In depth examination of toxins and waste, natural systems and services, biodiversity, energy issues, climate change, and environmental policy Prerequisite: EL100 or BY123. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

This course will examine how Iceland’s unique landscape is shaped by both the fire of volcanoes and the ice of glaciers. The course will then turn to the island’s settlement by the Norse exploring Iceland’s medieval cultural efflorescence, which produced explorers such as Erik the Red as well as the great literary tradition of the Norse sagas, before finally turning to some of the environmental changes that threatened the community’s existence in the late medieval and early modern periods. The class will conclude with an exploration of Iceland’s place in the contemporary world, its social, economic, and ecological challenges, and its cultural dynamism

Field-based program established by contract between instructor and student. Subject to availability. Prerequisite: Approval of coordinator required.

Individually negotiated project of defined nature established by contract between instructor and student. Contracts filed with Registrar. Prerequisite: Approval of the coordinator. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

This is a research seminar where students implement the skills obtained during their study of Geography at Aquinas College. This course involved the implementation of research methods and techniques appropriate to each student’s self-defined project. Introduction and application of skills necessary for successful written and oral presentation of geographical environmental research are included. The course is focused upon a sizeable student-defined research project that culminates in the presentation of their work and a written thesis. Prerequisite: GY/EL490. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

The geographic subfield of Human Geography discusses and interprets the role of human beings as they are distributed across the surface of the earth. This is a far-ranging field of inquiry that incorporates information from the traditional social scientific realms of economics, sociology, political science, and anthropology into a spatial analysis of the world around us. Given the nature of the topic, this course will be introductory in nature and examine the breadth of cultural geographic thought.

An examination of the history and geography of Michigan from its beginnings through contemporary times, emphasizing the political, economic and social developments as they occurred across the changing physical and cultural landscape of the state. Special Note: Not open to students who have HY235 credit. 

Urban environment and landscape from a human perspective: the city as an economic environment, as a cultural place, as a political entity, policies and planning.

Agriculture and food production, origins, evolution, and current patterns. Ecological analysis of traditional and modern agriculture and patterns of development in the U.S. and Developing World.

Study of United States and Canada considering regional differences in physical environment, resource base, population characteristics, and settlement patterns; emphasis on human response to environment. Prerequisite: GY120.

For those students who wish to further pursue topics discussed in GY212 as well as research areas of specific interest. Prerequisite: GY212. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

Advancing and refining skills acquired in GY320. Students develop areas of particular interest, expand their skills in the area of computer graphics. Prerequisite: GY320. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

This course will examine how Iceland’s unique landscape is shaped by both the fire of volcanoes and the ice of glaciers. The course will then turn to the island’s settlement by the Norse exploring Iceland’s medieval cultural efflorescence, which produced explorers such as Erik the Red as well as the great literary tradition of the Norse sagas, before finally turning to some of the environmental changes that threatened the community’s existence in the late medieval and early modern periods. The class will conclude with an exploration of Iceland’s place in the contemporary world, its social, economic, and ecological challenges, and its cultural dynamism

Weather elements and introduction to world climatic characteristics and locations; applied climatology. Prerequisite: GY101 or instructor approval. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

The study of landform evolution through an analysis of natural and anthropogenic processes. Included in the analysis are glacial, fluvial, Aeolian, tectonic, and volcanic activities. Prerequisite: GY101. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

The Geography of Water Resources is a course that looks at the nature and distribution of the water resources that our society depends upon. A sizeable portion of the course will detail the characteristics of the different sources of water as well as the myriad environmental and legal problems that arise from our usage of this resource. Prerequisite: GY101 or instructor approval. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

Individually negotiated program of readings on selected topic established by contract between instructor and student. Contracts filed with Registrar. Prerequisite: Approval of the coordinator. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

Planning practices for urban areas; emphasis on urban growth, land use, and urban problems. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

Survey of the literature dealing with history, philosophy, and structure of geography; emphasis on important people in geography, topics of interest to geographers and research in the disciplines. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.