Upcoming Courses

Spring 2025 

SUST 101 Introduction to Sustainability

Provides a foundation for sustainability knowledge and problem-solving. Explores the relationships between people and natural systems, examines pressing global challenges, and outlines leadership solutions to wicked challenges. Consideration of the most urgent concerns tied to living out of balance with the planet that sustains life. (EVEL)

  • Fulfills General Education Requirement (IFPE)

GEOG 210 Planet Earth - People and Place

Introduction to our earth as home to people and place through geographic approaches that analyze cultural, societal, economic, political, and environmental change. Topics include: human dimensions of climate change; sustainability; spatial analysis techniques and theories; population distributions and migration; cultural geographies; global economic development and its distribution; urbanization; political geography; and human-environment relations. (Same as Global Studies 210.) (GSHE, SUSS)

  • Fulfills General Education Requirement (FSSA, AISO, IFEB)

GEOG 215 Geography of the James River Watershed

Study of the local environments and protected areas within the James River watershed. Explores the natural and human connections that define the resource challenges and opportunities within this urban watershed. (AMER, EVEL, SUEV)

GEOG 250 Planet Earth: Wind, Water, Fire 

Basic concepts of earth systems science and physical geography. Topics include introduction to mapping, GIS, and remote sensing; weather and climate; drought, floods, and environmental hydrology; earthquakes, volcanos, landforms, and geomorphology; and the interactions of all of the above with humans and the earth's biota. Climate change and the spatial inequalities in environmental pollution and resources are emphasized. (Same as Environmental Studies 250.) (EVPS, SUEV)

  • Fulfills General Education Requirement (FSNB, AINS, IFQD)

GEOG 260 Foundations of Geospatial Analysis

Introduces the data and technology underlying quantitative spatial analysis. Covers foundational concepts of geospatial data (raster, vector, coordinate systems, map projections, scale, symbology, and metadata) and introduces students to geospatial technology (GIS, GPS, remote sensing, web and mobile mapping). Uses spatial data from multiple national and international data platforms (e.g. USGS, Census Bureau, CDC, UN) to create maps and perform basic spatial analysis. Introduction to concepts of map reading and design. (ARCH, EVEL, EVRM)

  • Fulfills General Education Requirement (IFQD)

 GEOG 315 Landscape Ecology

Studies interactions between physical environment, biodiversity, and human activities. Using spatial analysis and ecological modeling, this applied science informs conservation, land management, and urban development. (Same as Biology 315) (BIEL, EVEL, SUEV)

GEOG 320 Power, Space, and Territory: Geographies of Political Change

Analyses of and explorations into the spatial dimensions and geographic characteristics of global, regional, and local political change; and the political economy and ecology of globalization. Topics include: imperialism; world systems theory; nationalism; regionalism; electoral geography; race, class and gender; political economy of trade and foreign aid; and political ecology. (EVEL,GSD1,GSDW,SUSS,GHSC)

  • Fulfills General Education Requirement (AISO,IFPE)

GEOG 345 Global Sustainability: Society, Economy, and Nature

Examines environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions of sustainability and sustainable development. Examinations into foundations and theories behind the concept of sustainable development, discussions and debates about its real-world applicability, and explorations into case studies addressing relationships and contradictions between human desires for material well-being, environmental protection, and maintenance of cultural and/or social traditions. Builds a sustainability worldview with systems thinking, justice, sustainability knowledge, integration, and acting for positive change as key components. (EVEL, GSD1,GSEI, GSGP)

GEOG 365 Advanced Spatial Analysis

Advanced topics in Geographic Information Systems and spatial data science theories and applications. Topics include use of the multivariate spatial visualization, 3-D analyses, Google Earth Engine, clustering algorithms, network analyses, spatially explicit regression models, advanced interpolation methods, and multiple applications of the techniques in biological, health, environmental, and social sciences issues. (Same as Sustainability 345)(EVEL, ARCH)

ENVR 364 Environmental Geology

Introduces students to the global environmental impact of anthropogenic climate change and the possible impact of the way we live in the USA on poor, marginalized, and at-risk communities around the world. (GOEL, EVEL)