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.

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Curricula: Major In Geography BACHELOR OF ARTS

First Year	Credit	Second Year	Credit
GEO 141, 265	7	GEO 266, 330	6
ENG 164, 165	6	Minor	6
MTH (164 or approved substitute)	3	ENG 265, 275, or 295	3
MTH, CS, PHL 262 or 362	3	FL 141, 142	8
HIS 163, 164	6	POL 261, POL elective	6
BIO, CHM, or PHY	4	Elective	3
KIN 215 or accepted substitute	1-2		32
KIN activity or accepted substitute	1-3
	31-34
Third Year	Credit	Fourth Year	Credit
GEO 331, 369,		GEO 362, 433, 442	10
3 hrs. advanced GEO	9	Minor	6
Minor	6	Electives (HIS 265,
PHL elective	3	266 recommended)	13
ART, DNC, MUS, THR, or PHL 366	6	Criterion VI, Cluster 3	3
FL 263, 264	6		32
ENG (200 level or higher) or SCM	3
	33

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

First Year	Credit	Second Year	Credit
GEO 141, 265	7	GEO 266, 330	6
ENG 164, 165	6	GEL 133/113, 134/114	8
HIS 163, 164	6	ENG 265, 275, or 295	3
MTH (164 or higher level),		CS elective	3
3 hrs. MTH	6	POL 261, POL elective	6
Criterion VI, Cluster 1 or 2	3	Minor	3
KIN 215 or accepted substitute	1-2	Criterion VI, Cluster 3	3
KIN activity or accepted substitute	1-3		32
	30-33
Third Year	Credit	Fourth Year	Credit
GEO 331, 362, 369,		GEO 433, 442,
3 hrs. advanced GEO	12	6 hrs. advanced GEO	13
ENG (200 level or higher) or SCM	3	Minor	9
ART, DNC, MUS, or THR	3	Electives	12
BIO, CHM, or PHY (one field)	8		34
Minor	6
	32

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BACHELOR OF ARTS Social Sciences Composite (Geography Emphasis)

First Year	Credit	Second Year	Credit
GEO 141, 161	7	GEO 265, 266	6
ENG 164, 165	6	ENG 265, 275, 285, 295, or 373	6
MTH (164 or approved substitute)	3	HIS 265, 266	6
CS 133	3	POL 261	3
BIO, CHM, or PHY	4	FL 141, 142	8
HIS 163, 164	6	Electives	3
KIN 215 or accepted substitute	1-2		32
KIN activity or accepted substitute	1-3
	31-34
Third Year	Credit	Fourth Year	Credit
GEO 330, 331, 369, 471	12	GEO 442, 3 hrs. advanced GEO	7
HIS 463	3	SOC 261	3
FL 263, 264	6	POL 331 or 332	3
ECO 230, 3 hrs. advanced	6	ART, DNC, MUS, THR,
PHL elective	3	or PHL 366	6
Elective	3	Electives	13
	33		32

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Social Sciences Composite (Geography Emphasis)

First Year	Credit	Second Year	Credit
GEO 141, 161	7	GEO 265, 266, 330	9
ENG 164, 165	6	ENG 265, 275, 285, 295, or 373	6
HIS 163, 164	6	GEL 133/113, 134/114	8
MTH (164 or higher level)	6	CS 133	3
Elective	3	POL 261	3
KIN 215 or accepted substitute	1-2	Elective Criterion VI, Cluster 3	3
KIN activity or accepted substitute	1-3		32
	30-33
Third Year	Credit	Fourth Year	Credit
GEO 331, 362, 369, 471	12	GEO 433, 442,
BIO, CHM, or PHY (one field)	8	3 hrs. advanced GEO	10
HIS 265, 266	6	HIS 463	3
ECO 230, 3 hours advanced ECO	6	POL 331 or 332	3
	32	SOC 261	3
		ART, DNC, MUS, or THR	3
		Electives	12
			34

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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, 392, 394, 464, 480, 496, and 497
SED 374 or PSY 374
SCM 161 or 384
CS 133

Certification with the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree requires a 24-hour minor.

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GEOGRAPHY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

GEO 141 WEATHER AND CLIMATE. 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. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory. Credit 4.

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. This is not the introductory course in Geography (see GEO 141, 265, 266, 330 or 331). 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 MAP DRAWING AND AIR PHOTO INTERPRETATION. 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. Attention will be directed also to the history of cartography, the reading of air photos and statistical graphs and the drawing of simple maps and graphs. 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. The essential elements covered in the public school social studies curriculum are emphasized. 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. Registration is permitted only upon approval of the Program Coordinator. 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 cultivatable 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.

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A minor in science or mathematics is strongly recommended.

See the following description of certification requirements.

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Teacher Certification

The Bachelor of Science degree, Plan II, is recommended for those students working toward Secondary Teacher Certification in Earth Science, Life/Earth Science, or the Science Composite. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be prepared for a provisional secondary certificate for teaching geology/oceanography at the high school level and for teaching earth science at the junior high school level. The graduate may be certified in Earth Science, Life/Earth Science or in the Science Composite, depending on the minor that is chosen.

Students seeking Secondary Teacher Certification under Plan II, Bachelor of Science degree, in one of the above areas must complete the following courses in addition to those listed under Plan II:
1. SED 383, 392, 394, 464, 480, 496, 497.
2. SED 374 and 480 are recommended for Criterion VI.
3. SCM 161 or 384 is recommended for one of the electives.
4. An approved 24-hour minor, including 6 advanced hours taken in residence, serves as a second teaching field.

Students seeking Elementary Teacher Certification should look at the following Geology Minor requirements.

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Geology Minors

Geology minors seeking a B.S. or B.A. degree need to take GEL 133/113, 134/114 plus four advanced courses (20 hours minimum). Geology minors or those with a previous degree seeking certification to teach Earth Science need to take GEL 133/113, 134/114, 330; GEO 141; PHY 397/317 plus 6 hours advanced GEL.

For detailed information concerning Elementary Teacher Certification, the student is referred to the Elementary Education Program description. The Geology Program participates in two specialization areas. The Earth Science area requires GEL 133/113, 134/114, 330; GEO 141; PHY 397/317; 6 hours advanced GEL; and 9 extension hours. The Life/Earth Science area requires GEL 133/113, 330; GEO 141; BIO 135/115, 136/116; 341; PHY 397/317; 6 hours from GEL 360, 431, 432, or 437; or BIO 345 or 463 (or 465); and 5 extension hours.

GEOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

GEL 133 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY. [GEOL 1303] An introduction to the materials, processes, and structure of the earth. Topics include earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, mountain building, weathering and erosion, glaciation, oceans, and mineral resources. No prerequisite. Credit 3.

GEL 113 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY LABORATORY. [GEOL 1103] This course must be taken concurrently with GEL 133, Physical Geology. These laboratory experiences involve the study of rocks, minerals, and map interpretations. Credit 1.

GEL 134 HISTORICAL GEOLOGY. [GEOL 1304] An introduction to the history of the earth and its past inhabitants. This course gives a broad overview of the various kinds of animals and plants that have existed on earth in the geologic past as revealed by the fossil record. Past land-sea relationships and ancient environments are also discussed. No prerequisite. Credit 3.

GEL 114 HISTORICAL GEOLOGY LABORATORY. [GEOL 1104] This course must be taken concurrently with GEL 134, Historical Geology. Laboratory experiences include the study of common animal and plant fossils and problems which illustrate practical applications of geological principles. No prerequisite. Credit 1.

GEL 330 OCEANOGRAPHY. A survey of the general principles of oceanography is made. The geology of ocean basins, tide-water processes and the chemistry of sea water are studied. Biophysics of the sea and environmental problems are considered. Prerequisites GEL 133/113 and CHM 138/118. Credit 3.

GEL 332 GEOLOGY OF TEXAS. A study of the stratigraphy, paleontology, topography and mineral deposits of Texas. GEL 133/113, 134/114 are recommended. Credit 3.

GEL 354 MINERALOGY. This course covers crystallography, genes is of minerals, identification and classification of minerals, and optical mineralogy. Prerequisites: 8 hours of Geology and CHM 138/118, 139/119, MTH 163. Includes lab work. Credit 5.

*GEL 355 PETROLOGY. The classification, origin, occurrence and associations of igneous, sedimentary, and metimorphic rocks. Includes optical petrology using thin sections. Prerquisite: GEL 354. Credit 5.

GEL 360 ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY. This course offers an introduction to geological processes and materials, and how they affect people and the environment. Specific topics include earthquakes, volcanism, mass wasting, floods, coastal hazards, and climatic change. Optional topics may include such items as energy and water resources, subsidence, and waste disposal. Prerequisites: GEL 133/113. Credit 3.

GEL 431 GEOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA. A study of the geologic history of the continent of North America. Topics include paleogeography, major depositional areas and stratigraphic units, and paleotectonics. Prerequisites: GEL 133/113. Credit 3.

GEL 432 ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. This course is concerned with the origin and occurrence of economically important minerals. A portion of the course is devoted to petroleum. Prerequisites: GEL 133/113. Credit 3.

GEL 437 PLATE TECTONICS. An introduction to the movement of lithospheric plates. Topics to be covered include earthquakes, volcanism, seismic tomography, the evolution of continents and ocean basins, and the influence of the earth' interior on these processes. Lecture only. Prerequisites: GEL 133/113, with GEL 134/114 highly recommended. Credit 3.

GEL 440 STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTATION. A study of the principles and methods used in describing, classifying and correlating strata. Includes studies of modern and ancient depositional environments. Lab/field work included. Prerequisites: GEL 133/113 and GEL 134/114. Credit 4.

GEL 445 INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY. Fundamental concepts, principles, and methods involved in deciphering the origin, development and extinction of past life as revealed through the study of invertebrate fossils. Prerequisites: 8 hours of GEL and 8 hours of BIO. Lab work included. Credit 4.

GEL 460, 461 FIELD GEOLOGY. These courses will consist of on-site studies in structure, stratigraphy, petrology and paleontology. Field trips will be taken to appropriate areas in Texas and/or surrounding states. Prerequisite: Senior standing. Credit 3 hours for each course.

GEL 495 SPECIAL TOPICS IN GEOLOGY. Individual study in special areas of geology. Topic content will usually be selected and agreed upon by the student and a member of the Geology faculty. Sometimes special topics courses will be offered by the Geology faculty. For example, Structural Geology will be taught during odd Spring semesters. This course may be taken for Academic Distinction credit. See Academic Distinction Program in this catalogue. Prerequisites and credit will be determined by the faculty member. May be repeated for credit. Credit 1, 2, or 3.

*Subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

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