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Department of Geography
207 Arts and Sciences Building
Phone: (307) 766-3311, FAX: (307) 766-2697
Website: http://www.uwyo.edu/geog/
Professors:
WILLIAM L. BAKER, B.S. Oregon State University
1977; M.S. University of North Carolina 1980; Ph.D. University of Wisconsin
1987.
THOMAS BUCHANAN, B.S. State University New York College-Cortland 1973; M.S. University of Wyoming 1975; Ph.D. University of Illinois 1979;
President of the University of Wyoming 2005.
GERALD R. WEBSTER, B.A. University of Colorado - Denver 1975; M.S. Western Washington University 1980; Ph.D. University of Kentucky 1984; Professor of Geography 2007.
Associate Professors:
WILLIAM J. GRIBB, B.S. Wayne State University
1973; M.A. University of Colorado 1975; Ph.D. Michigan State University
1982.
DEBORAH D. PAULSON, B.A. College of St.
Benedict/St. John's University 1975; M.S. Northern Arizona University 1981;
Ph.D. University of Hawaii 1992.
Assistant Professor:
STEVEN D. PRAGER, B.S. University of North Carolina-Charlotte 1992; M.A. 1995; Ph.D. Simon Fraser University 2002; Assistant Professor of Geography 2004.
JACQUELINE J. SHINKER, B.S. University of Arizona 1996; M.A. University of Oregon 1999; Ph.D. 2003; Assistant Professor of Geography 2005.
Visiting Professor:
LUCIUS HALLETT IV, A.O.S. Culinary Institute of America 1993; B.A. University of New Hampshire 1999; M.A. University of Kansas 2001; Ph.D. 2007; Visiting Professor of Geography 2008.
Research Scientist:
JEFFREY D. HAMERLINCK, B.S. University of North Dakota 1988; M.P. University of Wyoming 1992.
Assistant Research Scientist:
JAMES R. OAKLEAF, B.S. University of Wyoming 1991; M.P. 1995.
ZONGBO SHANG, B.S. Shenyang Agricultural University 1995; M.S. 1998; Ph.D. Chinese Academy of Sciences 2001.
Adjunct Faculty:
J. Michael Daniels, Beverly Driver, Michael Londe, William Reiners
Professor Emeritus:
John L. Allen,
Ronald E. Beiswenger, Lawrence M. Ostresh, Jr.,
Richard G. Reider
The Department of Geography is comprised of faculty with interests and expertise in geography, outdoor recreation, planning, and resource management. The department focuses upon the following:
- The origin and nature of the physical and cultural environment, how the physical environment and its natural resources form, and how the environment and natural resources affect the quality of life.
- The ways in which people and institutions affect natural resources and the environment.
- The variety of methods and techniques with which we solve or prevent problems through the planning and management of natural resources.
- The way in which human arrangements and institutions (e.g. political, economic, social) interact to produce diverse human landscapes.
The Department of Geography has identified nine fundamental elements of geography to emphasize in its undergraduate curriculum. These nine elements are at the intersection of topically important areas in the discipline of geography. We continue to evaluate student learning in our program to insure our curriculum addresses these fundamental elements as effectively as possible.
Element 1 - Human-Environment Interactions
Students shall be able to characterize and evaluate how human modifications of the environment effect Earth's biophysical systems, and how Earth's biophysical systems influence and modify human activity.
Element 2 – Spatial Variation
Students shall develop the ability to identify and evaluate the dynamics of spatial variations in the human and physical environments.
Element 3 – Place
Students shall develop the ability to recognize and understand the processes by which humans give meaning to places.
Element 4 – Biophysical Systems
Students shall be able to identify and explain the array of patterns, processes, and interactions in Earth’s biophysical systems occurring at different spatial scales.
Element 5 – Scale
Students shall be able to recognize and explain how local, regional, and global processes interact to produce physical and human systems.
Element 6 – Change
Students shall recognize that human and physical systems are characterized by constant change, and that an appreciation of the past, current, and future conditions of these systems is vital to understand the nature of geographic phenomena.
Element 7 – Visualization and Representation
Students shall develop the ability to use multiple methods to represent and visualize Earth and its geographic characteristics, and to appropriately interpret their meaning.
Element 8 – Geographic Methods and Analysis
Students shall demonstrate the ability to recognize the appropriate tools and techniques for solving geographic problems and conducting geographic analysis.
Element 9 – Human/Cultural Systems
Students shall be able to identify and explain the patterns, processes, and interactions of people on Earth through their resulting settlements, movements, their cultural mosaic, and economic activities.
Undergraduate Major
In addition to course work required by the university and the college, majors must complete 40 hours of department requirements. Students in both the B.A. and B.S. programs must complete the following:
| Core Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
|
GEOG
1000
World Regional Geography |
3 |
|
GEOG
1010
Intro to Physical Geography |
4 |
|
GEOG
1020
Intro to Human Geography |
3 |
|
GEOG
2150
Maps and Aerial Photo Interpretation |
3 |
| Total hours | 13 |
Content areas. 27 hours distributed among a minimum of three of the following areas with at least two courses in each of two areas:
- Human geography
- Physical geography
- Geographic information science
- Natural resource management/recreation
Undergraduate Concentrations
Although students are encouraged to sample from the wide variety of courses within the geography program, and the general geography major is an option selected by many students, most undergraduate majors choose to specialize in one of the department’s areas of concentration.
Concentration in Physical Geography. Offerings in this concentration include an introductory survey of the natural environment and advanced course work in areas that include landforms, soils, weather and climate, glacial and periglacial environments, paleoenvironments, and biogeography. Course work in this concentration is frequently related to ongoing faculty research programs and activities. Courses in this concentration are designated with (P) in the following course listing. The concentration consists of 16 hours to include:
| GEOG 1010 | 3 |
| and any four of the following courses | |
| GEOG 3010 | 3 |
| GEOG 3450 | 3 |
| GEOG 3480 | 3 |
| GEOG 3550 | 3 |
| GEOG 4000 | 3 |
| GEOG 4410 | 4 |
| GEOG 4450 | 3 |
| GEOG 4460 | 3 |
| GEOG 4470 | 3 |
Concentration in Geographic Information Science. The concentration in geographic analysis focuses upon the interface between geography and the computer. It offers specialized training in a variety of analytic tools and methods courses ranging from the design and preparation of maps using computer-aided mapping programs to the spatial analysis of physical and human phenomena using detailed computer-based geographic-based geographic information systems (GIS). Courses in this concentration are designated with an (A) in the following course listing. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in GIS courses. The concentration consists of 19 hours to include:
| GEOG 2150 | 3 |
| GEOG 4200 | 4 |
| And at least 12 credits from among the remaining courses, with the understanding that GEOG 4111 and GEOG 4112 must both be taken to obtain credit for either as part of the concentration | |
| GEOG 3150 | 3 |
| GEOG 4000 | 3 |
| GEOG 4111 | 4 |
| GEOG 4150 | 4 |
| GEOG 4210 | 4 |
| GEOG 4211 | 4 |
| GEOG 4220 | 4 |
| GEOG 4240 | 3 |
| GEOG 4280 | 4 |
| GEOG 4300 | 3 |
Concentration in Natural Resource Management/Recreation. This concentration provides a broad interdisciplinary approach to the management of natural and recreational resources, with emphasis on the Rocky Mountain region. Resource management is a major focus of departmental faculty and encompasses an array of topics, including physical and social aspects of natural resource management, management of fire in natural systems, public land management, hazard studies, the planning-managing-administration of recreation and tourism resources, and the geographic analysis of resource systems. Courses in this concentration are designated as (R) in the course listing. The concentration consists of 15 hours to include:
| GEOG 4040 | 3 |
| and any four of the following courses | |
| GEOG 2550 | 3 |
| GEOG 3550 | 3 |
| GEOG 4000 | 3 |
| GEOG 4051 | 3 |
| GEOG 4052 | 3 |
| GEOG 4080 | 3 |
| GEOG 4111 | 4 |
| GEOG 4211 | 4 |
| GEOG 4310 | 3 |
| GEOG 4370 | 3 |
| GEOG 4380 | 3 |
| GEOG 4400 | 3 |
| GEOG 4420 | 3 |
| GEOG 4460 | 3 |
| GEOG 4470 | 3 |
| GEOG 4680 | 3 |
| GEOG 4750 | 3 |
Concentration in Human Geography. The human geography concentration examines how societies organize their economic, cultural, and political activities spatially, and how human societies interact with their environments. Courses in the concentration are directed toward economic, cultural, regional, and global studies. Students in this concentration typically take a variety of courses from related fields such as sociology, political science, economics, international studies, and American studies. Courses within this concentration are designated with (H) in the course listing. The concentration consists of 15 hours to include:
| GEOG 1000 | 3 |
| GEOG 1020 | 3 |
| and any three of the following courses | |
| GEOG 2370 | 3 |
| GEOG 2500 | 3 |
| GEOG 3030 | 3 |
| GEOG 3050 | 3 |
| GEOG 3550 | 3 |
| GEOG 4050 | 3 |
| GEOG 4310 | 3 |
| GEOG 4500 | 3 |
| GEOG 4520 | 3 |
| GEOG 4530 | 3 |
| GEOG 4540 | 3 |
Concentration in Planning. The concentration in planning offers students a pre-professional curriculum; many students in this concentration go on to complete a graduate degree in the department’s graduate planning program. The planning specialty examines the environmental, social and economic factors that influence community and regional change. The program is designed to integrate community visions with current conditions to determine options for the future. The emphasis of the planning concentration is on natural resource and rural community planning, approached from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Courses within this concentration are designated with (PL) in the course listing. The concentration consists of 15 hours to include:
| GEOG 4310 | 3 |
| GEOG 4330 | 3 |
| and any three of the following courses | |
| GEOG 4325 | 3 |
| GEOG 4340 | 3 |
| GEOG 4390 | 3 |
| GEOG 4400 | 3 |
| GEOG 4370 | 3 |
| GEOG 4750 | 3 |
Undergraduate Minor
The department offers minors in geography, and planning. Credit requirements range from 18-20 hours of required and elective courses, all of which must be completed with a grade of C or above. Information on the minor programs is available from the department.
Environment and Natural Resources
The department offers a concentration in the university's interdisciplinary program, Environment and Natural Resources. A description of the concentration requirements is available in the departmental office.
Graduate Degrees
The department offers graduate degree programs with specialization in: planning, natural resource management, geographical information sciences (GIS), physical geography, and human geography. For further information consult the Graduate Bulletin.
Geography (GEOG) Courses
Please send comments or questions to registrar@uwyo.edu
Last Change: 03/14/08