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: Fall Winter Summer
This course examines interactions between the atmosphere, the Earth’s surface, water, and living things, as well as the role of humans in those interactions. Students will be able to explain the processes that drive Earth’s seasons, weather, climates, biomes, and landforms, and how they are impacted by human activities. Students will learn how to develop research questions, collect data, and produce and interpret graphs, maps, and figures relating to major geographic patterns and their processes.
Notes:Course does not meet the laboratory course graduation requirement. Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
This course introduces students to environmental science and its role in ensuring a sustainable future. Students will discuss and synthesize complex environmental issues while drawing from their own experiences and other disciplines. Students also examine the science behind those issues involving both social and ecological systems. Course assignments strive to show students how to make decisions based upon their own assessment of scientific evidence.
Notes:Formerly ENV 101 Introduction to Environmental Science. Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
Human Geography introduces students to the systematic study of locations, patterns, and processes that shape human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth's surface and their environments. Students will explore human activities around the world and in their own environments. They will explain how people affect places, how places affect people, and how geography impacts aspects of their daily lives. Students will also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and practice.
- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: GC 100 or GC 101 or instructor permission.
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive and applied understanding of soil physical, biological, and chemical properties useful for environmental science, natural resource management, and agronomy related outcomes. Specifically, this course will use a variety of professional measurement, assessment and analysis methods to examine soil biogeochemical processes that support conservation and management of soil resources.
Notes:Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: EN 211 and GC 164 or GC 100.
An introduction to geographic thought, research methods and writing. Research and writing include an examination of professional journals, book reviews, proposal development and literature searches.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information.
Earth Hazards introduces students to the interdisciplinary study of extreme events that naturally occur and cause harm to humans. This includes volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, floods, cyclones, tsunamis, and meteorite impacts. Students will be able to explain how earth processes drive these hazards, the methods scientists use to predict and assess the risk of these events, and the means by which individuals and societies respond and adapt to them.
- Offered: Fall Winter
Examines global spatial variability of economic growth, economic development, standards of living and quality of life from a geographic perspective. Also examines the economic geography of the production of goods and services, and spatial patterns of consumption and environmental impact.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: Mathematics placement at MA 100 or higher.
Introduces major concepts and applications in the reading, analysis and interpretation of maps with special emphasis on USGS topographic maps. Lecture sessions cover major concepts and foundational knowledge, while lab sessions emphasize hands-on applications and commonly used techniques.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
- Prerequisites: DATA 109 or MA 111 or mathematics placement at MA 115 or higher.
This course introduces students to classic and spatial statistical concepts and techniques relevant to and used by environmental scientists, geographers, and geoscientists. Students will examine statistical concepts and methods and their theoretical underpinnings, and then apply their quantitative skills using computer-based tools and software. Students will assemble and analyze data sets and summarize their interpretations.
- Offered: Fall Winter
The structures of the earth, tectonics, minerals, rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the development of landforms.
Notes:Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: EN 211, GC 164 and either GC 100, GC 101 or GC 255.
An overview of the basic principles of sustainability and sustainable systems (environmental, social, economic) from global, national, regional and local perspectives.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Every Other Winter
Examines the components of the climate system, the processes and feedbacks that influence climate, the techniques used to interpret past climates and predict future climate, and the patterns, variations, and events that have occurred, at different temporal and spatial scales. Also explores predictions for future climate change and some mitigation or adaptation strategies.
- Offered: Contact department for information
- Prerequisites: Instructor's permission.
- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: EN 211 and sophomore standing.
Regional focus determined by demand and faculty availability.
Notes: May be repeated if topic differs.- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: GC 205 and junior standing.
The course provides an opportunity for EEGS majors to gather up, review, polish and collate their EEGS skills and abilities sets to help them prepare for the successful transition from EEGS major to environmental careers or post-baccalaureate education opportunities.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information
- Prerequisites: EN 211 and sophomore standing.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: GC 164 or GC 220, and GC 205.
Urban Geography introduces students to concepts pertinent to the city, its origins, contemporary form, and urban challenges. Students will examine the city and urban phenomena in both the American context and international setting, and will be able to explain social, economic, demographic, and political forces that alter urban environments. Students will explore sustainability initiatives introduced by cities to address environmental challenges. Students will also apply methods and tools geographers use in research and practice.
Notes:Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.
- Offered: Contact the department for information
- Prerequisites: GC 164 and GC 205 or instructor's permission.
Understand the historical development of tourism, its importance to local and national economies and the impact that tourists have on the environment, economy and local cultures.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Contact department for information
- Prerequisites: GC 205 or EN 211 or instructor's permission.
Examines the different forces acting upon commodity flows from producer to consumer. Particular attention is given to the transition from agriculture to food manufacturing, globalization and food production and the environmental impact of food manufacturing.
Notes: Field work may be required. Contact instructor for more information.- Offered: Fall Summer
- Prerequisites: GC 100 or GC 101 or junior standing.
Examination of the history and status of environmental laws in the United States at the national and state levels. Included is an introduction to the policy-making process in the U.S. as related to the human and natural environment.
- Offered: Contact department for information.
- Prerequisites: GC 205.
- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
- Prerequisites: GC 225 required or junior standing or instructor permission.
This course introduces students and professionals to foundational ideas underpinning the growing field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Students will examine fundamental concepts related to the creation, management, analysis, and visualization of geographic information. Students will then apply these concepts using industry-standard software to assemble and analyze data, and develop visualizations to communicate, solve problems, and make decisions. These skills will prepare students for work in a variety of job sectors.
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: GC 335 or instructor permission.
This course explores the art and science of representing a geographical area on a map. With GIS software, students analyze and visualize spatial data using traditional and cutting-edge techniques. Students apply principles of cartographic design to further their technical expertise in spatial science by creating web maps, thematic maps, cartographic figures for reports, and topographic maps using GIS data from various sources. Students develop portfolios of maps that are aesthetically appealing, practical, and effective.