Introduction to Geography

Students will examine the nature and diversity of geography, which attempts to describe and to understand human growth, distribution, social-cultural and economic activities and interactions. They will also learn how the physical environment facilitates or constrains these activities and how human activities may, in turn, affect the natural environment, including the atmosphere, soil, and plant and other natural resources.

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Introduction to the Atmosphere

Students will apply basic scientific principles to study the atmosphere, examine weather processes, and describe patterns of climate worldwide. They will explain how the flows and transfer of energy and water to and from the Earth’s surface.  They will examine the integration of producing a variety of atmospheric phenomena ranging from microscale weather events, such as local convection and clouds with vertical development, to macroscale frontal systems, wind belts, and general air mass circulation. Students will also discuss evidence and theories concerning long term climate change.description

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Introduction to Earth Science

Students will examine the origin, composition and evolution of the solid Earth through a study of its rocks and minerals, the geologic time scale, and the role of tectonic processes in creating and modifying continents, regulating volcanism and seismic activity. They will also demonstrate how the Earth's surface has been modified by weathering, fluvial (stream), glacial, and slope processes.

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Human Impacts on Canadian Environments

Students will examine the relationships between humans and physical environments, with particular emphasis on Canada, a country whose natural resource base has long been the main driver of its development.  They will examine a range of views on sustainability, apply these to the selected environmental issues in Canada, and then compare and contrast the effectiveness of public policy towards improving and preserving Canadian environments.

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Regional Geography of British Columbia

Students will examine the evolution of regional patterns of socio-economic growth and development in British Columbia from a geographical perspective. They will examine interactions between physical resources and constraints and cultural and economic landscapes.

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Regional Geography of East Asia

Students will examine the physical and human geography of East Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, North and South Korea. They will examine the roles played by physical, cultural and economic resources in the development of this region.

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Regional Geography of South and Southeast Asia

Students will examine the physical and human geography of South and Southeast Asia, including India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia. They will examine the roles played by the physical, cultural and economic resources in the development of this region.

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Geography of Cultures

Students will study the major traditions, themes, and theories of social and cultural geography, all within an ecological approach to the study of human societies. They will examine the character of selected world regions, analyze their present level of development, and identify socioeconomic, political, ecological, and cultural factors that influence development outcomes, past and present. Students will analyze selected rural and urban landscapes, ancient and contemporary, and discuss a series of examples of the spatial diffusion of cultural phenomena.

Prerequisites: GEOG 1101 or ANTH 1100

Economic Geography

Students will analyze the location and distribution of economic activities, and the socioeconomic causes and consequences of these patterns over space. They will examine issues and theories relevant to natural resources, manufacturing, transportation and communications, and services, at a range of scales. Students will explore issues of land use and environmental sustainability in an economic and spatial context. They will study the structure of the world economy, socioeconomic development, methods of flexible production, gendered labour and processes of globalization.

Prerequisites:GEOG 1101 or ECON 1101

Students will examine the evolution of physical and human environments, and regional patterns of socioeconomic development in Canada, from a geographical perspective. They will analyze and critically comment on interactions between regions within Canada, on patterns of trade, immigration, and other activities within national, continental, and international contexts, and on possible futures for Canada and its regions.

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Regional Geography of Europe

Students will examine the physical and human geography of the countries of Eastern and Western Europe. They will examine the roles played by the physical, cultural and economic resources in the development of the region.

Prerequisites: GEOG 1101 (HIST 1101 strongly recommended)

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Urban Geography

Students will discover how cities are complex networks of infrastructure and built form, whose character is central to human activities. They will examine how cities emerged, and how they vary in character globally, with special attention to current cities in Canada. Students will consider models of urban structure and function, along with concepts of land use, governance, and planning for local development. They will also explore socioeconomic and ecological aspects of urbanization, including its dimensions worldwide, issues of stratification and liveability, and possible futures for urban regions.

Prerequisites:GEOG 1101 or SOCI 1125

Climatology

This course applies scientific principles and methods to climatological processes. The study investigates concepts such as the radiation and energy balance, lapse rates and stability, water budgets and general circulation modelling as well as forecasting and climatic change.

Prerequisites: GEOG 1110 and GEOG 1120 C grade in each

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Geomorphology

Students will examine geological and environmental processes that sculpt, modify, and erode landforms at the Earth's surface. They will focus on processes taking place in or on slopes, streams, soils, groundwater, and glacial environments. Students will also examine the interrelationships between human activities and environmental degradation.

Prerequisites: GEOG 1120

Corequisites: GEOG 1110

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)
 

Introduction to Hydrology

Students will examine theoretical and applied aspects of the hydrology of the near-surface environment of the Earth's surface. They will analyze the hydrologic cycle, precipitation processes, groundwater flow, surface runoff and snowmelt processes. Students will examine applied techniques including the collection, compilation and processing of field data.

Prerequisites: GEOG 1110 and 1120

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Geographic Information and Data Analysis

Students will explore techniques for describing, analyzing and visualizing geographic information. They will examine the use and application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods in geographical research.

Prerequisites: GEOG 1101 and 1110 and 1120

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Cartographic Techniques

Students will study the theoretical and practical aspects of cartography. They will discuss the value of maps in geography, and will examine the techniques and appropriate uses of various maps in geographical contexts. Students will review map projections, field surveying, and topographic maps, and also construct thematic maps related to selected topics in geography. They will study other cartographic techniques, such as remote sensing (aerial photographs and satellite images), geographical information systems and computer assisted mapping.

Prerequisites: 3 credits in GEOG at 1100-level or higher

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Introduction to (GIS)

Students will explain the basic theory of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and apply GIS concepts to practical problems in geography at an introductory level. They will discuss a range of GIS technical issues, apply GIS operations using a popular desktop GIS software package, and through these applications improve their skills in designing and creating appropriate graphics

Prerequisites: 3 credits GEOG 1100-level or higher

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Research Methods in Human Geography

Students will examine the scope, nature, and practices of research in human geography. They will critically analyze the advantages and limitations of selected methods, and then study how research is designed and revised through the interplay of various theoretical perspectives, their testing and their advancement through empirical studies. Students will outline and apply the sequence of sampling plans, data collection and data analysis to create a research design.

Prerequisites: 45 credits, at 1100 level or higher

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)