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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
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GeographyChair: Marc P. ArmstrongProfessors: Marc P. Armstrong, Rex D. Honey, George P. Malanson, R. Rajagopal, Gerard Rushton Professors emeriti: James B. Lindberg, Michael L. McNulty, David R. Reynolds Associate professor: David A. Bennett Associate professor emerita: Rebecca S. Roberts Adjunct associate professor: David E. Osterberg (Occupational and Environmental Health/Geography) Assistant professors: Naresh Kumar, Marc A. Linderman, Kathleen Stewart Adjunct assistant professors: Edwin Brands, David L. McGinnis, Douglas Schnoebelen, Mary P. Skopec, Peter J. Weyer Adjunct instructor: Clifford Missen Lecturer: Claire E. Pavlik Undergraduate degrees: B.A., B.S. in Geography Undergraduate nondegree program: Minor in Geography Graduate degrees: M.A., Ph.D. in Geography Web site: http://www.uiowa.edu/~geog Geography is concerned with place and environment and the ongoing processes of change within and between social and physical systems. Geography's importance to scholarly inquiry is rooted in the complexity of the social and environmental problems with which the science deals. Three concepts at the core of the discipline--space, place, and scale--provide theoretical constructs and methodological tools for a science that investigates the complex character of social and environmental phenomena. Geographers examine issues such as distribution and consumption of natural resources, air and water quality, climate changes and ecosystem dynamics, growth and development of urban areas, population dynamics, politics and practice of international development, and social justice. They view society and the environment as a physical/social/cultural system. They apply uniquely geographical perspectives and tools, as well as knowledge from other social and scientific disciplines, to analyze the emergent properties of these systems. Department of Geography graduates find employment opportunities in government, nongovernmental organizations, and business. For example, many geographers are employed in resource management, urban and regional development, site selection, and market area analysis. They analyze problems in the distribution and interactions among physical, ecological, social, and political systems. Geography students acquire skills in computer-based cartography and geographic information systems (GIS) software used to investigate and solve many environmental and social problems. Opportunities for graduates with GIS training are growing rapidly in both private and governmental organizations. Courses in geography are commonly required of students preparing to teach at the elementary and secondary school levels and those who want to pursue careers in urban and regional planning. They also provide a background for many related professions, including law, health care, environmental or transportation engineering, and international business. GIS LaboratoryThe University's Geographic Information System Instructional Lab (GISIL) is located in the Department of Geography. GISIL is a center for teaching GIS as well as a place where students conduct geographic and GIS-related research. The laboratory houses a networked system of student workstations.Undergraduate ProgramsThe department offers a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Arts, and a minor in geography.The geography faculty has developed an undergraduate instructional program that serves students majoring or minoring in geography as well as students in other disciplines who are interested in taking geography courses as part of a liberal education. The department also participates in a number of University interdisciplinary programs that have international, area studies, urban, or environmental components. Undergraduate students have access to the Geographic Information System Instructional Lab for GIS instruction and research. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of ArtsThe Bachelor of Science in geography requires 46 s.h. in the major; the Bachelor of Arts in geography requires 38 s.h. in the major.Either the B.S. or B.A. is appropriate preparation for advanced training or careers in geography. Students with interests in quantitative analysis and model building should choose the B.S. degree and are encouraged to master an appropriate computer programming language. Each student majoring in geography selects one of three tracks: geography and social change, environmental studies, or geographic information science. Transfer students must earn at least 15 s.h. in geography course work taken in residence at The University of Iowa. Students may count no more than 50 s.h. of credit earned in their major department toward their degree. Common RequirementsAll geography majors must complete the following courses. All of these:
One of these, in addition to any course required to fulfill a track requirement:
One of these:
One of these:
All majors must complete one 3 s.h. course offered by the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science numbered 22S:025 or above. The following are recommended.
Bachelor of Science students must satisfy a mathematics requirement consisting of one of the following sequences.
TracksAll geography majors must complete one of the three tracks described below: geography and social change, environmental studies, or geographic information science. Students should pay close attention to prerequisites for the upper-level courses in each track so that they can develop a study plan that allows them to complete their major in a timely way. Students in the environmental studies or geography and social change tracks who wish to gain additional experience in theory and application of geographic information systems (GIS) should take 044:113 Principles of Geographic Information Systems and at least an additional 6 s.h. in GIS-based courses offered by the Department of Geography.GEOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL CHANGE TRACKThe geography and social change track is designed for students preparing for positions in government, nongovernment organizations, international development agencies, and business. It also provides preparation for graduate study in geography or planning, or for professional programs such as law, business, or policy analysis. The track provides an understanding of increasing globalization, including processes of urban and regional development or underdevelopment; the roles of elites, classes, institutions, and social movements; the role of the natural environment in effecting social change in different parts of the world; and the processes through which policy decisions are reached. Course work in the track covers social and economic theories of location and regional formation, methods of spatial analysis and geographic modeling, global and regional political economy, and theories of community conflict and social change.Students develop requisite skills in quantitative analysis and the development, management, and application of geographic information systems and computer methods. They have opportunities to work on applied problems, such as assessing sites for their growth potential, identifying the best locations for service facilities, evaluating the impact of major projects, and forecasting the populations of small areas. The geography and social change track also provides opportunities for students interested in international development to examine competing theories intended to explain international and regional inequalities, and to investigate and evaluate the patterns and practice of development worldwide. In addition to satisfying the common requirements for all geography majors, students in the geography and social change track must complete the following.
Students choose the upper-level courses (11 s.h.) in consultation with their advisors. They may not count 044:150 Senior Project Seminar or the independent study courses 044:151, 044:195, and 044:199 toward this requirement. Students in the geography and social change track who wish to gain additional experience in theory and application of geographic information systems (GIS) should take 044:113 Principles of Geographic Information Systems and at least an additional 6 s.h. in GIS-based geography courses. The following upper-level courses are recommended.
*A course chosen to fulfill one requirement cannot be used to fulfill a second. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES TRACKThe environmental studies track is designed for students interested in the interrelationships among social and natural processes that affect the environment. The track prepares students for careers or pursuit of personal interests in resource management, physical geography, climatology, environmental policy or law, global environmental change, sustainable development, or other complex environmental issues. Graduates may find employment in an environmental profession such as landscape ecology or climatology; environmental planning and regulation; or environmental law, policy, and politics.The environmental studies track offers training in field observation, remote sensing, geographical information systems, quantitative analysis/computing, and cartographic representation. It also provides a sound foundation or graduate or professional-level studies in the natural or social aspects of the environment. In addition to satisfying the common requirements for all geography majors, students in environmental studies track must complete the following.
Students choose the upper-level courses (12 s.h.) in consultation with their advisors. They may not count 044:150 Senior Project Seminar or the independent study courses 044:151, 044:195, and 044:199 toward this requirement. Students in the environmental studies track who wish to gain additional experience in theory and application of geographic information systems (GIS) should take 044:110 GIS for Environmental Studies: Introduction or 044:128 GIS for Environmental Studies: Applications, and at least an additional 6 s.h. in GIS-based geography courses. The following upper-level courses are recommended.
*A course chosen to fulfill one requirement cannot be used to fulfill a second. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE TRACKThe geographic information science track is designed for students preparing for positions in government agencies, nongovernment organizations, international development agencies, and business. It also provides preparation for graduate study in geography, planning, and other disciplines. The track focuses on the design, implementation, and use of geographic information systems. Courses address how geographic data are acquired, stored, accessed, displayed, managed, and analyzed.Students in the geographic information science track learn to address problems involved in modeling environmental systems, identifying the best locations for service facilities, assessing environmental impacts, and forecasting the populations of small areas. They use the department's Geographic Information Systems Instructional Lab (GISIL) extensively to develop expertise in using GIS software. Course work in the track covers methods of spatial analysis and geographical modeling and involves database management and computer programming. In addition to the common requirements for all geography majors, students in the geographic information science track must complete the following.
or
Students choose the upper-level courses (11 s.h.) in consultation with their advisors. They may not count 044:150 Senior Project Seminar or the independent study courses 044:151, 044:195, and 044:199 toward this requirement. Students in the GIScience track are encouraged to add breadth to their degree by taking additional upper-level courses in the department. Students interested in the application of GIS to environmental issues should select courses from the department's environmental studies area; those interested in socioeconomic issues should select courses from the department's geography and social change area. The following upper-level courses are recommended.
Four-Year Graduation PlanThe following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan. (Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.)Bachelor of ArtsThe B.A. degree requires 38 s.h. in the major.Before the third semester begins: one of the introductory courses in the major and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation Before the fifth semester begins: five courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation Before the seventh semester begins: 11 courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation Before the eighth semester begins: 14 courses in the major During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate Bachelor of ScienceThe B.S. degree requires 46 s.h. in the major.Before the third semester begins: two of the introductory courses in the major and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation Before the fifth semester begins: six courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation Before the seventh semester begins: 12 courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation Before the eighth semester begins: 15 courses in the major During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate HonorsHonors in geography is for students of superior ability who want to pursue studies beyond the typical undergraduate level. To graduate with honors, students must become a member of the University of Iowa Honors Program, which requires that students maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 (contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information). They must be admitted to the honors program in geography by the first semester of the senior year and must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.33 in geography. They also must prepare and present an honors thesis, which consists of original research under the direction of a faculty member. The thesis is reviewed by a three-member faculty committee.Students complete their thesis by taking 044:199 Honors Thesis. The senior course 044:150 Senior Project Seminar may be substituted for 044:199 Honors Thesis, as long as the student continues work on the thesis under the direction of a faculty member. MinorThe minor in geography requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in geography courses, including 12 s.h. taken at The University of Iowa in 100-level courses. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Students are encouraged to concentrate their course work in tracks--geography and social change, environmental studies, or geographic information science. Those who wish assistance in selecting courses may contact the department secretary to request assignment of a minor advisor.InternshipsThe Department of Geography is a participant in the University's internship program, which provides opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to participate in paid and unpaid activities related to their academic programs. The Pomerantz Career Center works with students to develop appropriate internships.Courses for NonmajorsStudents in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as other academic units at the University may find geography courses useful to their own study programs. The beginning-level courses 044:001 Introduction to Human Geography, 044:011 Population Geography, 044:019 Contemporary Environmental Issues, and 044:030 The Global Economy are approved for the social sciences component of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program; 044:010 The Contemporary Global System and 044:161 African Development are approved for the social sciences and foreign civilization and culture components of the General Education Program; and 044:003 Introduction to Earth Systems Science is approved for the natural sciences component of the General Education Program. These courses serve as part of a liberal education.Other courses may be taken as electives, including 044:015 Introduction to Political Geography, 044:035 World Cities, and 044:124 Gender and the Environment. Graduate ProgramsThe department offers a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in geography. The graduate programs focus on investigating the environmental consequences of human decisions on local, regional, and global scales.Geographical information science and the theories and models of environmental and social sciences are central to the department's studies. Within this broad domain, the department is developing strengths in environmental justice, environmental modeling, land use and its environmental consequences, health geography, and information technology and development. The M.A. and Ph.D. prepare students to carry on creative and productive research in selected areas of geography. University of Iowa graduates hold positions on college and university faculties, in private research organizations, and in business and government. The department provides opportunities for graduate students to gain practical teaching experience through service as departmental teaching assistants or graduate instructors. Graduate students present research papers at conferences and have regularly won awards. Students are involved in faculty research that leads to coauthored publications; they also publish their own. Graduate students compete successfully for intramural and extramural funding for graduate education and research. Master of ArtsThe M.A. in geography is designed to be completed in four semesters. It requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit, but students accumulate 40-48 s.h. in completing the degree. Students use the additional work to increase their breadth of knowledge in geography and to tailor their study programs to their individual interests. A maximum of 6 s.h. may be earned for thesis work.Graduate students demonstrate competence by completing appropriate course work; and completing an M.A. exam, or completing and defending an M.A. thesis, or completing the Ph.D. comprehensive exams. For detailed information about requirements, see the Manual for Graduate Degree Requirements, Department of Geography; contact the Department of Geography. Doctor of PhilosophyThe Doctor of Philosophy in geography requires 72 s.h. of graduate credit and is designed to be completed in four or five years. The degree prepares students for college and university teaching and for advanced research. It provides study programs that lead to broad knowledge of a field of geography and its literature and to special expertise in a subfield.Students can enter the Ph.D. program upon completing an undergraduate degree or with advanced standing corresponding to previous graduate education. All Ph.D. students take the following courses.
Before students can be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D., they must submit an original research paper to a faculty committee for approval. Students who complete an M.A. or M.S. thesis can submit it to fulfill this requirement. Before taking the comprehensive examination, which consists of both written and oral components, each student must submit an area review paper to his or her Ph.D. committee. This paper, which must be approved by the student's Ph.D. advisor, consists of a critical review of research in the student's concentration area. The comprehensive examination covers the student's concentration area and his or her general field in the discipline. After obtaining the dissertation supervisor's approval, the student submits a dissertation proposal to the dissertation committee for critical comments and approval. The student then must complete and defend the dissertation. For detailed information about requirements, see the Manual for Graduate Degree Requirements, Department of Geography; contact the Department of Geography. AdmissionApplicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.A bachelor's degree in geography is not required for admission to graduate study in geography, but applicants must have an undergraduate background relevant to the field. Strength in social or environmental science and interest in exploring the regional and spatial perspectives that characterize modern geography are important in admission decisions. Depending on their prior training, graduate students may be required to take courses that are prerequisites for course work in their chosen area of graduate study; credit earned in prerequisites does not count toward the graduate degree. Application materials include the undergraduate transcript with grade-point average, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, three letters of recommendation, and an essay in which the applicant states his or her reasons for wanting to study geography at The University of Iowa. International applicants whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have their official scores sent to the University's Office of Admissions. Financial SupportA number of graduate appointments as teaching or research assistants are available. In addition, there are several fellowships for outstanding applicants and underrepresented minorities. Awards are based on merit. In making awards, the department pays particular attention to grade-point average, especially for the junior and senior years; score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test; letters of recommendation; and fit of the student's objectives with department specializations. Applications for graduate appointments must be received by February 1. Applications for fellowships are due by January 15.Facilities, CentersThe department houses three geographic information computational laboratories, which support a variety of GIS software packages, including the latest software from ESRI (ArcGIS), Erdas (Imagine), and Caliper (Transcad).The Geographic Information Systems Instructional Lab (GISIL) is equipped with 20 networked workstations, instructional support technology (e.g., CRT projection), and a suite of peripherals. Environmental modeling and GIS research laboratories contain state-of-the-art machines. The department provides Windows and Linux platforms, digitizers, scanners, plotters, and printers. Projects requiring massive storage have access to the advanced GIS and modeling facility in the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research. The University of Iowa is a charter member of Internet2, with a high-performance network link to the Department of Geography. The University also is a member of the University Consortium on Geographic Information Science. To aid studies of water resources and physical geography, the department has a laboratory for analysis of vegetation, sediment, soil, water quality, and tree rings, and a variety of field equipment, including portable meteorological stations and data loggers. Faculty and graduate students participate in multidisciplinary working groups through the University's Program in Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, International Programs, Institute for Rural and Environmental Health, Iowa Quaternary Studies Group, and Public Policy Center. The University's Main Library has a collection of more than 115,500 maps, 3,600 atlases and reference works, and around 100,000 aerial photographs, primarily of Iowa. Courses
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