GEOG-103 Environmental Geology
The only planet known to sustain life, Earth provides all the resources that sustain us, yet at the same time it can be an unpredictable and sometimes dangerous home. Floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural processes challenge our ingenuity, while we also contend with self-induced problems such as pollution, desertification, and global climate change. This course examines earth processes, how these affect our lives, and how we can best live with and sustain our environment.
GEOG-104 Introduction to Geology and Physical Geography
Introduction to Geology and Physical Geography courses are designed to serve first-year students and sophomores interested in exploring the natural sciences. These courses also prepare students for upper-level coursework in geology, physical geography, and the earth, oceanographic, and atmospheric sciences. Students may only take one section of GEOL-104.
GEOG-104AP Introduction to Geology and Physical Geography: 'Art in Paleontology'
Paleontological art brings ancient organisms back to life. In this course we will consider the role that PaleoArt itself plays as a mode of scientific discovery. Beginning with an analysis of the pioneering paleoart of Charles R. Knight, we will examine how paleoartists have uncovered key information about prehistoric life well in advance of its recognition by the scientific community. In a collaborative class project, we will identify the best and most representative of "paleort". For individual final class projects, students may choose between a research paper and presentation, and their own paleontological artwork in any visual medium.
GEOG-104DN Introduction to Geology and Physical Geography: 'Dinosaurs'
The first dinosaur fossils recognized in North America were footprints found in South Hadley. One of the most ancient dinosaur species in the United States was discovered close to campus. In this course we will learn the main types of non-avian dinosaurs, compare them to other ancient and modern vertebrates, and explore their physiology and their relationship to birds. To complete the final project, students will select a dinosaur species and study its geological age, geographic distribution, burial conditions, environmental preferences, ecological roles, feeding and reproductive strategies, and body form as they review the history of attempts to reconstruct their adopted dinosaur.
GEOG-104EG Introduction to Geology and Physical Geography: 'Environmental Geology'
The only planet known to sustain life, Earth provides all the resources that sustain us, yet at the same time it can be an unpredictable and sometimes dangerous home. Floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural processes challenge our ingenuity, while we also contend with self-induced problems such as pollution, desertification, and global climate change. This course examines earth processes, how these affect our lives, and how we can best live with and sustain our environment.
GEOG-104HM Introduction to Geology and Physical Geography: 'Earth As Home'
Earth is our home, and it is essential to understand the planet's geology and physical geography if we aspire to be good planetary stewards. In this course we will learn about the physical structure and constituents of earth. We will consider in detail its rocks, its atmosphere, and its oceans, with particular focus on earth's surface features: their origins, their beauty, and their utility as habitat for humans and other creatures. The primary goal of this course is to give you a sufficient understanding of geology and physical geography to enable you to both appreciate the majesty, and respond to any threats to the integrity of our collective home.
GEOG-104WR Introduction to Geology and Physical Geography: 'Water Resources for Sustainable Communities'
How can we sustain drinking water resources at the scale of community? The goal of this course is to explore and extend geoscience approaches to managing the waters flowing in streams, lakes, wetlands, and underground. Topics include sources of drinking water, water quality and abundance, the hydrologic cycle, and intersections of water science with environmental justice. Drawing on methods from physical geography and hydrogeology, this course offers students opportunities to gather and interpret environmental data on campus, explore maps and cartography, and collaborate and dialogue with peers. Students at all levels of experience with science and dialogue are welcome.
GEOG-105 World Regional Geography
This course surveys the major geographic regions of the world in terms of environmental features and resource distributions, economic mainstays, population characteristics, cultural processes, social relationships, and patterns of urbanization and industrial growth. In addition to these topical foci, we use various sub-fields of geography to animate different regions. This approach provides a sense of depth while we also pursue a breadth of knowledge about the world.
GEOG-107 Introduction to Physical Geography
This course provides a foundational understanding about how the Earth and its processes work, how they impact and control the habitability of our planet, and how vital they are to our very existence. These foundations are important for all of us to gain a holistic view of our integrated geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere. At the same time, we will explore the notion of scientific thinking and analysis. We will discuss how researchers collect data, for ideas, and then test those ideas to help us understand Earth's processes and history. Scientific research can help evaluate the impact of human activity on our home planet and it can have a direct impact on public policy.
GEOG-202 Cities in a Global Context
Cities are dynamic landscapes informed by myriad economic, political, social, environmental, and cultural processes. This course delves into the forces of urbanization and examines how cities have been investigated, built, experienced, and lived in throughout history and around the globe. By accenting a geographic perspective and drawing upon an array of theoretical ideas and empirical examples, this class grapples with the fascinating complexities of the urban context.
GEOG-205 Mapping and Spatial Analysis
Provides a comprehensive introduction to maps, including their design, compilation, and computer production. Introduces students to the principles of abstracting the Earth's surface into spatial databases using GIS, remote sensing, and Global Positioning Satellites.
GEOG-206 Political Geography
Systemically studies political phenomena and their geographic expression, at a variety of spatial scales -- national, regional, and international. Major themes include nation-state formation, boundary, territory, and ethnic issues, regional blocs and spheres of influence, and conflicts over access to and use of resources.
GEOG-208 Global Movements: Migrations, Refugees and Diasporas
The voluntary and involuntary movement of people around the globe is the focus of this course on migrations, refugees, and diasporas. Questions of borders, nativism, transnationalism, the global economy, and legality thread through this course as we consider the many social, cultural, environmental, economic, and political factors shaping decisions to leave a home or homeland. Historical and contemporary case studies, compelling theoretical texts, and geographic perspectives on these topics collectively animate our discussions.
GEOG-210 GIS for the Social Sciences and Humanities
This course introduces the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other geospatial technologies in the social sciences and the humanities. The student will learn to collect, process, and analyze quantitative data within the spatial (geographic) context where they occur. Course content may include research topics from current faculty.
GEOG-212 Care and Capital: A Feminist Geography of Labor
This course explores how gender, race, class, and power influence economies and are shaped by economics. Using feminist geography frameworks, we ask questions like: What defines a worker? What kinds of work are valued? How are money, care, and survival represented, challenged, and reimagined? Through case studies, discussions, and projects, students investigate how labor divisions are created and maintained, the production and consumption of commodities, and the nexus of gendered, racialized, and classed inequities. Additional course topics include global structures of work, the undervaluation of care and reproductive labor, and the cultural narratives that construct "the economy.
GEOG-224 Atmosphere and Weather
This course provides a detailed introduction to the earth's atmosphere with particular emphasis on the troposphere extending from the surface to 10km in elevation. Topics include the earth's solar energy budget, atmospheric pressure and wind systems, global and local meteorological processes, and weather forecasting. The class will make significant use of meteorological data and satellite imagery taken from NOAA's National Weather Service to study seasonal weather patterns, rain and snow events, and catastrophic hurricanes.
GEOG-230 Environmental Soil Science
Introduction to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils and their relationship to environmental quality, agricultural production, and land management. This course will also describe the processes of origin and development of soils as natural entities and how they affect the different ecosystems where they are located. Some field work required.
GEOG-232 Pop Culture and Place
This course explores how popular culture shapes the spaces we inhabit, imagine, and remember. Through film, television, music, sports, social media, and built environments, we examine how place, identity, memory, and cultural landscapes are constructed and contested. Using key frameworks from cultural geography, including space and place, landscape interpretation, memory work, representation, and scale, students will analyze popular culture as spatial practice. We will actively engage with popular culture, watching film clips, listening to music, analyzing television episodes, and examining social media.
GEOG-261 Collaborative Research Experience
Collaborative research experiences combine direct mentorship from faculty, group discussions and learning, and independent inquiry that leads to substantive student research projects. The thematic focus of these experiences varies. Students can develop research projects on a topic of their choice related to the class theme or participate in the faculty member's research in the field.
GEOG-261CT Collaborative Research Experience: 'Cities'
This collaborative research experience focuses on cities and their dynamism. It affords students the opportunity to combine aspects of both a typical course and of an independent study to examine numerous facets of urban life, such as, the impacts of urban planning and design, lived experiences in cities, and the possibilities for just and regenerative urban futures. Steeped within geographic and urban theories and scholarship, by the end of the semester, students will have produced a substantive research project (on a topic of their choice or aligned with the professor's research), experienced direct mentorship from the professor, and participated in group discussions and collaborative learning.
GEOG-261MG Collaborative Research Experience: 'Human Migration'
This collaborative research experience focuses on human migration and invites students to consider, for example: the spatial and temporal patterns of migration and settlement, migrant representations and their implications, and the impacts of borders and bordering. The class uses geographic and migration theories as analytical guides and combines aspects of a typical course with independent study to examine human migration. By the end of the semester, students will have produced a substantive research project (on a topic of their choice or aligned with the professor's research), experienced direct mentorship from the professor, and participated in group discussions and collaborative learning.
GEOG-295 Independent Study
GEOG-311 Seminar in Geography
These seminars present selected topics in geography that reflect contemporary problems, current geographical ideas, philosophical and methodological trends in geography, and/or the history and development of geographical thought.
GEOG-311CU Seminar: 'Critical Urban Geography'
This seminar engages with the evolving field of critical urban geography. We will consider contemporary issues in cities around the world by examining scholarship related to environmental, political, economic, social and spatial themes.
GEOG-312 Seminar in Geography
These seminars present selected topics in geography that reflect contemporary problems, current geographical ideas, philosophical and methodological trends in geography, and/or the history and development of geographical thought.
GEOG-321 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
This course builds advanced skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), combining theory with weekly labs to create confident, independent users. Students move beyond mapmaking to analyze and visualize data, apply spatial models, and integrate Python programming into GIS workflows. Hands-on projects emphasize decision-making, critical thinking, and problem solving, while showcasing advanced ArcGIS functions. By working with both quantitative and qualitative datasets, students gain the ability to use GIS creatively and effectively in academic and professional contexts.
GEOG-323 Pixels to Landscape: Mapping the World with Rasters and Satellites
This course builds on introductory GIS courses GEOG-205 and GEOG-210 that are "vector-oriented". We cover more advanced topics of raster GIS and Remote Sensing. We will use the enhanced analytical capability of raster GIS to analyze landscape data and use satellite imagery to model the surface of the Earth. Some of the themes of raster GIS covered are environmental modeling, land suitability, land change modeling, multi criteria evaluation, cost distance analysis, terrain modeling, etc. In the area of Remote Sensing, we'll explore some of the newer satellite imagery available and will work with image exploration, geo-registration, and restoration, supervised and unsupervised classification, etc. Final project will be required, as well as weekly exercises and quizzes.
GEOG-328 Climate Migration
This seminar focuses on climate change-induced human migration from both theoretical and applied perspectives. It examines the predicted scope of this population movement and considers international instruments that could shape responses to this growing category of migrants. A set of contemporary case studies from around the world animate our investigation into what it means to adapt to an altered environment and inform our questions about responsibility for climate change. Throughout the semester, students will grapple with the complex environmental, economic, cultural, and political intersections of migration and Earth's changing climate system.
GEOG-395 Independent Study
