Course Descriptions

This course is designed to introduce advanced statistical techniques and spatial analysis methods to the student in both physical and human geography. In particular, the course is focused on the statistical techniques and spatial analyses used to process and analyze geographical data, and how to report and interpret the results. Additionally, students will gain experience with several statistical analytical tools that have been developed specifically for statistical and spatial data analysis.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 2 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): One of PLSC 214.3, STAT 242.3, STAT 245.3, or STAT 246.3.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 303 may not take this course for credit.

Introduces students to the use of computer-based Geographic Information Systems for the management and analysis of spatial data for map production. Topics include vector and raster data structures, spatial data acquisition, geo-referencing, spatial interpolation, overlay analysis, and modelling. Students obtain practical experience with Geographical Information Systems through a series of exercises.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 2 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 222; or 99 credit units of University course work; or permission of the instructor.

Advanced lectures, seminars and laboratories for those specializing in resource and environmental studies. It includes inductive and deductive evaluation of air photo patterns and the interpretation of multi-spectral imagery and remote sensing imagery.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 2 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 222; or 99 credit units of University course work; or permission of the instructor.

Processes responsible for river form and hydrological functioning are investigated analytically. Topics covered include watershed controls on streamflow generation, river forms, river flow regimes, stream chemistry, and the impacts of climate and land use changes on stream ecohydrology.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 225; or 12 credit units in GEOL.

Groundwater is the largest source of readily accessible freshwater. This course provides a rigorous understanding of subsurface hydrological processes and covers fundamentals of subsurface flow and transport, emphasizing the role of groundwater and soil water in the hydrological cycle, and groundwater-surface water interactions.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 3 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 225; or 12 credit units of GEOL.

Earth’s climate is constantly changing in response to influences forced upon it by natural systems and human actions. It is expected that current and future climate changes will have a strong influence on human populations, society, and development. This course describes how humans predict future climate changes and how we can mitigate or adapt to those changes. Major topics discussed in this course will focus on the politics and economics of climate change and how these can help, or hinder, our attempts to manage climate change. More direct attempts, through geoengineering and weather modification, will be addressed as well.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 233 or permission of the instructor
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 398.3 Climate Change may not take this course for credit

Examines the role of continental and alpine glaciation in shaping Canadian landscapes throughout the Quaternary period. Topics include glaciology and glacier flow, glacial processes and landforms, Milankovitch cycles and Quaternary ice sheet dynamics in North America, and glacio-eustasy and glacio-isostasy.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 2 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 235; or 12 credit units in GEOL, GEOE, EVSC, or SLSC.

This course introduces the students to processes of growth, decline and distribution of populations and households. We will open with discussion on the prehistoric and historic demography of human populations, from migration waves out of Africa into Eurasia during the Paleolithic, to peopling of the Americas during the Mesolithic and the early Neolithic Decline, growth and distribution of human populations in Antiquity, the Middle-Ages, and the processes of urbanization, population growth and redistribution through early modernity will be reviewed. The first half of the term will close with discussion on the pioneers of modern demography and their work, namely, Thomas Malthus’ “Essay on the Principle of Population,” and Frank Notestein’s demographic transition theory. The second half of the term introduces modern demographic data and their sources, focusing on fertility, mortality, and migration. The term closes with the outline of population projection methodology, applied to the latest available Canadian census data.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): 24 credit units in Social Sciences or in Health disciplines, including STAT 244 or equivalent, and at least 3 credit units of 200-level ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, PLAN, SOC; or permission of the instructor.
Note: Students with credit for PLAN 342 can take GEOG 348 only with permission of the instructor.

A multidisciplinary study of the biophysical environments of the circumpolar North. This course examines the processes operating at the Earth's surface and within the atmosphere and hydrosphere and their role in structuring northern ecosystems. Writing exercises and/or research projects will permit students with background preparation in the humanities, social sciences and the sciences to assess the impact of human activity on northern environments.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): 6 credit units in science; or permission of the instructor.
Note: GEOG 120 or GEOG 150 (formerly NRTH 101) recommended.

Explores the ways in which human-environment interactions impact on human health and disease. The goal of this course is to help students understand and assess the nature and variation across space of major environmental risks to health, and to learn how such risks may be prevented or managed.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 130 and 280.
Note: Students with credit for GEOG 314 may not take this course for credit.

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

Prerequisite(s): GEOG 272.

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

Prerequisite(s): GEOG 372.

This course will focus on four themes of contemporary circumpolar northern environments: natural resources and their use in terrestrial and aquatic environments; infrastructure in the North; pollution in terrestrial and aquatic environments; and conservation of natural resources.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): 6 credit units of Science courses; or permission of the instructor.
Note: Previous completion of at least 3 credit units selected from BIOL 121; GEOG 125 or GEOG 280; GEOL 121; GEOG 150 is recommended. Students with credit for BIOL 312 or NRTH 312 may not receive credit for this course. This course previously labeled BIOL 312 and NRTH 312.

An examination of various approaches to environmental management. Emphasis is placed on environmental policy making and management strategies pertinent in a western context. Analytical frameworks used to understand how policies are developed and implemented are also introduced.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 280 or permission of the instructor.

A practical and theoretical introduction to environmental and socioeconomic impact assessment. Emphasis is placed on the principles and characteristics of impact assessment as set out under Canadian and Saskatchewan guidelines and legislation, and on the lessons learned from selected case studies.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 280 or permission of the instructor.

This experiential learning course will introduce students to the use of environmental monitoring equipment and the development of plans and procedures for research projects. The course will focus on using monitoring equipment, specifically an eddy covariance meteorological station, to monitor energy and moisture fluxes from the ground surface into the atmosphere. Students will have opportunities to help setup of the station through sensor calibration and testing, and data logger programming. In class discussions will focus on monitoring, project planning, implementation, and analyses, as well as theory of energy and water balances. This is a fieldwork-based course, and students are expected to participate in regular field trips in all weather conditions.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture/Practicum/Lab hours
Permission of the department required.
Prerequisite(s): GEOG 290; and one of GEOG 225, GEOG 233, or GEOG 328.
Note: There are costs in addition to tuition fees. Details available from the Department.

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