Geography Degree Program

Social sciences core courses (12 credit hours)

• GEO 120 World Regional Geography

  Credits: 3

  Description: A global survey of the geographic interrelationships between people and their environments.

• History elective

  Choose one of the following history courses:

  • HIS 310 The Renaissance and Reformation (3 credits) – This course surveys the fundamental changes in European society that resulted from the Renaissance and Reformation from 1450 to 1650.
     
  • HIS 315 The Age of Enlightenment (3 credits) – This course surveys European history focused on the history of ideas, politics, and culture during the long 18th century.
     
  • HIS 425 History of the British Empire (3 credits) – This course examines the culture, economy, and politics of the British Empire from the loss of the American colonies in the late 18th century through the 20th century. It will examine the reciprocal relationship between Great Britain and two types of colonies: those of conquest in such areas as the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, and those of settlements such as those in North America and the Antipodes. This course will pay special attention to nationalist responses to the British Empire and more contemporary legacies.
     
  • HIS 447 Warfare and Society in World History (3 credits) – This course examines the role of class, race, and gender in warfare, from the earliest recorded wars to the most recent conflicts through a broad range of readings. Students will also conduct a formal research project.
     
  • HIS 450 The American West (3 credits) – The history of the western U.S., with special emphasis on defining the West as a region, the relation to and impact of the West on the rest of the U.S., and changing historical and popular culture interpretations of the West.
     
  • HIS 451 American Indian History (3 credits) - This course will teach the history of Native American peoples from the Pre-Columbian Period to the 21st century. This class will explore the historical implications of the contradictions between American Indian institutions and beliefs and Euro-American institutions and beliefs, and the events and policies that governed the conflict. The focus will be on understanding the diversity of native civilizations and cultures in the Western hemisphere and the varied responses to contact with European culture. Using both primary documents and works by respected historians, this course will examine the complex cultural history of the nation, with a special emphasis on the tribes in Nebraska.
• Political science elective

  Choose one of the following political science courses:

  • POS 350 The American Presidency (3 credits) - The study and analysis of the development of the contemporary presidency, presidential powers, responsibilities, and political relationships.
     
  • POS 355 Politics of the Supreme Court (3 credits) - This course focuses on the political forces that shape the Supreme Court’s decision-making process. Landmark cases will be closely examined and placed in their political, cultural, and historical context. In addition, students will examine different theories of adjudication, the selection process, and the Supreme Court’s relationship with the other political branches.
     
  • POS 365 Comparative Government and Politics (3 credits) - Analysis and comparison of the political systems and processes of selected countries.
     
  • POS 420 American Constitutional Law (3 credits) - A study of the U.S. Constitution and the impact of the Supreme Court’s interpretations of the Constitution: judicial review, governmental powers, and rights of citizens, including both civil and criminal rights.
     
  • POS 425 Rights and Liberties (3 credits) - A study of the Bill of Rights and the impact of the Supreme Court’s interpretations on its provisions. Subjects include freedoms of religion, freedoms of speech, freedom of the press, the right to keep and bear arms, search and seizure, the right to counsel, cruel and unusual punishment, discrimination, and the right to privacy.
     
  • POS 445 Public Administration and Management (3 credits) - Concepts of public administration and management processes, introduction to administrative processes of personnel, budgeting, and program management; analysis of public bureaucracy’s function from a public policy perspective.
• Concentration-based elective

  Choose one of the following courses, depending on your concentration:
  
  Note: Geography majors must take GEO 315 World Economic Geography. History majors must take SSC 490 Social Sciences Research Seminar, or appropriate Honors Course 395 or 499. Political Science majors must take POS 430 Public Policy, or appropriate Honors Course 395 or 499.

  • GEO 315 World Economic Geography (3 credits) – A study of resource use, locational choices, and regional specialization in the global economy. Special emphasis is given to the factors involving uneven patterns of social and economic development and the impact of globalization at various scales.
     
  • POS 430 Public Policy (3 credits) – The study of domestic policymaking processes and institutions at all levels, taught from an intergovernmental relations perspective.
     
  • SSC 485 Social Sciences Senior Seminar (3 credits) – Students will complete a written project on a topic chosen with their advisor. This project is intended to integrate all disciplines and approaches taken in the major, demonstrating the interrelation of the social sciences. The advisor will meet with various faculty members to facilitate discussion of the integration of ideas through the student’s coursework. Prerequisite: Senior standing, permission of the advisor.
     
  • SSC 490 Social Sciences Research Seminar (3 credits) - A study of the techniques of historical and Social Sciences research and writing. Students will complete a major research project on a topic of their choice and present the results to the seminar. Students in Honors Colloquium 499 are exempt from SSC 490 when required in a major endorsement.
     
  • Honors Course 395 Independent Study (3 credits) - Advanced reading and research in special problems, resulting in written evidence of quality work completed. Prerequisites: 3.3 cumulative GPA and consent of instructor, department chair, and Director of the Honors Program.
     
  • Honors Course 499 Senior Honors Colloquium (3 credits) - Seminar presentations. Students present senior project during honors colloquium presentations on campus either in spring or fall term. May be applied to the major or minor or endorsement. Prerequisites: 3 credit hours of 395 Independent Study and a GPA of 3.3 or better in the major, and a cumulative GPA of 3.3.

• GEO 130 Physical Geography

  Credits: 3

  Description: An introduction to the physical elements of geography and the environment in which people live, focusing on natural processes that create landscape diversity on the earth.

• Geographic information systems or mapping course

  Choose one of the following courses:

  • GEO 425 Urban Geographic Information Systems (3 credits) – This course is divided into two components. The lecture component for this course emphasizes the theoretical nature of geographic information systems (GIS) and surveys urban topics that typically employ GIS applications. The lab component provides students with hands-on experience with GIS and global positioning systems (GPS) to complete mapping projects that involve demographics, public health, urban planning, and crime.
     
  • GEO 430 Geographic Information Systems (3 credits) – This course provides a basic introduction to the theory behind and hands-on usage of a Geographic Information System. An ability to manipulate and visualize data graphically is becoming ever more important in today’s technological workplace. A Geographic Information System is a computing tool that allows the user to visualize information in ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends not visible using other presentation methods.
     
  • GEO 435 Computer Mapping (3 credits) - An introduction to basic concepts and techniques for creating maps via computers. Emphasis will be on interpretation of physical and cultural information from maps and understanding map layout and design. Hands-on use of computer mapping programs will allow students to create their own maps in lab.
• Earth science and/or geography electives

  Choose 24 credit hours from the courses below for the 30-credit hour concentration, or 30 credit hours below for the 36-credit hour concentration. 12 credit hours must be upper-level (300/400) courses.

  • EAS 110 Introduction to Meteorology (4 credits) - An introduction to the Earth as planet, with special emphasis being placed upon atmospheric and oceanic processes. High school mathematics is used extensively in this course. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab. Meteorology lab fee of $20 required.
     
  • EAS 120 Introduction to Geology (4 credits) - A study of the solid earth in terms of its internal structure and surface landforms. High school mathematics is used extensively in this course. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab. Geology lab fee of $30 required.
     
  • EAS 250 Discover Astronomy (3 credits) - A course that examines current or special topics in astronomy. Emphasis will be placed upon discussions and interactive investigations about astronomical subjects. 4 hours lecture/lab combined. This course may be repeated for a total of 6 hours when no duplication of topics exists. Geology lab fee of $30 required.
     
  • EAS 302 Astronomy (4 credits) - An analytical study of astronomy that includes, but is not limited to, historical astronomy, astronomical instruments, the celestial sphere, the solar system, the earth/moon system, the sun as a star, stars, galaxies, and life in the universe. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab. Course fee of $30 required.
     
  • EAS 310 Excel for the Physical Sciences (1 credit) - An introduction to Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software. Topics are relevant to the physical sciences and may include spreadsheet creation, data manipulation, graphing, statistical analysis and uncertainty determination, integration, trigonometric functions, and logical tests. Recommended for students pursuing a major or minor in a physical science.
     
  • EAS 320 Rocks and Minerals (3 credits) - A study of the formation of minerals, including why they have specific physical and chemical properties, and how minerals combine to form a variety of rocks in the earth’s crust. 2 hours of lecture, 2 hours of lab. Geology lab fee of $30 required. Prerequisite: Must have earned a grade of C- or better in EAS 120 Introduction to Geology, or instructor approval.
     
  • EAS 340 Environmental Geology (3 credits) - A study of the relationship between man and his geological surroundings, with emphasis on case histories of natural disasters and human interactions with earth materials. Geological materials and land use will be examined as they relate to environmental quality. Prerequisite: Must have earned a grade of C- or better in EAS 120 Introduction to Geology, or instructor approval.
     
  • EAS 350 Topics in Earth Science (1-3 credits) - A study of topics of special interest in the field of Earth science. This course may be repeated up to a total of 6 hours with different topics.
     
  • EAS 370 Research in the Earth Sciences (1-3 credits) - The nature of the project will be determined collaboratively between the mentor and student and may include, but is not limited to, library research, data collection, data analysis, scientific writing, and oral presentations. This course may be repeated up to a total of 6 hours. Prerequisite: Approval by a faculty research mentor. Completion of an individual research project under the mentorship of a faculty member.
     
  • EAS 393 Laboratory Techniques (1 credit) - Assisting in the preparation and evaluation of laboratory activities (one lab per week). Prerequisite: junior standing.
     
  • EAS 410 Historical Geology (4 credits) - A study of the geological and biological evolution of the earth as seen in the rock record and in fossilized remains of past life forms. Special emphasis is placed on North America. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab. Geology lab fee of $30 required. Prerequisite: EAS 120 Introduction to Geology.
     
  • EAS 430 Oceanography (3 credits) - An analytic study of the ocean floor, inherent motions of water and the chemical properties of the oceans.
     
  • EAS 440 Field Hydrology (3 credits) - Theory and practice of quantifying hydrologic phenomena in the field. The course includes methods for performing hydrologic measurements, data manipulation and limitations, and environmental applications. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab. Hydrology lab fee of $30 required. Prerequisite: C- or better in either EAS 110 Introduction to Meteorology or EAS 120 Introduction to Geology.
     
  • GEO 300 Human Geography (3 credits) - Application of geographic principles to examine the social, economic, and political activities of human cultures. Emphasis is on the concepts of culture, culture areas, migration, diffusion, social space, territoriality, environmental perception, and cultural landscape.
     
  • GEO 305 Political Geography (3 credits) - A study of geographic factors as they pertain to national and international political problems.
     
  • GEO 320 Urban Geography (3 credits) - This course provides a theoretical survey of the urban environment. Topics emphasized include the historical development of cities, ecological consequences of urbanization, metropolitan specialization, housing markets, residential segregation, and planning governance.
     
  • GEO 325 Geography of Recreation, Tourism and Sport (3 credits) - A survey of the applied and academic aspects of indoor/outdoor recreation, international/regional tourism, and professional/amateur sports. The course will examine the distribution of legalized gaming, ecotourism and leisure travel, as well as the preservation and study of cultural and natural heritage.
     
  • GEO 340 Geography of the US and Canada (3 credits) - A regional analysis of the United States and Canada in terms of economic activities and the physical environment. Special emphasis is on the historical development of the U.S. and Canadian landscapes.
     
  • GEO 350 Geography of Europe (3 credits) - This course provides a regional analysis of Europe in terms of its physical environment, history, culture, political systems, and economic activities. Topics emphasized include Europe’s global influence, unification efforts, and east-west regional contrasts.
     
  • GEO 360 Geography of Russia (3 credits) - A regional survey of the territory of Russia and the newly independent states that emerged from the breakup of the USSR. The focus of the course is on human, physical, and historical geography of the 15 countries in the region, which includes parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Issues to be addressed include recent efforts toward economic restructuring, relations among the former republics and nationalities, and current events/problems.
     
  • GEO 370 Geography of Latin America (3 credits) - A regional survey of Latin America in terms of its physical environment, history, culture, economic development, political systems, and demographic trends.
     
  • GEO 380 Geography of Asia (3 credits) - A regional analysis of South, Southeast, and East Asia in terms of the people, economic activities, and physical environment.
     
  • GEO 410/510 Hazards and Disasters (3 credits) - This course involves the study of catastrophic natural phenomena such as volcanic activity, earthquakes, floods, landslides, hurricanes, and tornadoes. We will examine these events on a world scale, always trying to understand where they occur and why they occur in those places. Emphasis is given to understanding the physical processes involved along with means of predicting, preventing, and minimizing the impact on humans.
     
  • GEO 435/535 Computer Mapping (3 credits) - An introduction to basic concepts and techniques for creating maps via computers. Emphasis will be on interpretation of physical and cultural information from maps and understanding map layout and design. Hands-on use of computer mapping programs will allow students to create their own maps in lab.
     
  • GEO 440/540 Remote Sensing (3 credits) - This course provides a basic introduction to the concepts and applications of remote sensing. Labs provide students with experience interpreting and analyzing aerial and satellite imagery for environmental assessment.
     
  • GEO 444 Topics in Geography (3 credits) - Current or special issues in geography will be examined. The course offers students the opportunity to discuss relevant issues facing society. This course may be repeated, by advisement, with different topics.
     
  • GEO 490 Geography and History of Nebraska (3 credits) - A history and geography of Nebraska focusing on principal people, events, and themes in the state’s history.