Course Descriptions

In 1854, Dr. Snow used basic mapping techniques to identify the source of the deadly cholera outbreak in London. Since then, various spatial analysis techniques have been developed to solve a wide range of location-based problems. This course takes students beyond the art and science of mapping people and places to develop skills in identifying and quantifying relationships amongst those phenomena. Topics include pattern analysis techniques such as hot-spot analysis, considerations for designing spatially-oriented research, spatial regression, and spatial interpolation. Students will develop their understanding of these techniques and relevant software (R/Python) through assignments and a term-long project. This course builds on the skills developed in statistics and mapping courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 222.3 and GEOG 302.3

The science, art, and practice of mapmaking. Maps of different styles and types will be created along with an understanding of the principles of spatial communication. Maps for policy, planning, history, and scientific inquiry will be created. Students will demonstrate competency in cartography, visual, and writing communication.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 3 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): One of GEOG 302, GEOG 322, or GEOG 323; or permission of the instructor.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 320 will not receive credit for this course. This course was labelled GEOG 320 until 2016.

This course explores local water security and the “ripple” effects on societies. Students will reflect individually on how water insecurity may threaten or reinforce positive peace, particularly at the local level. The course will consist of an introduction to variations in water resources and uses over space and time, followed by an exploration of local water security, an understanding of the different ways in which we use and value water, consequences of water insecurity, the role of intersectionality in water (in)security, and examples of how to reduce local water insecurity. The course will be interactive, consisting of presentations by the lecturer and students, readings, discussions, assignments, group work, and field trips.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 120.3, GEOG 125.3 or GEOG 130.3; and 6 cu senior Arts and Science courses; and permission of the instructor. Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit units and have a cumulative weighted average of at least 65% to participate in this course.
Note: This course is held in Costa Rica and is part of the international experiential learning opportunities in the College of Arts and Science. Students with credit for GEOG 498.3 Local Water Security may not take this course for credit.

Deals with advanced remote sensing techniques including satellite imagery calibration, spectral data transformation and land use cover classification, and detection of environmental change. The course consists of three interrelated components: lectures, laboratory exercises and group projects.

Weekly hours: 2 Lecture hours and 1 Seminar/Discussion hours and 2 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 323.

Examines the physical principles governing hydrological processes. Topics covered include precipitation, interception, snow accumulation, snowmelt, evaporation, infiltration, groundwater movement, flood and drought frequency analysis and stream flow. Lectures and tutorials with hydrology instrumentation will be supplemented by problem solving assignments and an essay.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 2 Tutorial hours
Prerequisite(s): One of MATH 110, MATH 123, MATH 125, or MATH 176; one of EVSC 210 or PHYS 115 or GE 124; GEOG 225.

The disproportionate level of impacts that communities around the world, who have contributed least to the problem of greenhouse gas emissions face, is one of the core injustices at the heart of the climate change reality. What’s more, the systems which are responsible for economic inequality and various forms of social and racial injustice, are also the systems which perpetuate the problem of climate change. It is of critical importance that in creating solutions going forward we not only acknowledge but also act to address and centre the complexity between climate change and injustice across the world.

Weekly hours: 15 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): 9 credit units of GEOG courses including at least 3 credit units at the 200-level or higher; permission of the instructor; minimum of 60 credit units of university coursework; and 70% average in the major before departure. Restricted to students majoring in Anthropology, Biology, Environment and Society, Environmental Biology, Environmental Geoscience, Health Studies, History, Hydrology, Indigenous Studies, Political Studies, or Sociology, or who are pursuing a certificate in Geomatics or Global Studies.
Note: This course is held in Costa Rica as part of a study term abroad and is part of the international experiential learning opportunities offered in the College of Arts and Science.

This is the foundational course for all UN University for Peace programs. As such, it is the core course for the term abroad. Based on a critical analysis of policies, strategies, institutions, organizations, and movements, the course examines a range of core issues, dimensions, perspectives, and paradigms for understanding the root causes of conflicts and violence and constructive strategies to address them and build peace in contemporary global, international, regional, national and local contexts.

Weekly hours: 15 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): 9 credit units of GEOG courses including at least 3 credit units at the 200-level or higher; permission of the instructor; minimum of 60 credit units of university coursework; and 70% average in the major before departure. Restricted to students majoring in Anthropology, Biology, Environment and Society, Environmental Biology, Environmental Geoscience, Health Studies, History, Hydrology, Indigenous Studies, Political Studies, or Sociology, or who are pursuing a certificate in Geomatics or Global Studies.
Note: This course is held in Costa Rica as part of a study term abroad and is part of the international experiential learning opportunities offered in the College of Arts and Science.

This course analyzes the connections between environment, conflict, and security. After briefly going over some of the root causes of environmental and development crises, we will take a closer look at the different linkages between environmental change and human and national security, and armed or violent conflicts. We will discuss and analyze the initial understandings of environmental security, going from older frameworks of scarcity induced conflicts to natural resource abundance, and then move the discussion towards securitizing climate change, conservation conflicts, the increasingly visible violence suffered by environmental defenders, and end with the topic of environmental peacebuilding.

Weekly hours: 15 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): 9 credit units of GEOG courses including at least 3 credit units at the 200-level or higher; permission of the instructor; minimum of 60 credit units of university coursework; and 70% average in the major before departure. Restricted to students majoring in Anthropology, Biology, Environment and Society, Environmental Biology, Environmental Geoscience, Health Studies, History, Hydrology, Indigenous Studies, Political Studies, or Sociology, or who are pursuing a certificate in Geomatics or Global Studies.
Note: This course is held in Costa Rica as part of a study term abroad and is part of the international experiential learning opportunities offered in the College of Arts and Science.

This course provides students with an introduction to drivers of environmental health centred on Indigenous wellbeing and community health in Canada. Through a combination of classroom learning and field work in a local First Nation community we will introduce students to the environment and health challenges facing Indigenous peoples in Canada and community responses to these challenges. Students will work in teams with community members to study a critical health issue identified by our partner community. The research results will be presented to the class and before the community in the form of a written report, an oral presentation, and a brief personal video.

Prerequisite(s): GEOG 364.3 or permission of the instructor.

Deforestation is considered one of the main global environmental challenges of our times, because of its significant impact on biodiversity, on the livelihoods of millions of people and its important contribution to Climate Change. This course analyzes the way deforestation and forest degradation have been and are being explained by both mainstream and alternative narratives. It critically engages with the way deforestation is defined and measured and discusses the various attempts to stop or reduce it. Additionally, this course looks at the links between poverty and forest cover dynamics, some of the possible strategies to reduce poverty through forest-based activities and analyzes and discusses the importance of forests for humans and the challenges faced by those who try to manage them sustainably.

Weekly hours: 15 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): 9 credit units of GEOG courses including at least 3 credit units at the 200-level or higher; permission of the instructor; minimum of 60 credit units of university coursework; and 70% average in the major before departure. Restricted to students majoring in Anthropology, Biology, Environment and Society, Environmental Biology, Environmental Geoscience, Health Studies, History, Hydrology, Indigenous Studies, Political Studies, or Sociology, or who are pursuing a certificate in Geomatics or Global Studies.
Note: This course is held in Costa Rica as part of a study term abroad and is part of the international experiential learning opportunities offered in the College of Arts and Science.

A 4-month cooperative work term for students in the Cooperative Education Option in the Environment & Society and Hydrology programs.

Prerequisite(s): GEOG 373.

A 4-month cooperative work term for students in the Cooperative Education Option in the Environment & Society and Hydrology programs.

Prerequisite(s): GEOG 472.

The course is intended to familiarize students with the creation, objectives, evolution, main entities, and principal areas of work of the United Nations system. The course will look in some detail at the United Nations Charter and the functions of the UN’s principal organs, before delving into the UN’s work in spurring cooperation to address a number of key contemporary global challenges, such as those in the areas of sustainable development, climate change and environmental protection, humanitarian assistance [and refugee flows], human rights and gender equality.

Weekly hours: 15 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): 9 credit units of GEOG courses including at least 3 credit units at the 200-level or higher; permission of the instructor; minimum of 60 credit units of university coursework; and 70% average in the major before departure. Restricted to students majoring in Anthropology, Biology, Environment and Society, Environmental Biology, Environmental Geoscience, Health Studies, History, Hydrology, Indigenous Studies, Political Studies, or Sociology, or who are pursuing a certificate in Geomatics or Global Studies.
Note:This course is held in Costa Rica as part of a study term abroad and is part of the international experiential learning opportunities offered in the College of Arts and Science.

Students will work on a problem-based, experiential learning project under the supervision of a faculty member. An oral presentation and written thesis submitted at the end of the project will be evaluated by the faculty member. Research and field methods are an essential part of any environmental scientist’s toolkit. This course is designed to allow students to apply their theoretical and technical knowledge to an environmental science research project. The student will employ a combination of field and/or laboratory skills, as well as qualitative and/or quantitative research methods in developing a research proposal, a thesis, and an oral presentation.

Weekly hours: 2 Lecture hours and 2 Tutorial hours
Permission of the department required.
Prerequisite(s): One of GEOG 325, GEOG 328, GEOG 335, GEOG 351 or GEOG 427; and GEOG 390.
Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): GEOG 302.

Students will work on a problem-based, experiential learning project under the supervision of a faculty member. An oral presentation and written thesis submitted at the end of the project will be evaluated by the faculty member. Research and field methods are an essential part of any environmental social scientist’s toolkit. This course is designed to allow students to apply their theoretical and technical knowledge to an environmental social science research project. The student will employ a combination of data collection skills, as well as qualitative and/or quantitative research methods in developing a research proposal, a thesis, and an oral presentation.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Permission of the department required.
Prerequisite(s): One of GEOG 340.3, GEOG 364.3, GEOG 379.3, GEOG 381.3, GEOG 385.3, GEOG 386.3, GEOG 464.3, PLAN 329.3, PLAN 341.3, PLAN 343.3, PLAN 346.3, PLAN 350.3, PLAN 390.3, PLAN 441.3, PLAN 445.3 or PLAN 446.3.
Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): GEOG 302.3

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours