Nov 27, 2024

2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog

2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Geography (B.A. or B.S.)

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Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The emphasis in geography offers the opportunity to develop greater understanding of a specific aspect of geography by choosing electives from one of four areas of study: area studies, geographic information systems (GIS), natural environmental systems, or urban/economic systems. With the proper selection set of electives, the student can meet federal civil service qualification standards as a soil scientist or hydrologist. The emphasis in geomatics integrates land surveying and mapping science. Students pursuing the emphasis in geography may earn the B.A. or the B.S. degree; those pursuing the emphasis in geomatics must fulfill requirements for the B.S. degree.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http:/www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Emphasis 1: Geography (B.A. or B.S.)

Requirements in Department (36)

GEOG 101 - Survey of Physical Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 102 - Survey of Physical Geography Laboratory Credits: 1
GEOG 105 - Introduction to the Atmosphere Credits: 3
GEOG 106 - Introduction to the Atmosphere Laboratory Credits: 1
GEOG 202 - World Regional Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 204 - Geography of Economic Activities Credits: 3
GEOG 256 - Maps and Mapping Credits: 3
GEOG 300 - Proseminar Credits: 1
GEOG 359 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 361 - Geographic Measurement and Quantitative Analysis Credits: 3

Electives chosen from one of the following four course groupings or any combination.

Electives chosen from one of the following four course groupings or any combination for 12 semester hours.
Both GEOG 391 and GEOG 491 may be included in these 12 hours for no more than 3 semester hours of credit in each.

Area Studies

Course work from the following

GEOG 303 - Water Resources and the Environment Credits: 3
GEOG 315X - Geography of Energy Credits: 3
GEOG 330 - Geography of the U.S. and Canada Credits: 3
GEOG 332 - Geography of Latin America Credits: 3
GEOG 335X - Migration Credits: 3
GEOG 336 - Geography of Africa Credits: 3
GEOG 338 - Geography of Asia Credits: 3
GEOG 391 - Internship Credits: 1-6 D. Regional Geography
Students must take GEOG 391D for 1-3 semester hours.
GEOG 408 - Tropical Environmental Hazards Credits: 3
GEOG 430 - Population Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 435X - Space in Language and Culture Credits: 3
GEOG 451 - Political Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 461 - Applied Statistics in Geographic Research Credits: 3
GEOG 490 - Community Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 491 - Undergraduate Research in Geography Credits: 1-3
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems Credits: 3 D. Regional Geography
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems Credits: 3: E. Human Geography

Geographic Information Systems

Course work from the following

GEOG 391 - Internship Credits: 1-6 J. Methods and Techniques
Students must take GEOG 391J for 1-3 semester hours.
- GEOG 391 - Internship: Credits: 1-3: K. Mapping/Geovisualization
GEOG 407 - Technical Hazards Credits: 3
GEOG 455 - Land-Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 458 - Geovisualization Credits: 3
GEOG 459 - Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 460 - Remote Sensing of the Environment Credits: 3
GEOG 465 - Geographic Field Work Credits: 3-8
Students must take 3 semester hours in this course.
GEOG 467 - Workshop in Cartography Credits: 3
GEOG 468 - Workshop in GIS Credits: 3
GEOG 470 - Web Mapping Credits: 3
GEOG 490 - Community Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 491 - Undergraduate Research in Geography Credits: 1-3
GEOG 493 - Computer Methods and Modeling Credits: 3
Students must take 3 semester hours in this course.
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems Credits: 3 J. Methods and Techniques
GEOG 498 - Seminar: Credits: 3: K. Mapping/Geovisualization

Natural Environmental Systems

Students will be better prepared for this area by fulfilling the B.S. degree requirements.

Course work from the following

GEOG 302 - Soil Science Credits: 4
GEOG 303 - Water Resources and the Environment Credits: 3
GEOG 306 - Severe and Hazardous Weather Credits: 3
GEOG 315X - Geography of Energy Credits: 3
GEOG 322 - Geography of World Plant Communities Credits: 3
GEOG 324X - Women in Science Credits: 3
GEOG 368 - Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Mitigation Credits: 3
GEOG 370 - Regional Climatology Credits: 3
GEOG 391 - Internship Credits: 1-6 A. Physical Geography
Students must take GEOG 391A for 1-3 semester hours.
- GEOG 391 - Internship: Credits 1-3: B. Environmental Management
GEOG 402 - Pedology Credits: 4
GEOG 403 - Soil Geography and Land Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 404 - Soil Description and Interpretation Credits: 2
GEOG 406 - Natural Hazards and Environmental Risk Credits: 3
GEOG 407 - Technical Hazards Credits: 3
GEOG 408 - Tropical Environmental Hazards Credits: 3
GEOG 413 - Forest Ecology and Management Credits: 3
GEOG 422 - Plant-Soil Interactions Credits: 4
GEOG 442X - Geomorphology Credits: 3
GEOG 453 - Environmental Management Credits: 3
GEOG 455 - Land-Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 461 - Applied Statistics in Geographic Research Credits: 3
GEOG 465 - Geographic Field Work Credits: 3-8
Students must take GEOG 465 for 3 semester hours.
GEOG 490 - Community Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 491 - Undergraduate Research in Geography Credits: 1-3
GEOG 492 - Hydrology Credits: 3
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems Credits: 3 A. Physical Geography
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems: Credits: 3 B. Environmental Management

Urban/Economic Systems

Course work from the following

GEOG 304 - Transportation Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 315X - Geography of Energy Credits: 3
GEOG 324X - Women in Science Credits: 3
GEOG 362 - Geography of Urban Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 391 - Internship Credits: 1-6 G. Urban/Economic Geography
Students must take GEOG 391G for 1-3 semester hours.
GEOG 403 - Soil Geography and Land Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 407 - Technical Hazards Credits: 3
GEOG 430 - Population Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 453 - Environmental Management Credits: 3
GEOG 455 - Land-Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 461 - Applied Statistics in Geographic Research Credits: 3
GEOG 463 - Urban Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 464 - Location Analysis Credits: 3
GEOG 490 - Community Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 491 - Undergraduate Research in Geography Credits: 1-3
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems Credits: 3 E. Human Geography
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems: Credits: 3: G. Urban/Economic Geography

Requirements outside Department (B.A., 7-20; B.S., 10-15)

For the B.A. degree

MATH 210 - Finite Mathematics Credits: 3
(Available for general education credit.)
OR MATH 211 - Calculus for Business and Social Science Credits: 3
(Available for general education credit.)
OR MATH 229 - Calculus I Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)
STAT 301 - Elementary Statistics Credits: 4
Fulfillment of foreign language requirement (0-12)

(See “Foreign Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.)

For the B.S. degree

See “College Requirements for the B.S. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog. Students should consult the undergraduate adviser for the appropriate sequence for their course of study.

Total Hours for Emphasis 1, Geography: 43-56 (B.A.) OR 46-51 (B.S.)

Recommendations

Students interested in environmental studies are strongly advised to complete at least two, one-year sequences of courses in a laboratory science. Students should contact the undergraduate adviser for career goal advisement early in their course of study.

Emphasis 2: Geomatics (B.S.)

Requirements in Department (41)

GEOG 101 - Survey of Physical Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 102 - Survey of Physical Geography Laboratory Credits: 1
GEOG 150 - Introduction to Geomatics Credits: 3
GEOG 202 - World Regional Geography Credits: 3
OR GEOG 204 - Geography of Economic Activities Credits: 3
GEOG 250 - Civil Surveying Credits: 4
GEOG 251 - Control Surveying Credits: 4
GEOG 256 - Maps and Mapping Credits: 3
GEOG 300 - Proseminar Credits: 1
GEOG 350 - Land Surveying Credits: 4
GEOG 359 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 450 - Legal Aspects of Geomatics and Land Surveying Credits: 3

Course work from the following (9)

GEOG 391 - Internship Credits: 1-6 M. Geomatics/Surveying
Students must take this course for 3 semester hours.
GEOG 403 - Soil Geography and Land Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 455 - Land-Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 459 - Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 460 - Remote Sensing of the Environment Credits: 3
GEOG 468 - Workshop in GIS Credits: 3
GEOG 474 - Geomatics Design in Land Development Credits: 4
GEOG 475 - Geomatics Planning and Computation Credits: 3
GEOL 425 - Engineering Geology Credits: 3

Requirements outside Department (15-16)

MATH 211 - Calculus for Business and Social Science Credits: 3
(Available for general education credit.)
OR MATH 229 - Calculus I Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)
PHYS 210 - General Physics I Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)
PHYS 211 - General Physics II Credits: 4
(Available for general education credit.)
STAT 301 - Elementary Statistics Credits: 4

Recommendations

Students interested in a career in land surveying will need to satisfy curricular and course requirements for the surveyor in-training examination. Students should consult with the undergraduate adviser early in their course of study for advice on fulfilling those requirements.

Geography (B.A. or B.S.)

Emphasis 1: Geography (B.A. or B.S.)

Requirements in Department (36)

Electives chosen from one of the following four course groupings or any combination.

Area Studies

Geographic Information Systems

Natural Environmental Systems

Urban/Economic Systems

Requirements outside Department (B.A., 7-20; B.S., 10-15)

For the B.A. degree

For the B.S. degree

Total Hours for Emphasis 1, Geography: 43-56 (B.A.) OR 46-51 (B.S.)

Recommendations

Emphasis 2: Geomatics (B.S.)

Requirements in Department (41)

Course work from the following (9)

Requirements outside Department (15-16)

Recommendations

Total Hours for Emphasis 2, Geomatics: 56-57 (B.S.)