Department of Geography
College of Liberal Arts
California State University, Long Beach
Courses
2004/2005 Catalogue
List of Lower Division Courses
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List of Junior Level Courses
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List of Senior Level Courses
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List of Graduate Level Courses
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List of Urban Studies Courses
List of Lower Division Geography Courses
- 100. World Regional Geography
- 120. Geography of Human Diversity in the United States
- 140. Introduction to Physical Geography
- 160. Introduction to Human Geography
- 200. Introduction to Research Methods for Geographers
- 250. Early World Historical Geography
- 280. Introduction to Geospatial Techniques
- 301i. The Urban Scene
- 304. California
- 306. United States and Canada
- 307i. Modernization in Global Perspective
- 308i. Africa South of the Sahara
- 309i. The Middle East and North Africa
- 313i. Southeast Asia
- 314i. South Asia
- 315i. East Asia
- 316. Europe
- 318. Russia and Its Neighbors
- 319i. International Development
- 320i. Latin America
- 326. Pacific Island Area
- 352. Geography of Travel and Tourism
- 355i. International Environmental Issues
- 380. Map Interpretation and Analysis Interpretation
- *381. Maps and Civilization
- *400. Geographical Analysis
- 402. Qualitative Geographical Analysis
- 440. Land and Water Environments
- *442. Biogeography
- 443. Watersheds: Processes and Management
- *444. Climatology
- 445. Palæolimatology
- *446. Land Use Planning
- *452. Economic Geography
- *455. People as Agents of Environmental Change
- *458. Hazards and Risk Management
- *460. Population Geography
- 465. Social Geography
- *466. Urban Geography: Principles
- 467. Urban Geography: Metropolitan Problems
- *470. Political Geography
- *473. Remote Sensing
- *474. Introduction to Digital Image Processing
- 475. Geographic Applications in Remote Sensing
- *481. Geographic Information Science for Natural Sciences
- *482. Principles of Thematic Map Design
- 484. Advanced Concepts in Presentation Cartography
- 485. Principles of Geographic Information Science
- 486. Field Methods in Landscape Analysis
- 487A. Applications of Geographic Information Science (GIS): Environment and Natural Resources
- 487B. Applications of Geographic Information Science (GIS): Urban and Economic
- 488. Advanced Topics in Geographic Information Science
- *492. Internship in Applied Geography
- *494. Special Topics
- *497. Directed Studies
List of Graduate Level Geography Courses
- 502. Qualitative Geographical Analysis
- 540. Land and Water Environments
- 543. Watersheds: Processes and Management
- 545. Palæoclimatology
- 558. Hazards and Risk Management
- 565. Social Geography
- 567. Urban Geography: Metropolitan Problems
- 575. Geographic Applications in Remote Sensing
- 584. Advanced Concepts in Presentation Cartography
- 585. Principles of Geographic Information Science
- 587A. Applications of Geographic Information Science (GIS): Environment and Natural Resources
- 587B. Applications of Geographic Information Science (GIS): Urban and Economic
- 588. Advanced Topics in Geographic Information Science
- 596. Literature and Methods in Geography
- 600. Seminar in Regional Geography
- 640. Seminar in Physical Geography
- 650. Seminar in Cultural Geography
- 666. Seminar in Urban Geography
- 680. Seminar in Geospatial Science
- 696. Seminar in Geographical Research Methods
- 697. Directed Research
- 698. Thesis
List of Urban Studies (U/ST) Courses
- 301i. Urban Life and Problems
- *446. Land Use Planning
- 490. Topics in Urban and Regional Studies
- 499. Independent Studies
Lower Division Course Descriptions
100. World Regional Geography (3)
- Through spatial approach, Geography of the World's Regions introduces students to the world's geographic realms and examines their cultural, population, and political dynamics, resources and economic development, patterns of settlement and environment elements.
120. Geography of Human Diversity in the United States (3)
- This course examines America's human diversity from a geographic
perspective. Five broad themes are considered:
- the origin, migration and dispersal of ethnic groups,
- the current geographical pattern of ethnic groups in rural and urban areas including ethnic neighborhoods,
- spatial inequalities based on ethnicity and/or gender,
- distinctive landscape expressions of human diversity, and
- patterns of ethnicity in Southern California.
140. Introduction to Physical Geography (3)
- Systematic study of the physical environment with an emphasis on human-environmental interaction and perceptions of environmental hazards and resources. (CAN GEOG 2)
160. Introduction to Human Geography (3)
- Geographic aspects of culture, including the past and present social, political and economic factors that are related to man's perception, organization and use of his environment. (CAN GEOG 4)
200. Introduction to Research Methods for Geographers (3)
- Not open for credit for those who already have completed a first course in statistics. An introduction to the scientific method in geography, with an emphasis on basic statistical techniques and their applications. (Lecture 2 hours, Laboratory 3 hours).
250. Early World Historical Geography (4)
- Prerequisites: Open only to Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) students. This course uses the perspectives of history and geography to introduce students to to the civilizations of Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas as they developed prior to European contact. To understand their origins and subsequent growth and development, special attention will be given to geographic and historical factors such as location and place, human'environment interactions, migrations, cultural and technological diffusion as well as the intensity of cross-cultural contact and exchange between cultures and civilizations over time. Same as HIST 250.
280. Introduction to Geospatial Techniques (3)
- This course provides an introduction to geospatial techniques, which include geographic information science (GIS), cartography, global positioning systems (GPS), and remote sensing. Students will be introduced to the geographic concepts required for spatial analysis. (3 hours lecture.)
Junior Level Course Descriptions
( * = those that graduate students can count towards their master's program)
- Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and upper division status. Not open to students with credit in SOC 419. Review and analysis of the changing urban scene: urban lifestyles; community patterns of land use and design; population trends; conflicts in the increasingly multicultural setting of the central city; housing and community development; suburban-central city relationships; human utilization of urban life spaces; examination of the views of landmark urbanists; and future trends. Same course as U/ST 401I.
- California's diverse natural and cultural environment with emphasis upon social and economic problems and the human response to environmental hazards.
306. United States and Canada (3)
- Common social, economic and political interests of the major human use regions of the United States and Canada. Describes and interprets the culture patterns of each region in relation to the natural settings in which they have developed.
307I. Modernization in Global Perspective (3)
- Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and upper division status. An exploration of the ways in which current psychological and material problems in modern society (both western and Third World) can be traced to a process of accelerating change which began with the advance of technology, the rise of capitalism, the abandonment of "old values," the increasing complexity of bureaucracy and a lowering of social barriers. Exploration of all facets of modernization utilizing films, discussions and readings (fiction and nonfiction). Same course as HIST 307I and ANTH 307I.
308I. Africa South of the Sahara (3)
- Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and upper division status. Human and environmental settings of Africa South of Sahara and the ecological, cultural, demographic, economic settlement & political relationships that characterize them.
309I. The Middle East and North Africa (3)
- Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and upper division status. Human and physical settings of the Middle East and North Africa and the cultural, economic, settlement, and political relationships that characterize them stressing those factors which underlie the region's instability and global importance.
- Prerequisites: Completion of the GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses and upper division status. This course is a cross-cultural examination of the various characteristics and problems found across the region of Southeast Asia. The specific foci will be: environmental and cultural patterns, the historical development of he spatial organization of soceity, demographic and other dynamics of social change related to issues of socio-economic and political development. This course will satisfy an interdisciplinary capstone requirement. Traditional grading only.
- Prerequisites: Completion of the GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses and upper division status. This course is a cross-cultural examination of the various characteristics and problems found across the region of South Asia. The specific foci will be: environmental and cultural patterns, the historical development of he spatial organization of soceity, demographic and other dynamics of social change related to issues of socio-economic and political development. This course will satisfy an interdisciplinary capstone requirement. Traditional grading only.
- Prerequisites: Completion of the GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses and upper division status. This course is a cross-cultural examination of the various characteristics and problems found across the region of East Asia. The specific foci will be: environmental and cultural patterns, the historical development of he spatial organization of soceity, demographic and other dynamics of social change related to issues of socio-economic and political development. This course will satisfy an interdisciplinary capstone requirement. Traditional grading only.
- The human and physical patterns of Europe. Current cultural conditions and environmental problems.
318. Russia and Its Neighbors (3)
- Systematic and regional study of the physical, economic and cultural geography of the Soviet Union.
319i. International Development (3)
- This course focuses on the issues and problems of development confronting the countries of the Third World. The causes and theories of underdevelopment will provide a background for identifying the problems of underdevelopment and for exploring regional, national and global strategies for development. Same course as I/ST 319I.
- Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and upper division status. Human and environmental characteristics of Middle and South America with a focus on the historical-cultural factors which shaped their present-day societies and the problems of population growth, resource utilization and economic development.
- Regional synthesis of the physical and cultural geography of Australia, New Zealand and the island groups of Oceania.
352. Geography of Travel and Tourism (3)
- Spatial characteristics of recreational and tourist activity. Factors of tourism, travel patterns, environmental and economic impacts, and analysis of regional tourism patterns.
355i. International Environmental Issues (3)
- An examination of the deterioration, destruction, maintenance and restoration of environmental systems and resources forms the core content of this course. Identification of major environmental problems that have international dimensions, an analysis of their causes and ramifications, and an investigation of potential and/or already initiated attempts at their resolution form the structural framework of the course. Same course as I/ST 355.
380. Map Interpretation and Analysis (3)
- Interpretation and understanding of maps as graphic communication with particular emphasis on critical analysis, symbolization, scale, and projection. Introduction to the use of aerial photographs with an emphasis on object recognition of physical and human features. (Lecture, problems 3 hours)
*381. Maps and Civilization (3)
- Maps and Civilization is an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural examination of the role maps play in different cultures. It draws upon the disciplines of cartography, geography, history, art, and science. It looks at maps in both Western and non-Western cultures; both conventional and alternative cartographies; and mapping activities of both men and women. Traditional grading only.
Senior Level Course Descriptions
( * = those that graduate students can count towards their master's program)
*400. Geographical Analysis (3)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 200, or MATH 180, or equivalent. Examination of advanced quantitative techniques commonly employed by geographers in analysis of spatial phenomena. Topics to be covered include: multivariate statistical methods as models for geographical analysis. Emphasis on the applications of these techniques in geographical research, including the use of computers where appropriate.
402/502. Qualitative Geographical Analysis (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 200 or permission of instructor. This course examines qualitative geographic methodologies and methods from a perspective of the various theoretical frameworks that geographers employ in their research. Students will be introduced to survey techniques, interview techniques, focus group techniques, textual analysis, participant observation, and ethnography. The course will include a hands-on research experience as well as a section on qualitative data analysis (four hours of discussion). Letter grade only (A-F).
440./540. Land and Water Environments (3)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 140 and 380 or consent of instructor. (Undergraduates register in GEOG 440; graduates register in GEOG 540.) Landforms and related soil and water resources as physical components of the human environment. (Lecture-problems and field experience.)
- Prerequisite: GEOG 140. A course in biology is strongly recommended. Methods of mapping plant and animal distributions, spatial interaction with environmental limiting factors and the human role in temporal and spatial variation of ecosystems. (Lec-problems; field experience.)
443./543. Watersheds: Processes and Management (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 140 or 150 or permission of instructor. This course will introduce basic principles of watershed hydrology, including hydrological processes, runoff behavior, and precipitation patterns, providing the context for evaluation of water quality such as nonpoint source pollution, water quantity such as flood and drought and water legislation. Laboratory and field experiences will include hydrologic data collection, processing and evaluation (3 hours lecture, 2 hours laboratory.)
- Prerequisite: GEOG 140 or GEOL 463. Descriptive and explanatory analysis of the elements and controls of climate. Climates of the world with emphasis on California and North America. (Lecture, problems 3 hours.)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 444 or consent of instructor. A survey of the methods and techniques used to describe past climates and climate change and describe their impact on the natural environment with an emphasis on the last 2 million years. This course will examine the use of proxy records, such as marine and lacustrine sediment sequences, ice cores, tree rings, corals and documentary data, to reconstruct past climate. Means of dating past climatic events will also be reviewed. The possible causes of these events will be evaluated in relation to Earth's changing orbital parameters and to internal forcing mechanisms. (Lecture 3 hours, lab activities 2 hours.)
- Not open to students with credit in U/ST 446 Land Use Planning. This course provides an examination of urban land use planning from the perspetive of professional urban planners. The course will focus on planning issues and responses in some of the following major areas: land use; coastal zone planning; resrouce planning; urban growth, speculation, and economics; design and æsthetic issues; planning parameters for residences, shopping centers, and industrial parks; revistalization of built-up core areas and transportation. Sam course as U/ST *446.
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Location theory and its application to the study of the distribution of various economic activities, international and interregional changes in the spatial structure of economic activities and the role of these changes in international and regional development. (Lecture, problems.)
*455. People As Agents of Environmental Change (3)
- Spatial variations in environmental change as effected by humans. A systematic and regional analysis at both macro and micro levels. (Lecture 3 hours.)
458./558. Hazards and Risk Management (3)
- Prerequisite: one earth science course (Geography 140 or 150 or Geology 102 or 163 or 190) or permission of the instructor) and one social science course (e.g., Geography 100 or 160 or permission of the instructor). Provides a broad overview of hazards and disasters, whether natural or partly technological. This course emphasizes understanding of the physical and social dynamics that must interact to produce hazard, the spatial and temporal distributions of various hazards, and policy options for disaster preparation and loss reduction.
*460. Population Geography (3)
- Introduction to the geographic study of population. Includes growth and distribution of world population; results of changing births, deaths, and migration; variations in population composition; related problems such as food supplies and environmental deterioration.
- Prerequisite: GEOG 160 or permission of instructor. This course examines the geographies of society. Students are educated in the tradition of social geography fromn a historical perspective. Students investigate the various methodological and theoretical approaches that make up social geography. Topics can include a mix of the following: socio-spatial inequality, crime, housing, religious systems, medical and health geography, feminist geography, the geogrpahy of sexuality, the geography of race, and/or postculturalist geography.
*466. Urban Geography: Principles (3)
- Examination of cities; their location, shape, structure and function. Selected world population clusters, theoretical and practical application of urban planning and the evolution of cities are studied. (Lecture-problems.)
467./567. Urban Geography: Metropolitan Problems (3)
- Prerequisite: GEOG 466 or consent of instructor. (Undergraduates register in GEOG 467; graduates register in GEOG 567.) Geographic components of metropolitan problems and their solutions. Problems related to transportation systems, housing, evolution of ghettos, urban perception and behavioral patterns will be discussed in terms of theoretical and practically applied urban planning solutions. (Lec, problems 3 hrs.)
- Prerequisite: GEOG 100 or consent of instructor. Comparative study of the earth's politically organized regions and related systems. Varied approaches are explored, such as power analysis, genetic analysis and functional analysis of political units. Stress is upon political geographic concepts used in analyzing the viability of states and nations. (Lecture, problems.)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 200 or equivalent and GEOG 380 or consent of instructor. Interpretation and processing of remotely sensed imagery including acquisition or imagery, the electomagnetic spectrum, kinds of imagery, and digital method. (Seminar 3 hours; Laboratory 2 hours). Letter grade only (A-F).
*474. Digital Image Processing (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 140 and 473 or consent of the instructor. Provides a background to the principles and concepts of digital image processing and the extraction of information from digital satellite data with focus various enhancement and extraction techniques, specifically, within the visible and near-infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. (Seminar 3 hours; Laboratory 2 hours). Letter grade only (A-F).
475/575. Geographic Applications in Remote Sensing (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 140, 160, 473, and 474. Focuses on remote sensing applications. Students will be introduced to sophisticated imagery and analysis techniques, as applied to weather and fire modeling, arid lands environmental problems, or the urban environment. (Seminar 3 hours; Laboratory 2 hours). Letter grade only (A-F).
*481. Geographic Information Science for Natural Sciences
(4)
- Prerequisites: Junior/Senior/Graduate standing; GEOG 140 or 150 or BIOL 153 or 211B or GEOL 102. This course introduces the fundamentals of geographic information science and systems (GIS) to non-geography students. The course introduces the concepts of and develops skills in spatial reasoning and spatial thinking. Students explore the use of GIS for spatial query, problem analysis and decision support using exampled tailored to biologic, geologic, and ecologic applications. Previous course work or experience in GIS would be helpful but is not required (2 hours of seminar, 2 hours of computer laboratory)
*482. Map Design for Presentation and GIS (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 200 or equivalent and 380 or consent of instructor. Theory and techniques in the creation of thematic maps including design, generalization, and symbolization, with an emphasis on computer presentation methods. (Seminar 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours).
484./584. Advanced Concepts in Presentation Cartography (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 200 or equivalent; 380 and 482. Advanced theory and techniques for presentation cartography including communication, visualization, terrain representation, animation, and color. (Seminar 3 hours; Laboratory 2 hours). Letter grade only (A-F).
485./585. Principles of Geographic Information Science (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 200 or equivalent; 380 and 482. Fundamental concepts in and techniques of geographic information systems are introduced, including problems of acquiring and processing machine-readable map data. (Seminar 3 hours; Laboratory 2 hours). Letter grade only (A-F).
486/586. Field Methods in Landscape Analysis (4)
- Prerequisite: GEOG 380 or consent of instructor. Introduction to field techniques, including formulation of field plans, recording direct observation, field mapping, sampling techniques, interviewing, and organizing and evaluating data for presentation. (seminar 1 hr, field work 6 hrs.) Letter grade only (A-F).
487A./587A. Applications of Geographic Information Science
(GIS): Environment and Natural Resources (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 140 or 150, 485 or 585, and 488 or 588 or permission of instructor. This course explores the use of Geographic Information Systems for spatial query, problem analysis, spatial modeling and decision support in natural resource analysis such as assessment of landslide hazar, fire hazard or site suitability assessment, natural resources management. This course is designed to introduce students who already possess a background in GIS to applications specific to resource assessment and management. The use of raster GIS is emphasized. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours laboratory.)
487B./587B. Applications of Geographic Information Science
(GIS): Urban and Economic (4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 140 or 150, 485 or 585, and 488 or 588 or permission of instructor. This course builds on introductory knowledge of Geographical Information Systems, spatial analysis and spatial data and focuses on urban and economic applications and analyses. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours laboratory.)
488./588. Advanced Topics in Geographic Information Systems
(4)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 200 or equivalent; GEOG 380; GEOG 482; GEOG 485 or permission of instructor. (Undergraduates register in GEOG 488; Graduates register in GEOG 588) Advanced concepts in geogrpahic information systems and techniques are introduced and their applications in geography and related disciplines are explored (Seminar 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours.) Letter grade only (A-F).
*492. Internship in Applied Geography (3)
- Prerequisites: Geography major with upper division or graduate standing, prior geography coursework or equivalent recommended, and consent of instructor. Community-based placement ot enjance professional preparation in applied geography. May be repeated once for credit; a second semester experience shall differ substantially from first semester experience. Undergraduates may elect Credit/No Credit or letter grading; letter grading only is required for graduate students. Student will work under faculty supervision.
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Appplication of geographical concepts and methodology to selected contemporary problems. Themes will be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for a max of 6 units with consent of department chairperson. May not be credited toward the major in geogrpahy without written department consent in advance of enrollment.
- Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Individually directed studies of special problems in geography. May be repeated for a maximum of six units with consent of department chairperson. May not be credited toward the major in geogrpahy without written department consent in advance of enrollment.
Graduate Level Course Descriptions
596. Literature and Methods in Geography (3)
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Proseminar in the methods, theory and techniques of geographic investigation with emphasis upon classical and contemporary literature.
600. Seminar in Regional Geography (3)
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Regional methods of study common to geographic research and their utilization in developing regional concepts.
640. Seminar in Physical Geography (3)
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Physical/environmental issues and problems. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units with consent of departmental advisor. Letter grade only (A-F).
650. Seminar in Cultural Geography (3)
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Systematic investigation of human occupancy in its varied environmental and regional settings. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units with consent of department advisor. Letter grade only (A-F).
666. Seminar in Urban Geography (3)
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Geographic concepts and techniques of research applied to specific urban areas. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units with consent of department advisor. Letter grade only (A-F).
680. Seminar in Geospatial Science (3)
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Application of geographic concepts and methodology to selected cartographic, GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analytic problems. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units with consent of departmental advisor. Letter grade only (A-F).
696. Seminar in Geographical Research Methods
(3)
- Prerequisites: GEOG 596, graduate status in geography, and consent of instructor. Critical survey of contemporary methodologies available for framing research in geography, emphasizing the connection between research models, research questions, and the selection and limitations of particular methods, techniques, and data. Letter grade only (A-F).
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Research in geography supervised on an individual basis.
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Planning, preparation and completion of thesis for the master's degree.
Urban Studies (U/ST) Course Descriptions
- Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and upper division status. Not open to students with credit in SOX 419. Review and analysis of the changing urban scene: urban life-styles; community patterns of land use and design; population trends; conflicts in the increasingly multicultural setting of the central city; housing and community development; suburban-central city relationships; human utilization of urban life spaces; examination of the views of landmark urbanists; and future trends. Same course as GEOG 401.
- Not open to students with credit in U/ST 490 Land Use Planning. This course provides an examination of urban land use planning from the perspective of professional urban planners. The course will focus on planning issues and responses in some of the following major area: land use; coastal zone planning; resource planning; urban growth, speculation, and economics; design and aesthetic issues; planning parameters for residences, shopping centers, and industrial partks; revitalization of built-up core areas and transportation.
490. Topics in Urban and Regional Studies (1-3)
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Topics of current interest in urban and regional studies selected for intensive development. Topics will be announced in the Schedule of Classes.
- Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Independent study under the supervision of a faculty member.
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Last Updated: 03/03/05