Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: GC 225; and GC 100 or GC 255 or instructor's permission.
The study of earth surface processes and landforms. Surface features created by streams, glaciers, shorelines, groundwater and wind will be studied. Topographic maps, aerial photographs, the Atlas of Landforms and satellite imagery will be used in labs. Field trips are part of the course.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: GC 225 and GC 255.
Students will travel to many sites of geologic importance to collect samples and data, and interpret the geologic history through their observations. Techniques for collection and interpretation of geologic information, and the presentation of that information in the form of geologic maps and reports, are included.
Notes: Formerly GC 260. Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: GC 100, MA 111 or higher, or instructor's permission.
Advanced examination of atmospheric processes including energy transfer and exchange, global atmospheric circulation, precipitation processes and forms, weather disturbances and upper-level processes. Also explores global climatic systems, climate change and paleoclimatology, and the impact of human activities on climate.
- Offered: Contact department for information
- Offered: Contact department for information
- Prerequisites: GC 100, BI 111 or BI 112, and junior standing.
Examines spatial distribution of life forms on global and regional scales from ecological and historical perspectives. Topics include factors than influence the geography of plants and animals, dispersal of species, biodiversity, extinction and applied biogeography.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Winter
The course will expose students to proficiency in of spatial (geo) databases and databases in general. The course will cover foundations of relational databases; familiarity and fundamentals of SQL databases and general operations within standalone database software. The goal of the material is to lead students to the production of a working database to provided specifications.
- Offered: Contact department for information.
The course examines how race, class, and gender have influenced environmental decision-making, and explores how groups of people that have been disproportionately affected by environmental problems have organized to address those issues. We examine how laws and policies contributed to environmental injustice, and how have they been used to achieve environmental and social equality. Students develop deeper understandings of the history of the environmental justice movement, contemporary environmental justice issues, and directions forward for the field.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: GC 225, junior standing and a course in statistics, preferably GC 235. Other statistical options include BI 412 or MA 109.
The study of remotely sensed imagery and datasets for spatial analysis. Introduction to aerial photographic interpretation techniques and computer digital image processing of satellite and other spatial datasets, including preprocessing techniques, enhancements, classification and GIS modeling.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: GC 335 or GC 425.
- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: Junior standing or instructor's permission.
- Offered: Every other year.
This course explores gender and the environment from an intersectional perspective. Through case studies ranging from the local to the global scale, we will discuss power, politics, identities, inequalities, social movements and ecological crises. This interdisciplinary course is for environmentalists, feminists, and any student curious about the interconnections between global environmental change and gender relations.
Notes:Cross-listed as GN 444.
- Offered: Contact the department for information
- Prerequisites: GC 100, GC 225, GC 425 and junior standing or instructor's permission.
- Offered: Contact the department for information
- Prerequisites: GC 225, GC 425 and junior standing or instructor's permission.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: GC 100 or GC 255, MA 111 or MA 115 or higher, GC 225, EN 211, and junior standing or instructor's permission.
Study of the hydrologic cycle. Precipitation, runoff, interception and groundwater processes are addressed. Measurement techniques and analytical methods are also presented. Informed decision making with regard to the water cycle is stressed. Some field work required.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact the department for information
- Prerequisites: GC 101 and GC 205.
This course investigates the development and growth of environmental ethics. Various philosophical perspectives are discussed and analyzed in relation to understanding and resolving environmental and ecological controversies. Students develop their own individual ethical perspective and understanding of the environment.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information
- Prerequisites: GC 205 or BI 310 and senior standing or instructor's permission. GC 320 recommended.
A field-based course in which students develop and write an environmental sight assessment for a local property and an environmental impact assessment for a local project. Involves the laws, regulations and policies governing environmental decisions, especially the requirements mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: GC 205 and GC 235, and junior standing.
Earth Systems Interactions focuses on research-oriented skills applicable to many physical and natural science careers. The course is designed to provide students with an applied understanding of research theory, a working knowledge of analysis and data visualization techniques, and an ability to interpret complex earth systems science data. GC 482 integrates a variety of professional skills required to conduct scientific investigations as an/a earth, environmental, geographical, or biological scientist.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: GC 205, GC 330, GC 335, GC 340 and senior standing or instructor's permission.
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: GC 205, GC 235, GC335 and 24 GC credit hours, junior standing or instructor’s permission.
Integrates techniques from earth and environmental science to provide capstone research experience. Incorporates relevant scientific approaches, emphasizes interdisciplinary connections, demonstrates quantitative methods and tools, promotes communication, and teaches professional skills relevant for earth or environmental scientists.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: GC 205, GC 235 and 24 GC credit hours, junior standing or instructor's permission.
Examines historical and contemporary roles of humans as a major agent of environmental change on Earth. Enables graduating students to combine academic interests, skills and experiences into a capstone project that is presented orally and in writing.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: Departmental major and junior standing or instructor's permission.
- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
- Graded: S/U
- Prerequisites: Overall grade point average of 2.75 and 88 credit hours or instructor's permission.
- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: Junior standing or instructor's permission.
Introduction to environmentally-related research. Projects are pursued in cooperation with a faculty research adviser. The research adviser and research problem must be selected a semester prior to registration. Students must submit a written and oral final report.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: Junior standing or instructor's permission.
Special study of problems and/or regions that are not part of the regular offerings.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: Major in earth science, environmental science, environmental studies and sustainability or geographic information science and technology; or one of the department's minors; junior standing, or instructor's permission.
An opportunity for the student to work on a specific topic.