHM, or PHY (one department) | 8 | HIS 463 | 3 |
| HIS 265, 266 | 6 | POL 331 or 332 | 3 |
| ECO 230 | 3 | SOC 261 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ART, DNC, MUS, or THR | 3 |
| 32 | Electives | 9 | |
| ECO advanced elective | 3 | ||
| 34 | |||
GEO 265, 266, 330, 369, plus 6 hours advanced geography.
GEO 131/111, 161, 265, 266, 330, 331, 369, and 471.
In addition to the listed degree requirements, the following courses must be completed for teacher certification. Several of these courses may be taken as electives or to partially complete existing degree requirements.
SED 383, 394, 464, 480, 496, and 497
RDG 392
SED 374 or PSY 374
SCM 161 or 384
CS 133 or MIS 188
Certification with the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree requires a 24-hour minor. For teacher certification, no grade below C is accepted in either the major or minor.
GEO 131 WEATHER AND CLIMATE. [GEOG 1301] A systematic introduction to weather and climate as it pertains to man. Topics discussed will include components of weather, weather processes and their measurement, climatic elements and control factors, and climate as a factor of physical environments. Credit 3.
GEO 111 WEATHER AND CLIMATE LABORATORY. Credit 1.
GEO 161 GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS. [GEOG 1300] An introductory course designed to acquaint students with the basic principles of Geography. Attention will be focused upon the spatial interrelationships which exist between man and his environment, the geographic region and selected geographic skills to include latitude and longitude, earth-sun relations, time, map scale, graphs and the use of road maps and the atlas. Credit 3.
GEO 265 WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY: EUROPE, ASIA, AND AUSTRALIA. [GEOG 1303] An introductory level course giving a general overview of the land and people. Topics discussed will include the physical environment, cultural characteristics and the various ways people live and make their living. Attention will be focused upon the relationships which exist between location, the physical environment and human activity. Examples of countries covered are the former Soviet Union, Germany, France, China, Japan, and United Kingdom. Credit 3.
GEO 266 WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY: LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA, AND SOUTH ASIA. An introductory level course giving a general overview of the land and people. Topics discussed will include the physical environment, cultural characteristics and the various ways people live and make their living. Attention will be focused upon the relationships which exist between location, the physical environment and human activity. Examples of countries covered are Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Zaire, Republic of South Africa, Israel, Iran, and India. Credit 3.
GEO 330 CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY. An evolutionary examination of man as an agent of change within the environment. Innovation, development, and diffusion of agriculture, language, religion, music, sport, and other attainments and institutions will be examined for their expression on the landscape. Credit 3.
GEO 331 LOCATION AND HUMAN ACTIVITY. An examination of the importance of location to human activity. Emphasis will be placed upon the locational characteristics of the primary activities (agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining), secondary activities (especially manufacturing), transportation and urbanization. Credit 3.
GEO 362 MAPPING AND CARTOGRAPHY. Studies designed to develop an ability to draw and read maps of many kinds and to understand both their great potential as a source of information and their limitations as a principal technical tool for Geographers. Credit 3.
GEO 368 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES. A survey of the changing geography of the United States including initial exploration, European perception of North America, geographical expansion of the United States to the Pacific, and geographical factors underlying the urbanization and industrialization of the nation. Credit 3.
GEO 369 ANGLO-AMERICA. This course provides a general overview of the land and people of the United States and Canada. Topics covered include the physical environment (weather patterns, landforms and water resources), cultural differences, and the various ways people live and make their living. Attention is focused upon the relationships which exist between location, the physical environment and human activity. Credit 3.
GEO 370 PERSPECTIVES OF REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY. A general overview of the land and people using a scaled approach. This course begins with Texas, proceeds through the United States and finishes with the World. Credit 3.
GEO 433 FIELD STUDIES. Basic methods and techniques of field observation and map production. Geographic analysis of small areas, embracing both rural and urban types and physical, cultural and economic aspects. Training will be carried on chiefly in the field. Credit 3.
GEO 434 INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS. This course will introduce basics of geographic information systems (GIS) with an emphasis on environmental and resource management applications. Students will design and develop a digital spatial database, perform spatial analyses, create hardcopy maps, and generate reports. Students will be introduced to several GIS software packages. Credit 3.
GEO 435 APPLIED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS. Applied GIS is designed to meet the needs for an highly applied course with realistic practical training extending the fundamental principles learned in Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GEO 434). The application of GIS technology to mapping, modeling and management of large data bases will be emphasized. Prerequisites: GEO 434. Credit 3.
GEO 442 GEOMORPHOLOGY. This course focuses on surficial geological processes and the resulting landforms. Specific topics include landscape processes associated with streams, glaciers, wind, coasts, mass wasting, weathering and soil development, and geologic structure. Labs emphasize landform analysis through interpretation of topographic maps and aerial photos. Prerequisite: GEL 133. Two-hour laboratory. Credit 4.
GEO 461 CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. A study is made of the natural resources basic to human welfare that are subject to depletion or exhaustion. Major topics are soils and cultivable land, grasslands, forests, wildlife and scenic resources, underground and surface water supplies and minerals. Ecological relationships and maintenance of the quality of the environment are stressed. Credit 3.
GEO 464 STUDIES IN GEOGRAPHY. Designed to integrate the various themes of geography and related subjects. Emphasis to be placed upon the application of the viewpoints of geography to selected problems. Credit 3.
GEO 471 TEXAS. A survey of the regional geography of Texas. Consideration is given to the significance of primary and secondary activity within the state, urbanization, and potential for development. Credit 3.
GEO 472 ETHNIC TEXAS: A MULTICULTURAL GEOGRAPHY. A developmental study of the state stressing the perception, manipulation and change of its environment by its people. Ethnic/culture groups considered will include the following: Anglo, Black, French, German, Greek, Indian, Italian, Jewish, Mexican-American, Scandinavian-American (Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes), and Slavic-Americans (Czechs, Poles, Slovaks, and Wends). Credit 3.
GEO 475 READINGS IN GEOGRAPHY. A course designed specifically for advanced students of geography who are capable of independent study. Registration is permitted only upon approval of the program coordinator. This course may be taken for Academic Distinction credit. See Academic Distinction Program in this catalogue. Credit 1-3.