Courses

• CS152 Spreadsheets (1)

  This hands-on lab course covers basic spreadsheet functions such as simple formulas, formatting, and print layout using Microsoft Excel. Course projects introduce skills using a variety of formulas and basic functions, charts, and absolute addressing. This course would be beneficial to any students with a desire to analyze numerical data, manage finances, perform simple statistics, or generate charts and graphs.

• GY101 Earth Environments (4) NL

  Natural elements of environment and effects on humans: seasons, radiation, wind, moisture, climate, as well as landforms resulting from running water, ice, gravity, marine activities, and tectonic processes. Three (3) hours lecture, two (2) hours lab (GY101L).

• GY120 Human Geography (4) (SS1/SS2) (GP)

  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.

• GY129 Physical Geography of Michigan (3) NN

  Detailed analysis of the physical characteristics of Michigan; emphasis on weather, land forms, geology, and environmental problems. Special Note: Not open to students with GY130 credit.

• GY130/HY130 Geography and History of Michigan (3) (SS1/SS2)

  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. 

• GY140 World Regional Geography (3) (SS1/SS2) (GP)

  An introduction to human and physical geography by use of the world regional approach. Fundamental geographic concepts and ideas (regional economic development, global systems, spatial diffusion) are presented in different regional contexts.

• GY212 Urban Geography (4) (SS1/SS2)

  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.

• GY264 Economic Geography (3) (SS1/SS2)

  Spatial distribution of economic features as they affect production, exchange, and consumption of goods and services: emphasis on locational theory regarding manufacturing and retail service centers.

• GY280 Geospatial Analysis (3) (SS1/SS2)

  Fundamental skills in a variety of geospatial data collection and analysis technologies, including GPS and web-based mapping and GIS analysis, to investigate geographic patterns and questions. Two (2) hours lecture and two (2) hours lab (GY280L).

• GY302 Geography of U.S./Canada (3) (SS1/SS2)

  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.

• GY320 Cartography: Map Making and Interpretation (4)

  Cartographic design with emphasis on developing ability to communicate through maps and graphs; some computer graphics. Three (3) hours lecture, two (2) hours lab (GY320L). This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

• GY328 Field Experience in Geography (3)

  A field experience with emphasis on the physical, cultural, economic, political, aspects of the area. Students can repeat the course if a new area is selected. Prerequisite: Instructor approval. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

• GY340 Remote Sensing (4)

  Fundamental skills in visual image interpretation, photogrammetry, and computer processing of digital aerial and satellite imagery. Three (3) hours lecture, two (2) hours lab (GY340L). Prerequisite: GY101 or GY120. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

• GY350 Climatology/Meteorology (3)

  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.

• GY352 Geomorphology (3)

  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.

• GY360 Biogeography (3)

  Biogeography is the study of species and how they are arranged upon the landscape. It explores both the distribution of plants and animals on the earth as well as the ecological processes that underlay those arrangements. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

• GY370 Geography of Water Resources (3)

  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.

• GY385 Geographic Information Systems - GIS (4)

  Geographic Information System fundamentals and theory are presented in a lecture format. Lab work focuses on applying GIS strategies and other geographic tools, such as aerial photo interpretation, spatial modeling, and spatial analysis to examine a variety of physical geography and human geography problems. Three (3) hours lecture, two (2) hours lab (GY385L). Prerequisite: GY320 and CS152 .This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

• GY490 Advanced Techniques and Topics (4)

  Theory and application of specific techniques in research; collection and analysis of data; specific topics vary with instructors. Prerequisites: GY101 and GY120. This course is not accepted for Social Science or Natural World General Education credit.

• GY491 Seminar: Readings in the Development of Geographic Thought (3)

  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.

• GY499 Geography Capstone Research Seminar (1) SC

  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.

• MS151 Elementary Statistics (3) QR

  Designed primarily for students who have had no more than two years of high-school mathematics or its equivalent. Includes the fundamental concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics. Prerequisite: MS107. This course is not accepted for the General Education Mathematics requirement.

• MS252 Statistics (3)

  Designed for students who have had at least three (3) years of high-school mathematics or its equivalent. Topics to be covered include frequency distributions, variability, probability, sampling, estimation, testing, hypotheses, analysis of variance, regression and correlation analysis, and nonparametric tests. (Course counts as three (3) semester hours toward a minor, but only one (1) semester hour toward a major.) Prerequisite: MS114.This course is not accepted for the General Education Mathematics requirement.