Logo. University of Alaska Fairbanks.

1996-97 UAF Catalog

Course Descriptions


Degrees and Programs Index


Geography Courses


GEOG 101 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Introductory Geography (3+0) s

World regions, an analysis of environment, with emphasis on major culture realms. Also available via Independent Learning.


GEOG 201 (3 Credits) Spring
Environmental Management (3+0) s
(Same as EQS 201)

Social processes which affect the environment including law, environmental assessment, social/economic constraints, political processes and society's influence on environmental values. Topics include NEPA, energy sources and impacts, population control, resource development, conservation and preservation, acid rain, greenhouse effect, deforestation, pollution and hazardous waste abatement and treatment strategies. Case studies used. Course integrated with and complements NRM 101.


GEOG 203 (3 Credits) Fall
World Economic Geography (3+0) s

Study of the world's major economic activities: their physical and cultural bases, spatial growth and distribution patterns, and their significance in interregional and international development. (Prerequisite: GEOG 101 or permission of instructor.)


GEOG 205 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Elements of Physical Geography (3+0) n

Analysis of processes that form the physical environment and resulting physical patterns. Study of landforms, climate, soils, water resources, vegetation, and their world and regional patterns. Also available via Independent Learning. (Offered every Spring at the Northwest Campus.)


GEOG 205X (4 Credits) Fall, Spring
Elements of Physical Geography (3+3) n

Analysis of processes that form the physical environment and resulting physical patterns. Study of landforms, climate, soils, water resources, vegetation, and their world and regional patterns. Laboratory fee: $25.00. (Offered every Spring at the Northwest Campus.)


GEOG 301 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Geographic Field Research Techniques

Theory and application of geographic methods of conducting field investigations. Collection, analysis, synthesis, and interpretation and reporting of data concerning the natural and human environments. (Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Next offered: 1997-98.)


GEOG 302 (3 Credits) Spring
Geography of Alaska (3+0) s

Regional, physical and economic geography of Alaska. Special consideration of the state's renewable and nonrenewable resources, and of plans for their wise use. Frequent class study of representative maps and visual materials. Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisites: GEOG 101, 205.)


GEOG 303 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Geography of United States and Canada (3+0) s

Introductory systematic study of the area as a whole, followed by detailed study of the physical and cultural landscape forms, patterns, and associations of each major region in turn. Consideration of the United States and Canada in current world economic and political geography. (Prerequisite: GEOG 101 or 203, or 205 or permission of instructor. Next offered: 1997-98.)


GEOG 304O (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Advanced Economic Geography (3+0) s

Major theories of economic geography with particular focus on those theories relevant to underdeveloped regions. Emphasis on theories appropriate to northern regions. (Prerequisite: Introductory course in World Economic Geography or equivalent. Next offered: 1997-98.)


GEOG 305W (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Geography of Europe (except U.S.S.R.) (3+0) s

Regional, physical, economic and cultural geography of Europe, except U.S.S.R. (Prerequisites: GEOG 101, 205. Next offered: 1997-98.)


GEOG 306 (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Geography of Russia (3+0) s

The physical, cultural and historical geography of Russia and the Ukraine, Central Asia, Siberia and parts of Eastern Europe. (Prerequisite: GEOG 101 or 203 or 205 or permission of the instructor. Next offered: 1997-98.)


GEOG 309 (4 Credits) Alternate Spring
Cartography (1+9) s

Graphic techniques for presenting geographic data through the construction of maps, projections and charts. Materials fee: $150.00. (Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Next offered: 1997-98.)


GEOG 311W (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Geography of Asia (3+0) s

Regional geography of Asia, exclusive of the Soviet Union. Physical framework, natural resources, peoples, major economic activities, and characteristic landscapes of the major regions of Japan, China, Southeast Asia, India-Pakistan, and the Asiatic countries of the Middle East. (Prerequisite: GEOG 101 or 203 or 205 or permission of the instructor. Next offered: 1996-97.)


GEOG 327 (3 Credits) Spring
Cold Lands (3+0) s

Comparative physical, human, and economic geography of cold regions, with particular attention to Siberia, Greenland, Scandinavia and Canada. Special attention given to different approaches taken toward economic development in cold regions. (Prerequisite: GEOG 101 or 203 or 205 or permission of the instructor.)


GEOG 338 (3 Credits) Fall
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (2+3)
(Same as NRM 338)

Geographic data concepts including mapping systems, data sources, editing data, GIS analysis and computer mapping. Introduction to Global Positioning Systems. GIS applications in natural resources management. Materials fee: $35.00. (Prerequisite: Knowledge of PC's or unix workstations desirable.)


GEOG 339 (3 or 4 Credits) Spring
Maps and Landscape Analysis (3+0) or (3+3) n

Application of methodology of physical geography to analysis of regional landscapes. Optional laboratory for one additional credit. (Prerequisites: GEOG 101 or 203, 205.)


GEOG 341 (4 Credits) Spring
GIS Analysis (3+3)
(Same as NRM 341)

GIS analysis of natural resources including spatial query, attribute query, vector, grid, image, topographic and network analysis techniques. (Prerequisite: GEOG 338.)


GEOG 401 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Weather and Climate (3+0) n

Introduction to the study of weather and classification of climates. (Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Next offered: 1996-97.)


GEOG 402 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Resources and Environment (3+0) s

Interdisciplinary analysis of the earth as a natural resource base, and the management issues of resource extraction, allocation, development, conservation and preservation. (Prerequisites: GEOG 101, 205. Next offered: 1997-98.)


GEOG 404W (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Urban Geography (3+0) s

A world survey of urbanization with particular emphasis on the accelerating urban revolution. Conditions favoring the rise of cities, locational and site factors, regional and interregional resource availability, and human factors. Changing functions and patterns of urban areas. National and international problems inherent in trends toward a predominantly urbanized economy and culture. Implications of urbanization in Alaska. (Prerequisite: GEOG 101. Next offered: 1997-98.)


GEOG 405 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Political Geography (3+0) s

Geographical analysis of the evolution, structure, internal coherence, and sources of strength of individual nation states, with emphasis on nations of the Pacific realm and Arctic periphery. Consideration of regional blocs, spheres of influence, and potential for international cooperation. (Prerequisite: GEOG 101. Next offered: 1996-97.)


GEOG 408 (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Quantitative Research Techniques (3+0)

Philosophy and methodology in geography. Theories, laws, and models for measurement, analysis and explanation of geographic patterns and associations. Applications of findings to solution of geographic problems. (Prerequisites: Junior standing and college-level mathematics, or permission of the instructor. Next offered: 1996-97.)


GEOG 438 (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Arc Macro Language GIS Programming (3+0)
(Same as NRM 438)

Arc macro language. Programming of pop-up menus and tools for GIS editing, display, and analysis. (Prerequisite: NRM 338 or equivalent. Next offered: 1996-97.)


GEOG 463 (3 Credits) Fall
Wilderness Concepts (3+0)
(Same as NRM 463)

Discovery of wilderness concepts, including the history and evolution of wilderness thought, the contemporary meaning of wilderness, and survey of economic and noneconomic wilderness values for individuals and society.


GEOG 482W,O (3 Credits) Spring
Geography Seminar (3+0) s

History, philosophy and methodology of geographic thought from the Sumerians to the present with particular attention to changing philosophies of geography. (Prerequisite: Senior Geography major and permission of instructor.)


GEOG 637 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Geography of Northern Development (3+0)
(Same as NORS 637)

Focus on spatial patterns of development throughout the northern world. Comparisons of development patterns in different countries and regions will be emphasized, especially alternative settlement patterns and resource development policies. Course will include case studies of contrasting settlement and resource development policies in Greenland, northern Canada, Russia, northern Scandinavia, and Iceland.