Explores the spatial patterns of weather and climate, landforms, vegetation, soils, and water resources, and their changes, interactions, and impacts on human life and society. Designed to increase awareness of the physical environment, geographic patterns of human environmental interactions, and the interrelationships of natural phenomena. Offered every semester.
Spring/Summer 2025 - Online
The concept of sustainability holds that the social, economic, and environmental factors within human communities must be viewed in the context of their geographic locations. Strategies and decisions for sustainable development require understanding of the spatial patterns of human-environmental interactions, scale, and place. GPY 101 provides important place-based perspectives on sustainability. Offered every semester.
Winter 2025 - Online
An investigation into cities, towns, and villages as physical phenomena, focusing on the role built environments play in the future of human civilization. Methods and theories from sustainability science are used to examine the relationship between the built environment and topics such as public health, economic inequality, and environmental quality. Fulfills one the Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences requirements.
An introductory geographic survey of climate change impacts and vulnerabilities around the world. Attention will be given to causes of the unfolding global climate crisis, climate change scenarios through the end of this century, and mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency-planning strategies.
Examines a world that is undergoing political, economic, social, and environmental changes at many different spatial scales. Using geographic concepts, this course examines national, regional, and global interaction and development, and the diverse and complex processes that both hinder and help forge a global community. Fulfills one of the Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Fulfills Cultures - Global Perspectives. Offered every semester.
Introduces basic concepts and techniques of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their essential role in geographic research. Provides hands-on experience in spatial analysis and the use of GIS software. Offered every semester.
Spring/Summer 2025 - Hybrid
An introduction to the urban planning strategies that help towns and cities preserve, restore, and even capitalize on their natural resources. This course investigates threats to clean air, water, and healthy ecosystems in our communities and examines solutions in the form of governmental policies, green designs, and urban inventiveness.
Examines the process of urbanization, its impact on various cultures, and its long-term sustainability. Considers the rapid urbanization in the developing countries and the dynamic growth of global urban systems, emphasizing the evolution of cities over time, space, and vastly different social, political, and cultural environments. Fulfills Cultures - Global Perspectives. Part of the Sustainability Issue. Cross-listed with PNH 324. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
A survey of Michigan's physical resources, such as climate, soils, hydrology, and flora -- as related to land use and land use management -- exemplified in settlement patterns, demography, economic development, infrastructures, industrialization, urbanization, and jurisdictional structures.
Explores the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology in economic and business decision-making, including market area analysis, geodemographic segmentation, site selection, routing, customer profiling, sales territory management, and location strategies. Emphasis on hands-on activities. Problem-based learning approach. Part of the Information, Innovation, or Technology Issue. Cross-listed with MKT 365. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
Winter 2025 - Hybrid
Provides an interdisciplinary opportunity for students to pursue advanced study in special topics related to geography. Topics vary each term. May be taken more than once when the topic is different. Offered on sufficient demand.
Focus on applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques in urban and regional analysis. Using a hands-on approach, students will explore how to use GIS techniques and large data sets to analyze economic, demographic and social change in the knowledge-based economy. Part of the Information, Innovation, or Technology Issue. Cross-listed with ECO 385. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
An advanced level GIS course emphasizing decision analysis through applications of spatial statistics and geospatial modeling. Topics include multivariate statistics, error assessment and propagation, fuzzy logic, uncertainty, and decision risk in GIS modeling, location analysis, and terrain modeling using industry standard GIS software. Prerequisite: GPY 307.
This course introduces students to natural and human causes of climate change and geographic patterns of climate change impacts, human vulnerabilities, and adaptation and mitigation strategies. Global climate modeling scenarios are examined in the context of international and national climate change policies, national security, climate preparedness, and resiliency planning. Part of the Sustainability Issue. Cross-listed with ENS 412. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: Junior standing, and either GPY 100 or ENS 201 or at least one course from Foundations - Natural Sciences.
Winter 2025 - Online Spring/Summer 2025 - Online
