An introduction to geographic themes and methods of inquiry. The emphasis will be placed on practical skills including literature searches, field observation, scholarly debate, and professional writing.
GEOG 101Human Geographies: People, Space and Change0.50 units
An introduction to human geography through key subfields of the discipline, examining population change, the rise of cities, our relationship to nature, social inequalities, economic forms, cultural difference and environmental change at the local and global scale.
GEOG 102Global Environmental Systems: Processes and Change0.50 units
An introductory course in the study of the energy and mass flows that impact the climate and landscape of the Earth system. There is focus on understanding processes of change and variability as well as the impacts of humans on these systems that increasingly define the Anthropocene.
Focus is on the issues and foundations of modern digital cartography. Topics covered include geographic coordinate systems, map projections, mapping quantitative data, developing online maps, and the impact of maps on society. Students will learn computer techniques to produce effective maps based on established principles of cartographic design.
A specialized introduction to fundamental concepts and emerging trends in geomatics and geospatial data science. Overview of the geospatial industry, including application in government, research, and private sector. Students are introduced to cross-discipline tools and techniques for accessing, visualizing, and analyzing geospatial data.
An introduction to globalization of the world economy through an examination of its causes, patterns, and consequences in a variety of geographic contexts.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
ENVS195 - Introduction to Environmental Studies (0.50)
GEOG101 - Human Geographies: People, Space and Change (0.50)
GEOG 203Environment and Development in a Global Perspective0.50 units
Examines the interface between human development and the environment in a global context. Various perspectives are explored to link environmental issues to wealth, poverty, consumption, population, and economic globalization. Case studies, with an emphasis on developing countries, are used to illustrate linkages.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
ENVS195 - Introduction to Environmental Studies (0.50)
ENVS205 - Sustainability: The Future We Want (0.50)
GEOG101 - Human Geographies: People, Space and Change (0.50)
This course introduces underlying principles of geomorphology using examples from subfields of the discipline. Topics include the role of time and scale in geomorphic processes, as well as the role of water, hill-slope processes, soils, wind, and glaciation and ice in polar and alpine environs.
Climate change is one of the most profound environmental and social issues affecting communities, nations and individuals. This course is an introduction to this global challenge, including its scientific underpinnings, history, potential impacts on natural systems and human societies around the world, and two societal responses: adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation. Opportunities to develop sustainable resilient communities, as well as Canadian climate change policy responses, will be highlighted.
An introduction to the fundamental processes governing climate and hydrological systems and the links between them. It starts with a discussion of basic atmospheric and hydrological processes and traces the flow of energy and water between the earth's surface and the atmosphere. The water cycle is examined including evapotranspiration, precipitation, runoff and water storage in the natural reservoirs (including soil and groundwater, lakes and wetlands).
Changing geographies of China are examined and explained. Patterns and processes of change will be systematically analyzed for topics such as the physical environment, resources, development policy, globalization, industrialization, urbanization, and regional development. Diverse cities and regions are compared and the integration of China into the global economy is explored.
Pandemics have decimated human populations, transformed societies and altered the course of human history. This interdisciplinary course examines these tumultuous events from antiquity to the 21st century to help us understand our lived experience of COVID-19, including its causes, differential geographic impacts, social inequities, and the process of building societal resilience.
An exploration of the geographical bases of Canada's regional identity. How physical, demographic, and economic geographies have combined to create unique regions within Canada.
This course addresses the range of environmental issues that affect human health, with a global focus. This course will use a range of case studies from around the globe to address issues of measurement (of exposures and outcomes), evaluation (study designs), and policy responses.
This course provides foundational understanding of the nature and scope of tourism geographies. In particular, students will become familiar with the significance of tourism to modern society, economy and the environment. Geographical approaches to the study of tourism and contemporary frameworks relevant to human behavior and actions in touristic landscapes will serve as the foundations to understanding tourist spaces, places and identities.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
ENVS195 - Introduction to Environmental Studies (0.50)
GEOG101 - Human Geographies: People, Space and Change (0.50)
REC101 - Introduction to Leisure, Sport, and Recreation Management (0.50)
GEOG 270Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Knowledge Requirements0.50 units
Students will gain knowledge about the requirements and constraints affecting recreational, commercial and research RPAS (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAV], Unmanned Aircraft Systems [UAS]) flights for geomatics applications. Theory and conceptual factors affecting flight, remote sensing, and spatial analysis with very-high resolution data will be discussed. Students will gain knowledge about how to navigate regulatory requirements. They will learn how to link their science and research objectives with geomatics skills to mitigate risk and obtain regulatory approval for legal RPAS flights. Assignments provide a range of experiences to students that may include: applied aspects of flight campaign approval, setup, management; flight training; and integrating imagery with geographic information systems.
GEOG 271Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing0.50 units
Remote sensing of the Earth's systems (atmosphere, land, and oceans) is introduced. The course covers the principles, physics, sensor technology, processing, and applications of remote sensing in the electromagnetic spectrum.
GEOG 281Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)0.50 units
Introduction to the fundamental concepts and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Students learn about the nature of geographic information and how to store, manipulate and analyze spatial data in a range of application areas. Students will learn underlying theory in lectures and gain a working knowledge of GIS software in lab sessions.
GEOG 293Approaches to Research in Human Geography0.50 units
This course develops student skills in the area of research in human geography emphasizing all aspects of design, measurement, and evaluation with a particular emphasis on personal transferable skills (e.g., oral and written communication, working as part of a team).
GEOG 294Approaches to Research in Physical Geography0.50 units
Introduces skills for conducting research in physical geography. Selected techniques used in climatology, hydrology, geomorphology, and/or biogeography research will be demonstrated and the principles behind the techniques will be explained. Students get hands on experience in research design, field and laboratory techniques, data assembly, and the interpretation of data.
GEOG 300Geomorphology and the Southern Ontario Environment0.50 units
Study of the origin and evolution of landforms with emphasis on southern Ontario. Analysis of geomorphic processes. Study of human impact on geomorphological landscapes. The lectures will be supplemented by field trips and field work required for term projects.
GEOG 302Geographies of Work and Employment0.50 units
This course examines the spatial dimensions of work and employment, focusing not just on traditional spaces of work (e.g., the factory, the office), but also spaces of unpaid work in the home, forced work and slavery, migrant labour, and so on. Classes will include lecture content but emphasize student participation and discussion. Students will practice practical qualitative research skills by conducting semi-structured interviews.
Fundamental processes in physical hydrology are addressed. Components of the water balance are examined to determine the nature of their variation in time and space. Precipitation, interception, infiltration, groundwater and soil water processes, evapotranspiration, runoff, and storage will be examined from a theoretical and practical viewpoint, and their linkages demonstrated by lab and fieldwork.
This course investigates stocks and fluxes of carbon in forests, wetlands, and lakes through directed readings and field investigations. This field-based course will focus on measurement methods, data collection and interpretation, and study design. Topics include forest biomass inventory, soil organic matter, soil carbon dioxide and methane exchange, and dissolved organic carbon.
Emphasis on concepts related to fluvial processes, river mechanics, the relationship between environmental change and river regime. Selected topics include fluvial processes and landscape formation, flow and sediment regimes, channel processes, form and behaviour, river response to natural and anthropogenic change, and river management.
GEOG 306Human Dimensions of Natural Hazards0.50 units
This course will investigate the human dimensions of the global experience with natural hazards and associated disasters. The physical nature of a wide range of geophysical and biophysical hazards will be explored, paying particular attention to the ways in which hazards become dangerous to humans, and the pathways by which humans can either increase or decrease their vulnerability in the face of natural hazards.
GEOG 307Societal Adaptation to Climate Change0.50 units
Climate change is a pervasive factor affecting the future of society. Recognizing that dangerous climate change cannot be avoided through greenhouse gas emissions reductions alone, adaptation to climate change has emerged as a central component of global climate policy. An in depth understanding of the diverse impacts of climate change on communities, economic sectors and society will provide a foundation for examining adaptation strategies to build resilience to accelerated climate change. Examples will draw from multiple sectors in both developed and developing world contexts, with an emphasis on solutions and the limits to adaptation.
Principles of physical climatology with emphasis on regional and global change and variability. Topics include radiation and energy balances, general circulation patterns, synoptic development and micro-climatology.
Concepts of geodesy and surveying, Earth's gravity field and the geoid, and measurement techniques applied to geomatics are examined. Field studies include the use of the level, the total station, and GPS for doing distance and angle measurements, leveling, traversing, and topographic surveying.
This lecture and discussion course covers topics of importance for understanding economic geography today including the spatial, social, cultural, and economic dimensions of economic development, the 2007/2008 sub-prime mortgage crisis, debt and finance, deindustrialization, the role of work and unions, economic justice, and the role of the state.
This course provides an overview of the key concepts related to climate services (i.e., useful, timely, and robust information about climatic trends that can support decision-making) and the development of the United Nations' Global Framework for Climate Services. The value of climate-informed decision-making across diverse sectors of the economy are examined, both for climate variability and extremes today and in an era of accelerating climate change. The scientific and practical challenges of utilizing climate information for decision-making in government policy, community planning, business operations, and international development, as well as the technical standards and professional ethics associated with providing climate services, are examined. Students gain practical experience in the development and application of climate services through climate data assembly and interpretation.
Advanced quantitative analysis in a spatial context. A selection of techniques from sampling, geostatistics, point pattern analysis and cluster detection, spatial classification, and spatial data mining.
Prerequisites
Must have completed the following:
ENVS278 - Applied Statistics for Environmental Research (0.50)
Antirequisites
Not open to students enrolled in programs offered by Faculty of Mathematics
GEOG 319Economic Analyses for Regional Planning0.50 units
This course will focus on the analytical tools and techniques used to inform planning and economic development decisions. Students will build on knowledge from prior courses to think critically about analytical techniques and identify their pros and cons in understanding the workings of local economies. Students will develop their understanding of employment and demographic forecasting, economic strength analysis, and cost-benefit analysis. Students will enhance their ability to analyze and evaluate local economic and demographic change. Students will also learn specific local economic analysis techniques and understand their role in informing public policy.
Prerequisites
Must have completed the following:
ENVS278 - Applied Statistics for Environmental Research (0.50)
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the cryosphere and cryosphere-atmosphere interactions. Topics covered include the material and thermodynamic properties of snow and ice, the role of the cryosphere in weather and climate, and the response of the cryosphere to climate change (past, present, and future). Students will be introduced to, and experiment with, snow and ice process models.
GEOG 323Tourism Impacts - International Perspectives0.50 units
The course examines the nature, significance, and costs and benefits of tourism in the context of tourism destinations in developed and developing countries. It employs an international perspective to assess the economic, environmental, social, and cultural impacts of tourism in diverse settings.
A critical examination of major themes related to the distribution, diffusion, determinants and delivery of health and health care with a particular emphasis on the roles of space, place and environment.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG101 - Human Geographies: People, Space and Change (0.50)
GEOG 336Space, Power, and Politics: Citizenship in a Changing World0.50 units
This course uses international case studies to examine how people interact with the state. These state-society relations include the experience of migrants, community volunteers, protesters, voters, environmental activists, and young people. Real world issues are incorporated throughout to understand how diverse groups of people create, debate, and contest the nation-state.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
GEOG101 - Human Geographies: People, Space and Change (0.50)
GEOG 349Urban Form and Spatial Structure0.50 units
This course will focus on the comparative analysis of urban spatial structure and urban form, as well as the administrative and regulatory implications of urbanization around the world. Students will develop knowledge of global urban issues and compare policy responses related to urban economies, transportation and land use planning, housing and community development, sustainable urban environment, urban poverty, peri-urbanization, urban heritage, and conservation planning, etc. Students will assess planning problems and solutions from both industrialized and developing countries.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG101 - Human Geographies: People, Space and Change (0.50)
PLAN100 - Urbanization Today: Introduction to Cities and Regions (0.50)
Focuses on Canadian transportation systems and issues and is organized into three modules: links between transportation and regional economic development, urban land use - transportation interactions, and sustainable transportation. Approximately one-quarter of the course focuses on analytic techniques including network analysis, category analysis, and the gravity model. Particular attention is paid to trends in air travel and related issues.
Reviews selected theories, methods, and terminology related to economic, behavioural, institutional and decision-making aspects of resources and environmental problems.
Human society was born along the world's greatest rivers and we have depended on rivers for agriculture, drinking water, transportation, and recreation for millennia. However, we have also altered river form and function towards an 'unnatural' condition. This course analyzes the ways in which humans affect river systems, the physical and social mechanisms which complicate the relationship between humans and rivers, and how humans can restore rivers to a more natural state. This course also compares geomorphic, ecologic, and social functioning of rivers in pre- and post-alteration systems. The major theme of this course is navigating the delicate balance between allowing rivers to flow naturally and maintain ecologic functionality while simultaneously maintaining the river's ability to provide services of use to humans. What does human alteration of river systems mean for the current and future state of river ecology, morphology, and hydrology? Can we find a way for rivers to provide functionality that satisfies the needs of both society and nature? This course provides students with the background and tools to take on these and other essential questions and challenges.
The world is undergoing a fundamental transition to a low-carbon economy as countries strive to reach the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets agreed to in the Paris Climate Agreement. This course examines how this rapid transformation influences all sectors in society and provides students with essential knowledge to assess associated risks and opportunities for communities, government, and business. Policy, economic and social dimensions of low carbon societal transitions are critically examined and debated using Canadian and international case studies. Evolving carbon regulatory frameworks and markets are reviewed, and students engage with techniques related to carbon accounting and carbon risk assessment.
This course examines dimensions of food systems sustainability and food security, from production to consumption, from local to global scales, in the Global North and South. Specific themes covered in the course include technological and genetic change in food production, resource depletion and wider environmental impacts of the industrial food system, and policy, market-oriented, and civil society initiatives to bring about change in the food system, including organic production and localizing food systems.
GEOG 368Ecology and Conservation for Planning0.50 units
This course provides students with a critical understanding of the relationship between human development and natural environments. Students will develop an understanding of core ecological principles and how these can be taken up in plans and policies to promote nature conservation in urban and rural environments. The course will include examples of how planners mitigate the environmental impacts of development of land, allotment of open space and parks, and conservation of sensitive areas and species in both urban and rural contexts.
GEOG 371Advanced Remote Sensing Techniques0.50 units
Advanced image processing techniques of digital remote sensing measurements (e.g. radar systems, optical and infrared systems) from ground, aircraft and satellite instrument systems. Techniques are applied to the study of physical and human environments.
Prerequisites
Must have completed the following:
GEOG271 - Earth from Space Using Remote Sensing (0.50)
GEOG 381Advanced Geographic Information Systems0.50 units
Students learn theoretical and operational approaches to advanced spatial analysis using geographical information systems. Emphasis is placed on the use of automation procedures using models and programming to address a variety of topics that may include but are not limited to digital terrain modeling, suitability analysis, network analysis, and cell-based models. The domain of spatial problems explored may vary by instructor.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG281 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (0.50)
PLAN281 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (0.50)
This course focuses on design and development of a GIS database. It addresses theoretical issues regarding data models used in GIS and data modeling techniques used in designing spatial databases. It considers the processing required to input data from a variety of sources and clean and edit a multi-theme database and introduces students to creation and use of internet map services.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG281 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (0.50)
PLAN281 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (0.50)
Field research course in which a specific area will be analyzed from a geographic point of view. Individual or group analysis of specific field problems.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
ENVS278 - Applied Statistics for Environmental Research (0.50)
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG293 - Approaches to Research in Human Geography (0.50)
GEOG294 - Approaches to Research in Physical Geography (0.50)
Obtained all of the following milestones: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Milestone
Antirequisites
Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
Field course in which research skills will be further developed. This course is taught at an international location, and includes integrated content and applications from all four specializations in Geography and Environmental Management.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
ENVS278 - Applied Statistics for Environmental Research (0.50)
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG293 - Approaches to Research in Human Geography (0.50)
GEOG294 - Approaches to Research in Physical Geography (0.50)
Antirequisites
Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
GEOG 403Eutrophication: From Process to Water-Quality Management0.50 units
Eutrophication, caused by excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) entering water bodies, results in nuisance and harmful algal blooms, and is a major global threat to water quality and water security. This course explores eutrophication drivers, pressures, and impacts on the quality of freshwater systems, from watershed to global scales. Students will learn about the sources and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients along the aquatic (stream-river-lake) continuum, and ecological responses in receiving water bodies. Environmental thresholds for setting water-quality standards and nutrient criteria will be discussed. Students will learn about agricultural beneficial management practices and wastewater management to reduce nutrient inputs to freshwaters. Students will examine the benefits and challenges of sustainable nutrient stewardship in combatting eutrophication, and learn about how this knowledge is used in water-quality management, through international examples.
This course examines the role of soil in the environment, its importance as a natural resource in agricultural and forest productivity, and the effects on soil resources as a result of different management practices. It is divided into three sections: 1) introduction to soil composition, formation, and physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil; 2) soil degradation and management approaches to rehabilitation; 3) soil pollution and the role of soil in maintaining environmental integrity.
Basic concepts on the distribution, classification, development, hydrology, biogeochemistry, and ecology of wetlands with an emphasis on temperate and boreal/subarctic systems. Human impacts, restoration and reclamation of wetlands are considered with the view of wetlands as functional ecosystems.
GEOG 407Environmental Hydrology of Terrestrial Ecosystems0.50 units
This course focuses on ecological and biogeochemical processes that are linked to the terrestrial hydrological cycle and how these relate to the management of natural resources. The objectives of this interdisciplinary course are to explore topics that integrate ecosystem processes with physical hydrology and examine the impacts of human activities on ecohydrological and hydrochemical processes within terrestrial systems. This course focuses on the storage and movement of water, solutes, and nutrients within selected ecosystems (forests, agricultural, wetlands), considering the biogeochemical consequences of human activity such as climate change, wetland drainage, agriculture, and forest harvesting.
This course provides students with experience using numerical models to understand changes in Earth's climate. Building on their knowledge of the fundamental physical processes governing the climate system, students will construct, apply and evaluate a hierarchy of climate models (from simple energy balance models to full ocean-atmosphere General Circulation Models). The predictive ability of climate models, and their validation, will be considered. The different types of uncertainty inherent in climate projections will be explained and the implications assessed.
A field and lecture course including the radiation and energy balances of various surfaces, the principles of turbulent energy exchange, and the biotic response to the energy environment. These concepts will be illustrated through the collection and examination of field data. The student will be responsible for presentation of a seminar on an assigned topic as well as presentation of the results of research incorporating data collected at the University of Waterloo weather station.
This course explores the spatial, social, cultural, and economic impacts of digital and social media on society from the perspective of economic geography. Content will cover contemporary issues about digital media and economic spaces that create spatial patterns (including international differences) of digital media access and use, social media economies, the sharing economy, influencer and streamer economies, and global online work platforms.
An exploration of the implications of climate change through a human rights lens and of related questions about who is responsible for climate change; how the burdens of mitigation, adaptation, and compensation should be distributed; and how to evaluate climate policies, programs, and technologies.
Human geography concepts and techniques are applied to the study of a current economic or social issue facing a local, regional, or national jurisdiction.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
GEOG293 - Approaches to Research in Human Geography (0.50)
An exploration of how sustainability is sought within the international aviation industry. The course takes a cross-sectional approach to aviation, exploring sustainability within the various sectors that make up the air transport system (e.g., air law, aircraft, operations, navigation, airports, and safety). Both the positive and negative impacts of aviation upon the sustainable development goals will be analyzed through reviewing case studies and industry practices. This course includes significant student project teamwork.
Climate change is a complex phenomenon at the intersection of social and ecological systems. An understanding of the fundamental science of climate change is only part of the challenge; evidence-based decision-making depends on communicating science effectively, and engaging diverse perspectives. Effective communication also helps to uncover the deeper differences in worldviews that may give rise to disagreements about how to respond. This course introduces the fundamentals of climate change communication, moving from linear to dynamic, context-dependent models of communication that draw directly from our knowledge of climate change. We explore the various audiences with whom climate change communicators might engage, strategies for addressing misinformation, and specific communication tools that help to connect science to action.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the Arctic climate system. A variety of topics are considered including: key components and processes of the energy and water budgets; the current state of the cryosphere; the relationship between the cryosphere and past variability; the role of the Arctic in the global climate system; and the prediction of future changes using global climate models. Various observational perspectives on the climate system, including conventional measurements, atmospheric reanalysis, and remote sensing are presented.
This course will introduce the basics of glaciology, with a focus on climate change and physical processes. Key areas covered by the course include glacial mass change in a warming climate, ice dynamics, various spatial and temporal scales of glaciation, and geomorphological features caused by glaciation.
This course examines sustainability issues relevant to tourism. In particular, conceptual and practical examples related to economic, environmental, and social/cultural sustainability of tourism are critically appraised, combined with reviews of policy and institutional effects on sustainability practices. The course also focuses on best practices in sustainable tourism within government, non-government and business operations.
Examines international development theories and practice, emphasizing the interactions between social, economic, political, and environmental dimensions at the micro- and macro-scales. Selected case studies illustrate divergent outcomes of development and the contested process that development represents.
This course develops the capacity of students to apply methods of spatial demography. Spatial demography refers to the statistical study of human population using spatial methods for analyzing demographic data. It can provide insights into the understanding of geographic variations of population's characteristics, which in turn can help to make better plans in building the environment. Through this course, students will learn the basic concepts, data sources, data issues, methodologies, and applications of spatial demography.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
ENVS278 - Applied Statistics for Environmental Research (0.50)
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG281 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (0.50)
PLAN281 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (0.50)
GEOG 430AField Research in Regional Geography0.50 units
Detailed analysis of a selected region with major emphasis upon a field examination of the region (several weeks duration). Offering dependent upon faculty availability and student enrolment. For additional information on duration, itinerary, and travel costs of course offerings, contact the Geography Undergraduate Advisor.
GEOG 430BField Research in Regional Geography1.00 units
Detailed analysis of a selected region with major emphasis upon a field examination of the region (several weeks duration). Offering dependent upon faculty availability and student enrolment. For additional information on duration, itinerary, and travel costs of course offerings, contact the Geography Undergraduate Advisor.
GEOG 430CField Research in Regional Geography1.50 units
Detailed analysis of a selected region with major emphasis upon a field examination of the region (several weeks duration). Offering dependent upon faculty availability and student enrolment. For additional information on duration, itinerary, and travel costs of course offerings, contact the Geography Undergraduate Advisor.
GEOG 432Health and the Built Environment0.50 units
This course will focus on current issues at the intersection of health, planning, and the built and natural environments. Students will learn the history and evolution of both public health and urban planning professions and academic disciplines and gain an appreciation of the theories and methods used in each. Students will also learn about specific health and planning issues (e.g., air pollution, physical activity, injury, mental health) as well as how better health and health equity can be built into future cities. Students will enhance interdisciplinary collaboration skills by working with classmates across faculties on multiple activities.
GEOG 436Feminist Economic Geography: Gender, Identities and Social Change0.50 units
Using a combination of lecture and seminar, this course examines feminist economic geography's framing of: (1) the gendered division of labour (2) (un)paid care work (3) how different embodied actors engage with the economy and (4) feminist critiques of capitalism and responses to economic crisis.
GEOG 452Climate Change and Environment Project1.00 units
Concepts and techniques of resources management and institutional analysis are applied to the study of a current climate change or environmental management issue.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG293 - Approaches to Research in Human Geography (0.50)
GEOG294 - Approaches to Research in Physical Geography (0.50)
Urban stormwater runoff affects the water quality, water quantity, habitat and biological resources, public health and aesthetic appearance of urban waterways. This course reviews the physical and chemical processes, environmental assessment techniques and best management practices related to stormwater management in the urban systems.
GEOG 456Transforming Canadian Resource Management1.00 units
This course builds on thematic areas of climate change, resource management, and sustainability. The evolution of Canadian resource management is traced from subsistence, utilitarian, and intrinsic value perspectives. The current state of resource management is critically evaluated, and alternative ways of thinking about conservation programming will be considered.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Students must be in level 4A or higher
Enrolled in a program offered by Faculty of Environment
Wildfire is a global phenomenon that is expected to increase in extent and severity due to fuel accumulation, shifting land management practices, and climate change. Removal of vegetation by wildfire can alter hydrologic, biogeochemical, and geomorphic processes over a range of spatial and temporal scales in a manner that can be transient or persistent. Alteration of these processes can involve complex responses in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems which pose significant financial, environmental, planning, and management challenges. This course will examine the role of climate warming on wildfire behaviour, the impacts of wildfire on landscape form and function, and its impact on hydrologic and geomorphic processes in wildfire impacted landscapes across the globe.
Renewable and non-renewable energy supply systems are compared using economic and environmental measures. Consumption trends and conservation options are considered at the local and global level. Projects are used to demonstrate the economic and environmental challenges in the design of a sustainable energy system.
GEOG 460Sustainable Food: Regional Case Study0.50 units
Agriculture has destabilized the Earth's ecosystems at the planetary scale. Socio-cultural, economic, and political dimensions also shape the sustainability and resilience of our global and local food systems. This seminar course takes a regional focus to ground our discussions of pertinent concepts, challenges, and opportunities. We will explore regional issues and initiatives linked to food security, food sovereignty, resilient agriculture and agro-ecology, the energy-water-food nexus, food policy, food supply chains, urban food systems, alternative food initiatives, sustainable diets, and food waste reduction all within the context of the case study region.
GEOG 462Global Food and Agricultural Politics0.50 units
This course examines the global food and agriculture system. Specific themes to be covered include political and governance issues related to the Green Revolution, global food corporations, agricultural trade liberalization, food aid, international agricultural assistance, the global agro-chemical industry, and agricultural bio-technology.
Digital image analysis for resource mapping and evaluation using remote sensing data. Topics range from initial data selection to final map production and assessment. Using commercial image analysis software, students will analyse data for a selected area and produce a portfolio of results. In addition, they will undertake a literature review on a selected topic and present highlights of the review at an end-of-term mini-conference.
GEOG 475Independent Study of Selected Topics0.50 units
Individual study of specific topics not covered in other courses. Students must not register for this course until a faculty member has agreed to supervise the study and the student has developed a brief outline to be filed with the associate chair, undergraduate studies.
GEOG 476Independent Studies of Selected Topics1.00 units
Individual study of specific topics not covered in other courses. Students must not register for this course until a faculty member has agreed to supervise the study and the student has developed a brief outline to be filed with the associate chair, undergraduate studies, Department of Geography and Environmental Management.
GEOG 481Geographic Information Systems Project1.00 units
The development, implementation, and presentation of a response to a set of GIS related project requirements is the focus of this course. Students work in small teams to enhance and develop their abilities to work with GIS and related spatial technologies and analytical methods in an advanced project setting. The nature of the project requirements and themes varies with faculty and student strengths and interests. Projects may emphasize development of software applications, use of programming, or advanced GIS analysis methods, and draw from theme areas such as environment studies and management, human and physical geography, or planning.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
ENVS278 - Applied Statistics for Environmental Research (0.50)
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG381 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems (0.50)
PLAN381 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems (0.50)
GEOG 483Civic Technology and Digital Infrastructures0.50 units
A critical approach to the development, implementation, and evaluation of civic technology and smart cities, with a focus on practical implementation considerations. Topics covered include open data, urban data collection and analysis platforms, digital inequalities, locational privacy, and digital infrastructures.
GEOG 484Machine Learning in Geospatial Science0.50 units
An in-depth study of current machine learning algorithms and their applications in geospatial science, with a focus on earth observation data processing and analysis. Topics include k-nearest neighbour, decision trees, support vector machines, ensemble learning, and some deep neural networks (e.g., CNN, U-Net). Machine learning algorithms implemented using Python will be applied for semantic segmentation, land use and land cover classification, and building and road detection using aerial and satellite images.
GEOG 487Management Issues in Geographic Information Systems0.50 units
Built around a set of key issues in the management of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Focuses on middle management concerns and covers topics including GIS needs assessment, benchmarking, the law and spatial data, spatial data warehousing, multi-user GIS modelling, and GIS application development. Uses of GIS in both public and private sector organizations are covered.
Prerequisites
Complete 1 of the following
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
GEOG381 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems (0.50)
PLAN381 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems (0.50)
GEOG 600Foundations in Spatial Data Handling0.50 units
This seminar class will provide a foundational analysis and overview of concepts and methodologies in several aspects of spatial data handling: cartography, geographic information systems, remote sensing, spatial statistics, including analysis of spatial data sets. *eligible for MES
This course focuses on the extraction of hydrologically-relevant parameters from remote sensing that are germane to cold regions such as snowfall, snow cover, glaciers & ice caps, lake and river ice, permafrost, and seasonally frozen ground. The determination of hydrological parameters in the liquid and vapour phases such precipitiation, soild moisture, surface water, and evaporation/evapotranspiration from remote sensing, as well as the integration of remote sensing data into hydrological models are also covered. Prerequisites: UW undergraduates: GEOG 271, 371, 471 or undergraduate Geomatics degree. Undergraduate Geography degree with suitable remote sensing experience. Students with no remote sensing experience but strong GIS experience are required to take a 675 Directed Reading course entitled "Remote Sensing Analysis" prior to enrolment in 602. *eligible for MES.
GEOG 603Remote Sensing and Earth System Science0.50 units
This course will explore how remote sensing is used and in concert with empirical or physically-based models to help us better understand Earth system processes from the local to global scales. Students will learn how remote sensing measurements are coupled with radiative transfer models, energy and mass balance models and spatial analytical models from different components of the Earth system. Examples will be drawn from the hydrologic and carbon cycles from the human built enviornment. Prerequisites: UW undergraduates: Geog 271, 371, 471 or undergraduate Geomatics degree. Undergraduate degree with suitable remote sensing experience. Students with no remote sensing experience but strong GIS experience are required to take a 675 Directed Reading course entitled "Remote Sensing Analysis" prior to enrolment in 603. *eligible for MES.
GEOG 607Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems0.50 units
Introduces the fundamentals of GIS at a graduate level, including cartographic best practices, map projections and coordinate systems, georeferencing data, quantitative mapping, web mapping, and introductory spatial analysis, including clustering, network, and multicriteria analysis. Intended for students without significant experience in GIS. *eligible for MES.
An overview of high-resolution remote sensing systems and advanced study of image segmentation, data fusion, feature extraction, and change detection algorithms. Topics include 3D city modeling, land use/cover classification, urban heat island study, urban sprawl monitoring, and risk mapping. *eligible for MES.
GEOG 609GIS and Spatial Decision Support for Planning and Resource Management0.50 units
This course introduces students to key theories, concepts and techniques that have been developed recently to improve the design support capabilities of spatial information systems. Topics covered include participatory GIS, group-based spatial decision support systems, and the integration of multi-criteria analysis (MCA) methods with GIS to facilitate decision-making in planning. *eligible for MES
GEOG 611Industrial Location Theory and Concepts0.50 units
Examination of industrial location theory, and themes concerning the role of manufacturing in the space-economy. Factors of location will be considered as will the way that manufacturing has led to spatial disparity on international, regional and local levels.
GEOG 613Innovation and Economic Development in Cities and Regions0.50 units
This course offers a critical examination of the innovation, knowledge creation and circulation, and governance processes that underpin contemporary economic development in cities and regions. Strategies, policies and programs that are intended to support and promote innovation and economic development in urban and regional economies are analyzed.
Community Economic Development is a field of theory, process and practice that is concerned with understanding the forces shaping communities and finding sustainable local solutions to economic needs. This seminar course will examine topics such as capacity-building, asset-based strategies, social capital, poverty-alleviation, social enterprises and co-operatives, and comprehensive community initiatives, using international and local examples and case studies.
GEOG 617Applied Statistics in Ecology and Environment0.50 units
This course covers study design, and data management, visualization, and statistical analysis. The primary focus will be the development and understanding of generalized linear models as they are foundational to most analyses in Environment and Ecology. Students will learn to fit models to data and assess model fit. Students will also be introduced to the use of the statistical software R and provided the opportunity to use that software to manage and analyze their own data. Special topics will be developed based on the needs and interests of the students and may include hierarchical modelling, multivariate statistics, survey analysis, non-linear modelling, or other topics. Students are expected to bring their own computer. Students may be provided the opportunity to work with their thesis data if those data have been collected and are congruent with course learning outcomes and objectives.
GEOG 619Analytical Tools for Economic Development0.50 units
The course provides an overview and hands-on application of the quantitative analytical methods regularly used by professionals in economic development and related fields. Emerging analytical tools and techniques are explored.
This seminar class provides a foundational analysis of the transdisciplinary scope of Human Geography by critically evaluating key concepts and theoretical approaches that have defined the evolution of the sub-discipline in the contemporary period. Through a range of learning strategies including peer learning, academic critique, and debate, students will assess how their own research interests and activities contribute to ongoing conceptual developments in Human Geography.
GEOG 621Metropolitan Form and Structure in Canada0.50 units
A seminar on selected topics of particular relevance to understanding and planning for contemporary processes of metropolitan change in Canada. Major topics represent an interrelated set of exogenous forces, (globalization, economic restructuring, technological innovation and immigration and demographic shift), and endogenous structural responses, (central city decline, revitalization, dispersed styles of suburban development and new urbanist and ecologically sustainable styles of planned intervention).
This advanced graduate seminar examines the emergent possibilities associated with work in cities of the future. It theorizes the central role that work plays in everyday urban life, highlighting how work is spatially and socially unevenly distributed and how inequality continues to structure labor markets in cities. It engages with 'future of work' discourses to examine the complex role of technological change in urban labor market transition, as well as questioning the prominence of technological change in such transition. It focuses both on sectors privileged by mainstream theories of urban development (e.g., high technology and the creative industries) and sectors ignored by such theories but that nevertheless remain essential for the functioning of urban centers, including unpaid, informal, and care work. It questions the role of work in everyday life by highlighting dominant working norms and resistance to them, e.g., in calls for redistributive justice through unionization and collective action, anti-work discourses, and campaigns for a four-day work week.
GEOG 625Qualitative Methods in Geography0.50 units
This course is designed to investigate the range of qualitative research methods (research tools) employed by human geographers and explore the methodological justifications (philosophical or theoretical underpinnings) for using this type of research approach. Qualitative methods attempt to interpret meaning as opposed to purely measuring phenomena. The focus of qualitative research is not descriptive measurement and prediction of phenomena, as offered by statistical description/analysis, but is more attuned to examining subjective understandings and the interpretation of meaning (hermeneutics). This course will examine and evaluate the range of research tools comprising qualitative methods including: various interviewing methods, participant observation, ethnography, case study methods and dicourse analysis. It will also engage with the theoretical debates and philosophical approaches that underpin qualitative research.
GEOG 635International Development: Theories and Practice0.50 units
This course emphasizes both theoretical and conceptual frameworks, techniques, practices and methods for analysis of development, focusing in particular on the development - environment interface and questions of sustainability.
This course examines sustainability issues relevant to tourism. Conceptual and practical examples related to economic, environmental, and social/cultural sustainability of tourism are critically appraised, combined with reviews of policy and institutional effects on sustainability practices. The course also focuses on best practices in sustainable tourism within government, non-government and private sector.
GEOG 640Contextualizing Research in Earth System Science0.50 units
This course involves graduate students in a participatory, seminar-style environment that critically examines current research in earth system science emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of the science. Using a combination of individual reading, academic critique, peer learning and group discussion, students will develop knowledge related to the contextualization of their own research and how this contributes to ongoing developments in earth system science.
Advanced study of boundary-layer meteorology. Energy balance regimes for complex surfaces are examined. The theory of turbulent and radiant transfer is studied using field data collected during the course. *eligible for MES.
An overview of current issues and methodologies in geomorphology with special emphasis on processes operating in fluvial, glacial, periglacial or coastal environments. *eligible for MES.
GEOG 645Fluvial & Glaciofluvial Sediment Transport0.50 units
Laboratory (hydraulic) models and sediment transport theory are emphasized in the analysis of modern and ancient (Pleistocene) landforms of fluvial and glaciofluvial origin. *eligible for MES.
Overview of hydrological processes with emphasis on Canadian examples related to the hydrologic cycle, surface hydrology, groundwater hydrology, and measurement techniques. *eligible for MES.
GEOG 647Recent Advances in Wetland Studies0.50 units
Selected topics on the distribution, classification, functional dynamics, and ecosystem structure of wetlands. A scientific basis for wetlands management is emphasized. *eligible for MES.
This course examines the use of stratigraphic records from lakes to reconstruct environmental change. Topics include sediment coring techniques, radiometric dating methods, analysis of physical, geochemical and biological indicators, and case studies demonstrating applications to address scientific and management questions. Practical experience is gained from a lake sediment coring field trip and subsequent laboratory analyses. *eligible for MES.
GEOG 651Hydroecology for Freshwater Ecosystem Management0.50 units
This course examines the interaction in both space and time between hydrological processes and lacustrine environments. Applications to freshwater ecosystem management are explored.
This course focuses on ecological and biogeochemical processes that are linked to the terrestrial hydrological cycle and how these relate to the management of natural resources. The objectives of this interdisciplinary course are to explore topics that integrate ecosystem processes with physical hydrology and examine the impacts of human activities on ecohydrological and hydrochemical processes within terrestrial systems. This course focusses on the storage and movement of water, solutes and nutrients within selected ecosystems (forests, agricultural, wetlands), considering the biogeochemical consequences of human activity such as climate change, wetland drainage, agriculture and forest harvesting.
GEOG 656Eutrophication: From Process to Water Quality Management0.50 units
Eutrophication, caused by excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) entering water bodies, results in nuisance and harmful algal blooms, and is a major global threat to water quality and water security. This course explores eutrophication drivers, pressures and impacts on the quality of freshwater systems, from watershed to global scales. Students will learn about the sources and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients along the aquatic (stream-river-lake) continuum, and ecological responses in receiving water bodies. Environmental thresholds for setting water-quality standards and nutrient criteria will be discussed. Students will learn about agricultural beneficial management practices and wastewater management to reduce nutrient inputs to freshwaters. Students will examine the benefits and challenges of sustainable nutrient stewardship in combatting eutrophication, and learn about how this knowledge is used in water-quality management, through international examples.
GEOG 662Transforming Canadian Resource Management0.50 units
This course builds on thematic areas of climate change, resource management, and sustainability. The evolution of Canadian resource management is traced from subsistence, utilitarian, and intrinsic value perspectives. The current state of resource management is critically evaluated, and alternative ways of thinking about conservation programming will be considered. (Note: This course involves a combination of lecture, class discussion and activities, student presentations, and a required multi-day field trip to Ottawa; field trip fee normally $300+HST; will not exceed $600+HST. Field trip dates will be determined no later than the end of the first week of lectures. Held with GEOG 456.
GEOG 665Environmental Planning Theory and Practice0.50 units
An interdisciplinary approach to environmental planning. Focuses on the socio-economic, planning, environmental science, design, and decision-making theories and methods utilized in environmental planning theory and practice. Regional and local case studies and studio projects will be used to demonstrate professional practice issues and techniques. Recommended: A senior level course in ecology, environmental science, landscape architecture or equivalent. *eligible for MES.
GEOG 666Ecosystem Approach to Park Planning0.50 units
An ecological approach to planning national and provincial parks, focusing on system planning, master planning and park administration. Examination of the theory and practice of parks planning, utilizing ecological concepts. Recommended: a senior undergrad or graduate ecology course. Estimated additional field trip cost to student: $30.00 *eligible for MES
GEOG 668Indigenous Environmental Management Perspectives0.50 units
This course examines Indigenous knowledge-based approaches to environmental management. The first part of the course is dedicated to fostering a better understanding of and appreciation for Indigenous land-based philosophies and ways of knowing from across the Americas. Key differences between Western and Indigenous approaches to environmental management will also be highlighted. The second half of the course deals with finding more effective ways of integrating Indigenous land-use principles and knowledges in the management of Indigenous and non-Indigenous territories in Canada and worldwide.
Renewable and non-renewable energy supply systems are compared using economic and environmental measures. Consumption trends, conservation options and choices are considered at the household, community and global scales. Projects are used to demonstrate the economic and environmental challenges in the design of sustainable energy systems. *eligible for MES.
GEOG 673International Perspectives on Resource and Environmental Management0.50 units
An overview of issues, problems and concepts in international resource and environmental management. The complex nature of ecological/biophysical, economic, and sociocultural aspects of resource management will be explored, with particular emphasis placed on tracing challenges experienced in developing countries. *eligible for MES
Topic(s) to be negotiated on an individual basis with faculty members. An outline for this course, approved by the professor in charge, must be submitted to the Program Director, within three weeks of registration.
GEOG 683Civic Technology and Digital Infrastructures0.50 units
A critical approach to the development, implementation, and evaluation of civic technology and smart cities, with a focus on practical implementation considerations. Topics covered include open data, urban data collection and analysis platforms, digital inequalities, locational privacy, and digital infrastructures. Assignments are used to experiment with course concepts.
GEOG 685Economic Development: Theories and Frameworks0.50 units
This course reviews the evolution and foundations of contemporary economic development. It offers a critical appraisal of approaches and frameworks that are adopted to understand and analyze economic development processes at different geographic scales.
GEOG 690Geographic Thought and Methodology0.50 units
An analysis of changing methods and philosophy of geographic research with emphasis on problem formulation and the design and evaluation of geographic research.
The aim of this course is to provide academic credit for a foreign academic learning experience.This will take one of the following formats: study with a foreign expert, a specialized graduate course taken at a foreign institution, or a research/study project abroad conducted under the guidance of an approved advisor. In all instances the plan of study must be approved before a student leaves and in each case a final approved report must be submitted.
This capstone course allows graduate students to synthesize and apply knowledge developed throughout their coursework to help solve a specific problem. Students will work with the course instructor to identify a topic relevant to their area of study (e.g., tourism and environmental change, land-use change, climate change), propose methods, and complete the capstone project. This capstone project must be distinct from other coursework and students’ Master’s research paper (MRP) or thesis.
GEOG 700AGeographic Scholarship and Practice 1 - Master’s0.25 units
This course is for all new Master's students. The course provides an opportunity for cohort building while addressing the formal requirements and practical considerations for navigating the graduate program, as well as how to be successful in both the profession and in research. Topics include developing professional skills and networks, and understanding the broader purpose and scope of geographic research in society, including questions of equity, social justice, and reconciliation. This course includes student-developed topics and student-led opportunities. The course is assessed on a credit/non-credit basis.
GEOG 700BGeographic Scholarship and Practice 2 - Master’s0.25 units
This course is for all new Master's students. The course provides an opportunity for cohort building while addressing the formal requirements and practical considerations for navigating the graduate program, as well as how to be successful in both the profession and in research. Topics include developing professional skills and networks, and understanding the broader purpose and scope of geographic research in society, including questions of equity, social justice, and reconciliation. This course includes student-developed topics and student-led opportunities. The course is assessed on a credit/non-credit basis.
GEOG 800AGeographic Scholarship and Practice 1 - Doctoral0.25 units
This course is for all new Doctoral students. The course provides an opportunity for cohort building while addressing the formal requirements and practical considerations for navigating the graduate program, as well as how to be successful in both the profession and in research. Topics include developing professional skills and networks, and understanding the broader purpose and scope of geographic research in society, including questions of equity, social justice, and reconciliation. This course includes student-developed topics and student-led opportunities. The course is assessed on a credit/non-credit basis.
GEOG 800BGeographic Scholarship and Practice 2 - Doctoral0.25 units
This course is for all new Doctoral students. The course provides an opportunity for cohort building while addressing the formal requirements and practical considerations for navigating the graduate program, as well as how to be successful in both the profession and in research. Topics include developing professional skills and networks, and understanding the broader purpose and scope of geographic research in society, including questions of equity, social justice, and reconciliation. This course includes student-developed topics and student-led opportunities. The course is assessed on a credit/non-credit basis.