Geography Course List
101-102 World Geography (3,3) Selected topics and world regions, especially those with problems or situations of contemporary interest, to illustrate geographical points of view, concepts, and techniques. Must be taken in sequence.
108 Honors: World Geography (4) For freshmen and sophomores of superior ability who are interested in the geographical approach to important world problems and issues. Open to students who have received an "A" in Geography 101. Students may not receive credit for both 102 and 108.
131-132 Geography of the Natural Environment (4,4) Characteristics and processes of the earth’s surface and lower atmosphere; their interaction to produce a world pattern of distinctive environments significant to humanity. Must be taken in sequence. 3 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week. Not open to students who have taken 330. Prereq: 131 is prerequisite to 132.
210 Introductory Technical Geography (1) Covers basic concepts required in 310, 410, 411, and 413. Recommended to be taken prior to or concurrently with these courses. The shape of the Earth, map scales, coordinate systems, and projections. Self-paced, online course with written (offline) final exam.
310 Introduction to Cartography (3) Properties, sources, uses, design and production of maps as tools for geographical analysis. Introduction to desktop mapping techniques and data display using basic thematic map styles. 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week.
320 Cultural Geography: Core Concepts (3) Background and method of cultural geography; basic concepts and theories focusing on cultural landscape, culture regions, cultural ecology, innovation and diffusion, cultural integration, and world patterns of cultural phenomena.
334 Meteorology (3) Dynamic atmosphere and resulting weather events. Nature of individual weather elements, their measurement and analysis over time and space.
340 Economic Geography: Core Concepts (3) Concepts, theories, and practices in economic geography. Real and theoretical patterns in agriculture, manufacturing, and service activities.
345 Population and Environment (3) Global and local patterns of population distribution and change as they relate to culture, economic development, technology, and the environment and the future. Prereq: 101-102 or consent of instructor. Writing-emphasis course.
351 The Global Economy (3) Global patterns of industries and markets. International flow of resources, goods and capital. Major trading blocks. Writing-emphasis course.
361 Regional Geography of the United States and Canada (3) Physical, economic, and social distributions as they interrelate to and give distinctive character to regions of the United States and Canada. Writing-emphasis course.
363 Geography of the American South (3) Geographical appraisal of the southeastern United States, including physical environment and human resources. Origin and development of contemporary economic and cultural traits of the area. Writing-emphasis course.
365 Geography of Appalachia (3) Interrelation of physical, economic, and social patterns that give distinctive character to the region and its parts, especially in southern Appalachia. Appalachia in perspective in the current American scene. Writing-emphasis course.
366 Geography of Tennessee (3) Survey of the geography of the State of Tennessee including its natural, economic, and physical resources, as well as an examination of the state’s diversity, development, and its geographic connections within the Southeast region and beyond. Writing-emphasis course.
371 Geography of Europe (3) Physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Europe. Emphasis on the geographical dimensions of change in contemporary Europe. Writing emphasis course.
373 Geography of South America (3) Physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the countries of South America. (Same as Latin American Studies 373.) Writing-emphasis course.
410 Global Positioning Systems and Geographic Data (3) Theory and field and laboratory use of Global Positioning Systems for capturing digital geographic data; management of geographic date, including coordinate systems, datum issues, scanning digitizing, map standards, and uncertainty in Geographic Information Systems. 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week.
411 Computer Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (3) Concepts, management, and presentation of digital data for spatial analysis, with emphasis on cartographic data structures. 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week. Prereq: 310 and knowledge of a computer language or consent of instructor.
412 Advanced Cartography Techniques (3) Cartographic design and data display techniques for reference and thematic maps. Basic principles and methods of map reproduction. Prereq: 310 or consent of instructor. 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week.
413 Remote Sensing: Types and Applications (3) Principles and uses of remote sensing imagery, digital data, and spectral data, with particular emphasis on geographic interpretation and mapping techniques. Prereq: 310 or consent of instructor.
414 Spatial Databases and Data Management (3) Types, sources, acquisition, and documentation of spatial data. Spatial database management methods and strategies for data sharing. 2 hours lecture and 2 hours lab. Prereq: 411.
415 Quantitative Methods in Geography (3) Geographic application of statistical techniques, point pattern analysis, and analysis of areal units. Prereq: Mathematics 115 or two semesters of calculus or consent of instructor.
419 Practicum in Cartography/Remote Sensing (2-6) Supervised practice in design and production of maps and other graphic materials in the Cartographic Services Laboratory or a similar organization. Prereq: Written consent of department prior to registration. S/NC or letter grade.
421 Geography of Folk Societies (3) Geographical study of folk culture, emphasizing traditional material culture and rural settlement, with examples drawn from eastern North America and selected foreign areas. Prereq: 101-102 or 320 or consent of instructor.
423 Geography of American Popular Culture (3) Geographical study of regional variation in popular cultures, especially focused on youth cultures in the United States. Prereq: Geography 320 or consent of instructor. Writing emphasis course. Same as American Studies 423. Primary department is Geography.
432 Dendrochronology (4) Principles, techniques, and interpretation in tree-ring science. Applications in climate, ecology, forestry, and earth sciences. 3 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week. Prereq: 131-132 or consent of instructor.
433 The Land-Surface System (3) Characteristics of surface form, water, vegetation, and surface materials, and their regional interrelationships. People as evaluators and agents of change. Prereq: 131-132 or consent of instructor.
434 Climatology (3) General circulation system leading to world pattern of climates. Climatic change and modification, and interrelationships of climate and human activity. Prereq: 131-132 or 334 or consent of instructor. Prereq: 131 or consent of instructor.
435 Biogeography (3) Study of the changing distribution patterns of plants and animals on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. The effects of continental drift, Pleistocene climatic change, and human activity on world biota are emphasized. Prereq: 131-132 or consent of instructor.
436 Water Resources (3) Global water resources and hydrologic processes, including water availability, flooding, and water quality issues examined from physical and economic geographic perspectives. Prerequisite: 131-132 or consent of instructor.
439 Plant Geography of North America (3) Characteristics and distribution of major plant communities of Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Central America. Relationships to climate, soil, fire, and human disturbance. Long-term history and future prospects. Prereq: 131-132 or course work in botany or consent of instructor.
441 Urban Geography of the United States (3) Concepts and theories concerning development and significance of systems of cities and internal morphology of cities in the United States. Prereq: 101-102 or 340 or consent of instructor. (Same as Urban Studies 441.) Writing intensive.
442 Urban Social Geography (3) Geographical study of urban culture. Social production of neighborhoods. Social and behavioral aspects of territoriality, residential mobility, segregation, and the rise of post-industrial and global cities.
443 Rural Geography of the United States (3) Geographical appraisal of rural areas of the United States, including small towns and urban fringes. Problems and potentials of rural America. Prereq: 101-102 or 340 or consent of instructor. Writing intensive.
449 Geography of Transportation (3) Examination of transportation systems, emphasizing their effects on trade patterns, land use, location problems, and development. Prereq: 340 or consent of instructor.
450 Process Geomorphology (3) Integrative approach to the development of the surface of the Earth based upon case histories, maps, remote sensing imagery. 2 lecture hours and one 2-hour lab. Prereq: Geology 101-102.
454 Terrain Analysis (3) Analysis of landscape history from digital elevation datasets and traditional topographic maps. Basement materials and structures. Erosional and depositional evidence, including fluvial, glacial, aeolian, and shoreline features of past climatic and biological regimes. Prereq: 132 or Geology 101 and 102 or Geology 107 and 108.
466 Teaching and Learning Geography (3) Preparation of prospective teachers in content, skills, strategies, and understandings needed for effective teaching and assessment of geography in K-12 schools. Course organization and content based largely on that of the National Geography Standards.
490 Internship (3) Career-related experience with business, nonprofit, and government organizations. For geography majors. Prereq: Prior written permission of geography department head or authorized internship director. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. Satisfactory/No Credit.
491 Foreign Study (1-15) Prereq: Written consent of department required prior to registration. S/NC or letter grade.
492 Off-Campus Study (1-15) Prereq: Written consent of department required prior to registration. S/NC or letter grade.
493 Independent Study (1-15) Prereq: Written consent of department required prior to registration. S/NC or letter grade.
494 Undergraduate Research Experience (1-3) Supervised participation in active research projects. Prereq: Consent of department head. May be repeated once; maximum 6 hrs. S/NC grading.
495 Special Topics in Geography (1-4) Topics vary. Prereq: consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. S/NC or letter grade. Maximum 8 hours.
497 Honors: Senior Thesis (3) Students develop undergraduate thesis topic under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Prereq: Open to second semester juniors and first semester seniors who have a 3.2 or better overall GPA and permission of the thesis advisor.
498 Honors: Senior Thesis (3) Completion of senior thesis. Prereq: 497 with grade of "A" and permission of thesis advisor.
499 Proseminar in Geography (3) Major themes in geography, especially trends over the past 40 years. Required for majors. Not open to graduate students. Prereq: Senior standing and completion of at least 12 hours of major or minor requirements in geography. Writing-emphasis course.
500 Thesis (1-15) P/NP only. E
501 Colloquium in Geography (1) Discussion of departmental research, current research literature, and general topics. Registration required of resident graduate students whenever offered. May be repeated. Maximum 4 hrs. May be applied toward graduate degree. S/NC only.
502 Registration for Use of Facilities (3-15) Required for the student not otherwise registered during any semester when student uses University facilities and/or faculty time before degree is completed. May not be used toward degree requirements. May be repeated. S/NC only. E
504 Introduction to Geographical Research (1) Research interests and methods of departmental faculty. Research frontiers in geography. Required of new graduate students.
505 Directed Research (2-6) Research on problems as defined by individual students. Prereq: Written consent of instructor and department prior to registration. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 9 hrs. S/NC or letter grade.
506 Directed Readings (2-6) Readings on topics of interest as defined by individual students. Prereq: Written consent of instructor and department prior to registration. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 9 hrs. S/NC or letter grade.
507 Research in Human Geography (3) Introduction to human geography’s questions, methods, and norms.
509 Topics in Geography (2-3) Topics vary. Prereq: Consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs. S/NC or letter grade.
510 Geographic Software Design (3) Algorithms for spatial analysis, software design, and program implementation in stand alone and distributed computing environments. Prereq: Consent of instructor.
513 Topics in Remote Sensing (3) Applied research using imagery for interpretation and mapping of geographic data. Prereq: 413 or consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
515 Topics in Quantitative Geography (3) Multivariate analysis applied to problems in geography; research problems utilizing appropriate computer programs; usefulness to geographic research of techniques developed by other disciplines. Prereq: 415 or consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
517 Geographic Information Management and Processing (3) Concepts and methods in management of geographic information. Database design, manipulation, sampling and analysis. Prereq: Consent of instructor.
518 GIS Project Management (3) Interactions between management, technical, and application aspects of Geographic Information Systems project through simulated environment of real-world GIS sites. Prereq: 411 or consent of instructor.
519 Graduate Practicum in Cartography/Remote Sensing/GIS (2-6) Prereq: Written consent of department before registration. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
521 Topics in Cultural Geography (3) Examination of trends, problems, and methods in cultural geography. Prereq: 421 or consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
532 Topics in Global Change (3) Emerging trends, anticipated problems and methods in global change research and response. Prereq: 434 or consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
533 Topics in Physical Geography (3) Examination of trends, problems, and methods in geography of land surface system or in modern climatology. Prereq: 433 or 434 and consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
534 Topics in Climatology (3) Trends, problems and methods in area of climatology. Prereq: 434 or consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
535 Topics in Biogeography (3) Examination of trends, problems, and methods in biogeography. Prereq: 435 or consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
536 Topics in Watershed Dynamics (3) Trends, problems and methods in study of watershed processes. Prereq: Consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
541 Topics in Urban Geography (3) Analysis of research on urban systems, internal morphology, urban problems and urban spatial behavior. Prereq: 441 or consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
545 Topics in Population Geography (3) Human population dynamics and migration, spatial variation in population composition and housing. Demographic analysis techniques.
549 Topics in the Geography of Transportation (3) Examination of trends, problems, and methods in transportation geography and transportation networks. Prereq: 449 or consent of instructor. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Maximum 6 hrs.
591 Foreign Study (1-15) See College of Arts and Sciences. Prereq: Written consent of department prior to registration. S/NC or letter grade.
592 Off-Campus Study (1-15) See College of Arts and Sciences. Prereq: Written consent of department prior to registration. S/NC or letter grade.
593 Independent Study (1-15) See College of Arts and Sciences. Prereq: Written consent of department prior to registration. S/NC or letter grade.
599 Geographic Concept and Method (3) Traditional and modern geographic thought; readings on nature, scope, problems, and methods of geography. Prereq: Consent of instructor.
600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation (3-15) P/NP only. E
609 Seminar in Geography (2-3) Topics vary. Prereq: Consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
611 Seminar in Geographic Information Science (3) May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. Prereq: 517 and 518 or consent of instructor.
631 Seminar in Natural Hazards (3) Prereq: Consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
632 Seminar in Dendrochronology (3) Prereq: 432 or consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
633 Seminar in Physical Geography (3) Prereq: 533 or consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
634 Seminar in Climatology (3) Prereq: 534, 532 or consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
635 Seminar in Biogeography (3) Prereq: 535 or consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
641 Seminar in Urban Geography (3) Prereq: 541 or consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
643 Seminar in Rural Geography (3) Prereq: 443 or consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
649 Seminar in Geography of Transportation (3) Prereq: 549 or consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
663 Seminar in Geography of the American South (3) Prereq: Consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.