SHSU Undergraduate Catalogue 2002 - 2004 SHSU Student
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DEPARTMENT OF
GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY

CHAIR: MARCUS GILLESPIE

NAVIGATION: Geography Major BA | Geography Major BS | Social Sciences Composite BA | Social Sciences Composite BS | Geography Minor | Course Descriptions

FACULTY: Albert, Baldwin, Barron, Cooper, Leipnik, Netoff, Tiller, Torrez, Williams

The Department of Geography and Geology is an excellent blend of two disciplines that have a common thread. Both programs are concerned with the physical environment, its impact on and the ways that humans have modified the natural environment. Students may major or minor in either program.

Geography Program

PROGRAM COORDINATOR: C. Allen Williams

FACULTY: Albert, Barron, Leipnik, Netoff, Tiller

Geography students learn about the physical environment with its variety of landforms, weather and climate The core of Geography lies in the study of the cause-and-effect relationships which exist between humans and their 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 humans have altered their physical surroundings. The Geography Program provides students with an increased awareness of the areal differences between the multitude of world cultures and environments, and with a basic understanding of why these differences exist.
The curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue an applied profession, a career in education, and/or continued education at the graduate level. The current areas of emphasis are the uses of geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and the impact of humans on the environment. Career opportunities available to geography majors include applications of GIS including the environment and urban planning, teaching, and businesses seeking liberal arts students.
Geography students may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in geography or the social sciences with a geography emphasis.
Located on the third floor of the Lee Drain Building, the department maintains a GIS lab that includes high performance hardware configurations including workstations, digitizing tablets, scanners, global positioning receivers, and other ancillary equipment. Additional educational and research opportunities using GIS are available through arrangements with the campus-based Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies. Students have the option of an internship which will increase their skills and employment opportunities.

Scholarships: The Geography Program offers several scholarships each year and Sam Houston State University offers additional scholarships. For information on departmental scholarships, contact the Department of Geography and Geology. Information on University scholarships may be obtained from the Office of Academic Scholarships website or telephone (936) 294-1672.

REQUIRED COURSES FOR MAJOR
All geography majors must take the following courses. .
GEO 131/11, 265, 266, 330, 331, 369, and 2 courses from GEO 362 or 433 or 434 25 hrs
Students will select one of the following degrees:  
Bachelor of Arts: GEO 471, GEO (6 hrs. Adv.) 9 hrs.
Bachelor of Science: GEO 442, and GEO (9 hrs. Adv.) 13 hrs.
Bachelor of Arts, Social Sciences Composite (Geography Emphasis):
GEO 161, 471, GEO (Adv.)		 9 hrs.
Bachelor of Science, Social Sciences Composite (Geography Emphasis):
GEO 161, 442, 471, GEO (Adv.)		 13 hrs.

 

Curriculum: Bachelor of Art
Major in Geography
First Year Credit Second Year Credit
GEO 131/111, 265
7
GEO 266, 330
6
ENG 164, 165
6
Course in accepted minor
3
HIS 163, 164
6
Component Area 4 (Literature)
3
MTH 164 (or approved substitute)
3
Foreign Language 141, 142
8
CS 133 or MIS 188
3
POL 261, POL (200-level)
6
HIS 163, 164
6
PHL 261
3
BIO, CHM, or PHY
4
General Elective
3
KIN 215
1
32
30
Third Year Credit Fourth Year Credit
GEO 331, 369
6
Advanced GEO Electives
6
GEO 362 or 433 or 434
6
GEO 471
3
Courses in accepted minor
6
Courses in accepted minor
9
Component Area 4 (Visual & Performing Arts)
3
Advanced General Electives
12
Foreign Language 263, 264
6
ART, DNC, THR, MUS or PHL 366
3
ENG (200 level or higher) or SCM
3
33
General Elective
3
33

 

Curriculum: Bachelor of Science
Major in Geography
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
Component Area 4 (Literature)
3
MTH 164 (or approved substitute)
3
CS 133 or MIS 188
3
MTH or PHL 262 or PHL 362
3
POL 261, POL (200-level)
6
GEL 133/113
4
Courses in accepted minor
6
KIN 215
1
PHL 261
3
30
31
Third Year Credit Fourth Year Credit
GEO 331, 369
6
GEO 442
4
GEO 362 or 433, or 434
6
Advanced GEO Electives
9
ENG (200 level or higher) or SCM
3
Courses in accepted minor
9
General Electives
7
Component Area 4 (Visual & Performing Arts)
3
BIO, CHM, or PHY (one department)
8
Advanced General Electives
9
Course in accepted minor
3
34
33

 

Curriculum: Bachelor of Arts
Major in Social Sciences Composite (Geography Emphasis)
First Year Credit Second Year Credit
GEO 131/111, 161
7
GEO 265, 266
6
ENG 164, 165
6
Component Area 4 (Literature)
3
MTH 164 (or approved substitute)
3
HIS 265, 266
6
CS 133 or MIS 188
3
POL 261 and POL (200-level)
6
BIO, CHM, or PHY
4
Foreign Language 141, 142
8
HIS 163, 164
6
SCM 161 or 384
3
KIN 215
1
32
30
Third Year Credit Fourth Year Credit
GEO 330, 331, 369
9
GEO 362 or 433 or 434
6
HIS 369, 379
6
GEO 471, Advanced GEO Elective
6
Foreign Language 263, 264
6
HIS 398
3
ECO 234
3
POL 378
3
SOC 261
3
PHL 366
3
Component Area 4
(Visual & Performing Arts)
3
General Electives*
6
General Elective*
3
Advanced General Electives*
6
33
33

 

Curriculum: Bachelor of Science
Major in Social Sciences Composite (Geography Emphasis)
First Year Credit Second Year Credit
GEO 131/111, 161
7
GEO 265, 266, 330
9
ENG 164, 165
6
Component Area 4 (Literature)
3
HIS 163, 164
6
GEL 134/114
4
GEL 133/113
4
CS 133 or MIS 188
3
MTH 164 (or approved substitute)
3
POL 261 and POL (200-level)
6
MTH OR PHL 262 OR PHL 362
3
HIS 369
3
KIN 215
1
SCM 161 or 384
3
ECO 234
3
31
33
Third Year Credit Fourth Year Credit
GEO 331, 369, 471
9
GEO 362 or 433 or 434
6
HIS 379
3
GEO 442
4
BIO, CHM, or PHY (one department)
8
HIS 398
3
HIS 265, 266
6
POL 378
3
Advanced GEO Elective
3
SOC 261
3
General Elective*
3
Component Area 4
(Visual & Performing Arts)
3
32
Advanced General Electives*
10
32
*TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a major in Social Sciences Composite (Geography Emphasis) and teacher certification at the secondary level (grades 8-12) should use their 15 elective hours and an additional 9 hours to satisfy the required certification requirements. Students seeking a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree with a major in Social Sciences Composite (Geography Emphasis) and teacher certification at the secondary level (grades 8-12) should use their 13 elective hours and an additional 11 hours to satisfy the required certification requirements. The required education courses are listed below and with teacher certification, the BA degree total is 137 hours and the BS degree total is 139 hours. Those students not seeking certification should use their electives to fulfill the University requirement for advanced hours.

SED 383, 394, 464, 480, 496, 497, RDG 392, SED 374 or PSY 374

For teacher certification, no grade below C in social science courses is accepted.

MINOR IN GEOGRAPHY
GEO 265, 266, 330, 369, plus 6 hours advanced geography.

GEOGRAPHY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

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. [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 Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, 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 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.