Program of Study

The discipline of geography contributes to an understanding of society by exploring the Earth's environment and its interactions with human life, by inquiring into cultures and societies from the perspective of area study, and by investigating problems of spatial organization. The B.A. program in geography offers a distinctive focus for general education and provides a background both for advanced specialization in the discipline and for study in other fields. Solid grounding in modern geography can lead to careers in government service, environmental consulting, marketing, publishing, planning, and teaching at all levels.

Program Requirements

The B.A. degree in geography calls for the satisfactory completion of eleven courses, at least eight of which must be in geography. These include the orientation course (GEOG 20000); an introduction to maps and mapping (GEOG 28200); the senior seminar (GEOG 29800); and at least eight additional geography courses, up to three of which may be in approved related fields. A bachelor's thesis is prepared in connection with the senior seminar.

Summary of Requirements

1 GEOG 20000

1 GEOG 28200

8 additional geography courses; up to three may be in approved related fields

1 Senior Seminar (GEOG 29800)

– bachelor's thesis

Grading. All courses counted toward the geography major must be taken for quality grades. A minimum of a C average is required.

Research Grants. Geography students may apply for small grants from the Ada Espenshade Wrigley Fund in support of extraordinary expenses connected with research leading to their bachelor's thesis.

Honors. Honors in geography are awarded to students with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher who submit a bachelor's thesis judged to be outstanding.

Awards. Each year the Committee on Geographical Studies nominates outstanding senior geography students for an Outstanding Senior in Geography Award from the Illinois Geographical Society and an Award for Excellence from the National Council for Geographic Education and the Association of American Geographers.

Joint B.A./M.A. Program. This program permits qualified students to enter upon a course of graduate study before completion of their work in the College. Approval and supervision is in the hands of a faculty committee, acting in consultation with the student's College adviser. Students must apply for the B.A./M.A. program in geography by April 1 of their third year in the College. They are admitted to candidacy for the master's degree during their fourth year in the College. In recognition of the advanced level of performance attained by these students, up to three courses taken as part of the College geography major may be counted toward the nine-course master's requirement. Both a bachelor's thesis and a master's paper are required.

Faculty

M. Conzen, N. Harris, D. B. Holleb, M. Mikesell

Affiliated teaching staff: R. Greene, T. Schuble

Courses: Geography (geog)

20000. Introduction to Geography. PQ: Open to current and prospective geography majors; nonmajors must obtain consent of instructor. This course is a review of the history and current orientations of human and environmental geography. It includes a critical review of representative pedagogic works and selected reading of recent periodical and monographic literature. M. Mikesell. Autumn.

20100/30100. Cultural Geography. (=ENST 25900) This course is an examination of the two main concerns of this field of geography: (1) the logic and pathology revealed in the record of the human use and misuse of the Earth, and (2) the discordant relationship of the world political map with more complicated patterns of linguistic and religious distribution. M. Mikesell. Winter.

21700/31700. Globalization: Empirical and Theoretical Elements. (=ANTH 25700/35700, SOCI 20114/30114) For course description, see Sociology. S. Sassen. Autumn.

21900/31900. Historical Geography of the United States. (=HIST 28800/38800) This course examines the spatial dynamics of the frontier, regional development, the social character of settlement patterns, and evolution of the cultural landscapes of America from pre-European times to 1900. An all-day Illinois field trip required. M. Conzen. Autumn. Offered 2004-05; not offered 2003-04.

22000/32000. United States in Geographical Perspective. Students make a systematic analysis of contemporary regional organization of American society and its economy, emphasizing the dynamics that explain the locational distribution of people, resources, and economic activity and the settlement pattern. The course examines the regional restructuring of industry and services, transportation, city growth, and cultural consumption. A two-day weekend Illinois and Wisconsin field trip required. M. Conzen. Winter, 2005.

22700/32700. Urban Structure and Process. (=SOCI 20104/30104, SOSC 25100) For course description, see Sociology. S. Sassen, Spring, 2005; O. McRoberts, Spring, 2006.

23500/33500. Urban Geography. This course examines the spatial organization and current restructuring of modern cities in light of the economic, social, cultural, and political forces that shape them. It explores the systematic interactions between social process and physical system, with emphasis on ways in which human motive and action shape and are shaped by the contingent circumstances of place. We cover basic concepts of urbanism and urbanization, systems of cities (including central-place theory), urban growth, migration, centralization and decentralization, land-use dynamics, physical geography and urban morphology, and planning. Finally, we focus on American cities with brief comparisons to European and non-Western urban contexts. M. Conzen. Winter.

25300/35300. Seminar: Problems in the Human Geography of the Middle East. This course includes a review and cartographic demonstration of habitat types, modes of livelihood, and ethnic distribution. Students then present reports on selected aspects of human geography. M. Mikesell. Spring.

25400/35400. Ancient Landscapes: Environmental Change, Geoarcheology, and Off-Site Archaeology. PQ: Third- or fourth-year standing, and consent of instructor. The main focus of this course is on examples drawn from the Old World and Near East; some New World material is also included. Topics relevant to archeology, anthropology, geography, and environmental studies are covered. T. Wilkinson. Spring.

25500/35500. Biogeography. (=BIOS 23406, ENST 25500, EVOL 45500) PQ: Completion of the general education requirement for the biological sciences or consent of instructor. This course examines factors governing the distribution and abundance of animals and plants. Topics include patterns and processes in historical biogeography, island biogeography, geographical ecology, areography, and conservation biology, such as the design and effectiveness of nature reserves. B. Patterson (odd years, lab); L. Heaney (even years, discussion). Winter.

26100/36100. Roots of the Modern American City. (=ENST 26100, HIST 28900/38900) This course traces the economic, social, and physical development of the city in North America from early industrialization to the present. Emphasis is on evolving urban systems and the changing spatial organization of people and land use. Superior term papers from this course may be selected for special publication. An all-day Illinois field trip required. M. Conzen. Autumn.

26600/36600. Economics of Urban Policies. (=ECON 26600/36500, LLSO 26202, PBPL 24500) PQ: ECON 20100. For course description, see Economics. G. Tolley, D. Barker. Winter.

26700/36700. Metropolitan Development and Planning. PQ: Third- or fourth-year standing. This course focuses on metropolitan development patterns and the interplay of geopolitical, economic, and social changes in U.S. cities after 1950. Intergovernmental relations and urban planning concepts and institutions are also explored. Policies for economic development, land-use management, housing, education, transportation, energy, and the environment are analyzed. D. Holleb. Spring.

27600. Hyde Park and Chicago's South Side as Historical Laboratory. (=HIST 29603) For course description, see History. K. Conzen. Autumn.

28200. Introduction to Cartography and GIS. PQ: GEOG 20000 or consent of instructor. This course provides an introduction to cartographic practices (e.g., map preparation, compilation, construction, and design) using computer-based geographic information system techniques. Lab sessions required. T. Schuble. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

28400/38400. Intermediate Cartography and GIS. PQ: GEOG 28200 or equivalent. This course covers the development of cartographic and computer-based geographic information system techniques applicable to student research topics. R. Greene. Winter.

29100. Undergraduate Tutorial. PQ: Consent of instructor. Available for either Pass or quality grading. This course is designed for individual study of selected geographic problems. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

29300. Readings in Geographic Literature in French. PQ: Reading knowledge of French and consent of instructor. Available for either Pass or quality grading. M. Mikesell. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

29400/39400. Readings in Nature and Culture. PQ: GEOG 20000 or consent of instructor. This course is an opportunity for research and discussion on the logic and pathology revealed in evidence of the human use and misuse of the Earth. M. Mikesell. Autumn.

29500/39500. Readings in Culture and Nationality. PQ: GEOG 20000 or consent of instructor. This course examines the role of language and religion in the integration of nation-states and of examples of cultural dissidence and cultural conflict. M. Mikesell. Winter.

29700. Readings in Special Topics in Geography. PQ: Consent of instructor. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Must be taken for a quality grade. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

29800. Senior Seminar. PQ: Open to geography majors with fourth-year standing. Must be taken for a quality grade. This course is designed for development of the bachelor's thesis. M. Conzen. Winter.

42400. Urban Landscapes as Social Text. (=SOCI 30303) PQ: Consent of instructor. This seminar explores the meanings found in varieties of urban landscapes, both in the context of individual elements and composite structures. These meanings are examined in relation to three fundamental approaches that can be identified in the analytical literature on landscapes: normative, historical, and communicative modes of conceptualization. Students pursue research topics of their own choosing within the general framework. M. Conzen. Autumn.