Courses

Humans are at once shaping their landscape and being shaped by the landscape. This course encourages critical thinking about the relationships between humans and their environment and considers our own positions in the complex matrix of human-environmental interdependencies. We will explore a variety of sub-fields in human geography including economic, environmental, cultural, historical, political, urban and/or agricultural geographies. After developing a foundation for spatial analysis and understanding interdependencies, students are prepared to pursue more human geography courses and to ask geographic questions about contemporary issues and problems in the world today.

This course is an introduction to ecological and environmental systems, processes, and problems at global, state, and local levels.  Through lecture and labs we will examine ecosystems, natural resources, and earth processes and their interactions with the human environment. 

This course is an overview of geographic research methods and techniques. Topics covered include: research design, field and archival data collection, statistical analysis, topographic map reading, and introduction to remote sensing and GIS. Emphasis is on practical application of the techniques, skills, and methods presented. Fall & Spring.

This course is about geomorphology, the study of earth's landforms, and the internal and surface processes that form its surface: mountain-building and continental scale tectonic processes, volcanoes, rock weathering processes, hillslopes, fluvial (streams), coastal, wind, glaciers, karst, and the significance of structure, climate and human activities. Field trips to Lassen Volcanic National Park to see volcanic, glacial, fluvial, hillslope and weathering phenomena (3-day) and the San Mateo Coast (1-day).

This course investigates interactions between climate and the biosphere, including both climatic controls on biological functioning and vice-versa, especially modification and use of climate by plants and humans. We combine theoretical study with applications in agriculture and forestry, urban design and air pollution. Topics explored include ecosystem-atmosphere cycles of water, carbon and energy, human thermoregulation, urban climates and surface winds. Students participate actively in learning through weekend fieldwork, data interpretation, reading and classroom discussions.

Soils lie at the intersection of all areas of physical geography: they develop as a result of environmental factors of climate and surface hydrology; on parent material developed from local bedrock and sediments; are modified by local geomorphic processes and topographic relationships; and co-evolve with biotic systems such as plant communities and microorganisms. The relationship between soils and humans is profound: agriculture depends on soils, yet human misuse is the major cause of soil degradation. In this course, students learn how soils form from the interplay of these factors, how and where they develop their essential properties (texture, structure, moisture, chemical nutrients, organisms, etc.), and how we can best sustain them as an essential natural resource.

Geography 402 focuses on collective human causes of and response to natural hazards.  The emphasis is on the human-environmental interactions that may result in natural disasters to human lives and properties. The course has four objectives: (1) Understand the physical processes that may lead to detrimental outcome to human lives and properties, which sets the foundation for the second objective; (2) Survey historical hazard causes and coping strategies, i.e., why natural processes would become disastrous to human societies and how humans make trade-offs between gains and losses in hazardous environment, which leads to the third objective; (3) Evaluate current natural hazard mitigation with case studies of recent and/or major natural disasters in order to gain insights into the role of stakeholders in mitigation strategies, which establishes a framework for the fourth objective; (4) Apply basic concepts and tools for hazard mitigation, focusing on hazard prevention (management) instead of disaster (emergency) response, and developing a conceptual framework of sustainable development in human-environmental interaction.

This course explores people's interpretations of their environment and the links between environmental perception and behavior, highlighting the important work done by geographers. We begin at a personal scale and proceed to broader scales, examining the representation of nature, the social construction of nature and variations in the perception and social construction of environmental problems.

Location and geographic distribution of the world's major types of production and associated systems of distribution and consumption; interpretation of economic activities in relation to various features of the environment.

Exploration of movements for sustainable and urban agriculture, local and regional food systems, food justice and food sovereignty; consideration of ecological, economic, and political aspects of building alternative food systems locally, nationally, and internationally. Field trips and community service required. 

We will examine the relationship between cities and transportation, with an emphasis on the Bay Area. The course includes a review of trends, history, and current issues in urban transportation in the United States and Bay Area. Other topics include the transportation planning process, environmental concerns, and financing urban transport. Throughout the semester we will consider a variety of mobility choices and investments that are being considered in the Bay Area. Students are expected to attend all lectures, conduct all outside readings, and undertake an in-depth, semester-long research project on an urban transportation issue. Students are also required to take one of two field trips. 

The course explores examples of global transportation trends, policies and debates, and compares them to the Bay Area, California, and the US. We begin with an overview of the global proliferation of automobiles, and look at implications for global natural resources and the environment. Specifically, we examine the relationship between the globalization of automobiles and oil. Next, the course offers a comparison of key themes in transportation, including: (1) Road building in the Bay Area and a discussion of the politics of road building. We'll then review some case studies of road building politics around the world. (2) Transit policy in the Bay Area will include a review of San Francisco's “transit first” approach, the funding debate surrounding MUNI, and then a case study profile of Zurich, Switzerland. (3) Bicycling's re-emergence as utilitarian urban transportation mode and bicycling trends in San Francisco.

Physical and cultural geographic factors in and between political-territorial units. Effects of resource distribution, political motivations and ideologies on establishing territorial sovereignty. Also offered as IR 445. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.

The spatial structure and organization of ethnic communities as illustrated by reference to San Francisco and other American cities.

Anglo-America's physiography, climates, vegetation, soils, natural resources; the effect on development of industry, commerce, and population distribution.

Geographic environment of China and impact on modern socioeconomic development. Environmental and resource challenges, regional development strategies, and geopolitical imperatives.

Application of field methods in human geography. Research methodologies and design including interviewing, surveying, ethnographic methods, and archival research. (Paired with GEOG 701. Students who complete GEOG 701 may not take GEOG 601 for credit.

This course is an introduction to computer-based geographic analysis and problem-solving. It covers the fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology and how it is being applied in various disciplines. Students will learn how to collect, organize, analyze, and display geographic data. Each student will complete a series of lab exercises that exemplify the typical steps in a GIS project. The course will culminate with students carrying out their own GIS project. Esri ArcGIS software will be used for the laboratory portion of the course.

GEOG 606 Cartography (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GEOG 205 or equivalent.

Theory and practice in modern thematic cartography; compilation and classification of geospatial data sets; the role of scale and projections in thematic maps; theory and practice in cartographic symbolization, visualization, and communication; ethics in geospatial visualization; issues in implementing cartographic visualizations in web and GIS environments. Classwork, 2 units; laboratory, 1 unit. Lab fee required.

Advanced remote sensing and digital image processing. Selected topics cover corrections of topographic effects, orthoimage and DEM generation from stereo images, advanced classification algorithms, and hyperspectral imaging using ERDAS Imagine and ENVI software. The class ends with object-oriented image analysis (OBIA) using eCognition.

GIS methods applied to environmental analysis. Many applications in environmental science, geosciences, conservation biology, physical geography. Topics and methods covered: (1) raster and surface display methods; (2) raster spatial analysis methods; (3) geomorphic surface analysis; and (4) spatial statistics and geostatistical interpolation of surfaces from environmental samples.

GIS for partial analysis to support coastal and marine research. Benthic habitat mapping, mapping and visualization for coastal/marine applications, spatial analysis of marine animal movements, habitat modeling and mapping of marine protected areas.

This course explores the physical and social properties of water quality including analytical techniques and mitigation, state and federal regulations, public policy and environmental justice in local, regional, and global contexts. Topics include the social, physical, and chemical properties of water and pollutants. We will discuss the extent and significance of critical issues related to water quality in different environments.

This course explores water availability and the human development, use and abuse of water resources in local, regional and global contexts. Topics include basic hydrology; urban and agricultural water supply; legal, political, social, economic, biological, perceptual and environmental issues in water development; and comparison of goals and strategies for sustainable water resource management. Divergent solutions to water-related issues and controversies. Field trip to Sacramento Valley, Oroville and Whiskeytown Reservoirs.

Our environment is our home; we live in it, we depend on it, we alter it, and the cycle goes on. In this class we will explore a variety of environmental issues in the SF Bay Area. By no means will this be a comprehensive list, nor will it be an exhaustive investigation into any one issue. Instead, we will see a cross section of issues that affect our home and our lives, past, present and future. It is more important, however, to learn how to analyze environmental issues than to memorize a list of them. We will focus on understanding the underlying physical processes and investigate solutions and their consequences. Every problem has a complex social context.

Management of forest, range and wildlife, including the agencies involved in managing natural resources and relevant laws and policies. Exercises, labs, and field trips will include methods for assessing, measuring and monitoring natural resources, including statistics and geographic information systems will be provided. Field trips to meet experts in the field and examine current problems and solutions within natural resource management. Learning objectives: Understand laws and policies that govern natural resource management.1) Learn methods used in measuring forest, rangeland, and wildlife resources. 2) Write a lab report accurately, concisely, and with precision. 3) Understanding the controversies and complexities in resource management

Geographical analysis of waste. Alternative solutions focusing on the San Francisco Bay Area: development and implementation of resource management programs.

Practical geographic assignments with sponsoring agencies. May be repeated when different internships are undertaken to a maximum of 6 units.

Internship Guidelines

Internship Agreement

Supervised study of a particular problem selected by the student in consultation with the adviser. May be repeated for a total of 3 units.

International/global policy making process and responses to critical environmental problems confronting the world as well as underlying causes such as population explosion and energy consumption. Policy choices, negotiating strategies, and outcomes. (Also offered as IR 735. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)

This seminar serves as an introduction to graduate study in geography. Nature and historical development of our field; scope and method of contemporary American geography (themes, concepts, methods, models and problems); professional and scholarly ethics; grad program logistics; strategies for successful completion of Masters work.

An analysis of the current issues in biogeography in US, such as biogeographic thought, distribution and habitat modeling, urban ecology, disturbance biogeography, and human effects on biodiversity, with additional emphasis on California ecosystems. Field trips explore local and statewide ecosystems.

The theoretical development of GIScience with emphasis on exploring and discussing research literature in geographic information systems, remote sensing and spatial analysis.

Seminar in geographic theory, methods of analysis, and research techniques relating to urban areas.

Development of research project basic to projected M.A. or M.S. thesis. Formulation of research question, appropriate bibliographic search, database, analytic techniques, final thesis, description for culminating experience. May be repeated twice. CR/NC grading only.