Upcoming Courses

Spring 2026 

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 250 Planet Earth: Wind, Water, Fire 

Basic concepts of Earth systems science and physical geography. Topics include an introduction to mapping, GIS, and remote sensing; weather and climate; drought, floods, and environmental hydrology; earthquakes, volcanoes, 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 345 Global Sustainability: Society, Economy, 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. Prerequisites: GEOG 210, ENVR 201, GS 210, GS 290, or SUST 101. (Same as SUST 345)

GEOG 360 Environmental Remote Sensing
Concepts of image acquisition, image interpretation, and satellite remote sensing. Includes electromagnetic spectrum concepts, acquisition of image data, visual characteristics of vegetation and landforms, image interpretation, classification and transformation, and integration of remotely sensed imagery into other spatial analysis systems. Student research projects. Prerequisites: GEOG 260

  • Fulfills General Education Requirement (IFQD)

GEOG 365 Advanced Spatial Analysis
Advanced topics in Geographic Information Systems and spatial data science theories and applications. Topics include the use of 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. Prerequisites: GEOG 260

GEOG 370 Global Climate Investment
Geographic perspectives on economic development and spatial analysis of trends in the global economy. Topics include: natural resource location and distribution; commodity flows and chains; technological change and diffusion; international trade; entrepreneurship and innovation; industrial location theory; social and cultural dimensions of development; geographies of labor; and regional development theories and trends. Prerequisites: GEOG210, GS210, GS290, ENVR201, GEOG201, or SUST101.

  • Fulfills General Education Requirement (AISO, IFPE)