Active Course List

Discussion and analysis of contemporary issues in the field of cultural geography. Designed to allow in-depth focus on current problems/issues that geographers will encounter in their professional practice. Topics vary according to instructor.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS) | Global Solutions in Engineering and Technology (GC)

Discussion and analysis of contemporary issues in the field of regional geography. Designed to allow in-depth focus on current problems/issues that geographers will encounter in their professional practice. Topics vary according to instructor.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS)

Discussion and analysis of contemporary issues in the field of Geographic Techniques. Designed to allow in-depth focus on current problems/issues that geographers will encounter in their professional practice. Topics vary according to instructor.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (GC) | Geographic Information Science (MS) | Modeling and Simulation (GC)

This course is designed to give students an overview of geodatabase. The course includes both lecture and lab components covering the fundamentals of geodatabase architecture/design and techniques, as well as hands-on practice with computer-based software package and GIS program.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS)

This application-oriented course aims to provide foundational knowledge on concepts, theories, techniques, and tools in the context of modeling and simulation of geographical data. Emphasis will be on popular vector and raster based models, Land Change Modeler (LCM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Geosimulation, Agent Based Modeling (ABM), Segregation models, Markov models, Cellular Automata (CA), Game of Life, etc. Furthermore, as part of the class project, students will have opportunities to design and implement geographical data driven spatio-temporal models. The primary software programs that will be used for the hands-on activities are ArcGIS, IDRISI TerrSet 2020, and NetLogo.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS)

This course is designed to give students a deeper understanding of GIScience. The course includes both lecture and lab components covering advanced applications in spatial analysis/modeling, routing/logistics, programming, as well as hands-on practice with computer-based software package and GIS program.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Environmental Science (MS) | Geographic Information Science (MS)

This course allows graduate students to develop advanced remote sensing knowledge and technology that are needed to conduct in-depth analysis and solve challenging problems. The major topics to be covered include advanced remote sensing data compositing, enhancement, data correction, data fusion, scientific analysis, and spatial modeling techniques; surface reflectance and land surface temperature calculations; land and water mapping and assessment; remote sensing indices and applications; high spatial-resolution and hyperspectral as well as RADAR, LiDAR, and UAV data processing and analysis techniques; canopy biochemical characteristics; and vegetation cover, biomass, and canopy structure assessment.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS)

A study assignment for a student to meet specific objectives for the student's needs. It could be a term paper, readings, reports, field report, or mapping project.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS)

Required of MS professional degree candidates. To acquaint students with the geographer's perspective and methods of inquiry; to examine types of geographic research; to develop student's ability in producing research papers; to give students experience in writing research papers and to provide students experience in professional oral presentation.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS) | Geography (MS)

GIS Practicum course is specifically designed to fulfil the capstone requirement of MS GISc coursework-only option. The course builds upon concepts, theories, and tools presented in other MS GISc classes. This course focuses on project management, data models, advanced geo-processing tools, GIS modeling and simulation, and scenario-based GIS solutions. In this course, students will plan, design, and implement an applied GIS project in collaboration with professional organizations. At the end of the semester, students would prepare a poster, present their work to the class, and write a report.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS)

The history and development of geographic thought from ancient times to the late 20th century.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS) | Geography (MS)

This course surveys various environmental issues within the United States with an emphasis on state and federal legislation and policies. The forces prompting environmental legislation, its subsequent implementation and modification by the courts, and various perspectives about the problems, their possible solutions, and the assessment of current efforts are discussed.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Environmental Science (MS) | Geographic Information Science (MS)

The focus of this/these course(s) will be on Meteorology/Climatology. This course may be repeated up to three times.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Student culminating experience in lieu of a thesis.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS) | Geography (MS) | Modeling and Simulation (GC)

An applied work and learning practicum. The student will provide a written report on their own learning. The work supervisor will be consulted regarding students' accomplishments.

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS)

A culminating project related to basic or applied research

Areas of Interest:

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Programs:

Geographic Information Science (MS) | Geography (MS) | Modeling and Simulation (GC)

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and flooding are three examples of naturally recurring events on the Earth that ultimately influence all of our lives. This course introduces the physical features and processes of the Earth that control these events. The course has a laboratory component.

Graduation Requirements:

Goal Area 3 - Natural Sciences | Goal Area 10 - People and the Environment

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Programs:

Construction Management (BS) | Environmental Humanities Minor

An introduction to the multidisciplinary field of soil science and fertility. The course will examine the basic physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. Further topics will explore soil genesis, soil health and management, and their relationships to crop production. Field trips and lab activities will be used to explore key concepts, with emphasis on examples relevant to the soils of southern Minnesota. Local field trips included.

Graduation Requirements:

Goal Area 3 - Natural Sciences | Goal Area 10 - People and the Environment

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Programs:

Agribusiness and Food Innovation (BS) | Agriculture Minor | Agronomy (BAS) | Environmental Science (BS)

From mineral formation to mountain building, this course introduces all the main areas of geologic study and places them in the context of environmental justice. We will consider the social and political backdrop of geological processes, practices, and resources, and consider how ignoring the world's complicated history has resulted in the repetition and perpetuation of practices that have disproportionately harmed diverse peoples. Lecture discussions and laboratory exercises are designed for general education and students seeking a major or minor in one of the natural sciences.

Graduation Requirements:

Goal Area 3 - Natural Sciences | Goal Area 10 - People and the Environment | Diverse Cultures - Purple

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Programs:

Environmental Humanities Minor

An introduction to the world's oceans: how they work, what they contain, how they impact everything on Earth, and how humans impact them.

Graduation Requirements:

Goal Area 3 - Natural Sciences | Goal Area 10 - People and the Environment

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Programs:

Environmental Humanities Minor

Physical geology is the study of how the earth works. From mountain building to soil erosion, this course provides an introduction to all the main areas of geologic study. Lecture discussions and laboratory exercises are designed for students seeking a major or minor in one of the natural sciences.

Graduation Requirements:

Goal Area 3 - Natural Sciences | Goal Area 10 - People and the Environment

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Programs:

Computer Science (BS) | Earth Science (BS) | Earth Science Minor | Earth Science Teaching (5-12) (BS) | Geology Minor | Physics Teaching (BS) | Software Engineering (BS)

An examination of the development and evolution of life on earth. In addition to reviewing the range of life forms and global climates existing on earth during various times in its geologic past, we will also look at how global industrialization could lead to the earth's next period of mass extinction. Weekly laboratory assignments help illustrate principles discussed in lectures.

Graduation Requirements:

Goal Area 3 - Natural Sciences

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Programs:

Earth Science (BS) | Earth Science Minor | Earth Science Teaching (5-12) (BS) | Environmental Humanities Minor | Geology Minor | Software Engineering (BS)

Examination of the elemental composition and crystal structure of various common minerals. Laboratory time is spent practicing techniques of identifying crystals and minerals. The importance and occurrence of many economic minerals is also covered thoroughly in this course.

Prerequisites:

GEOL 100 or GEOL 107 or GEOL 121

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Programs:

Earth Science (BS) | Earth Science Teaching (5-12) (BS) | Geoarcheology (CERT) | Geology Minor | Geomorphology and Earth Surface Processes (CERT)

Introduction to laboratory analyses of aqueous solutions and soils in support of civil engineering or geological applications. Includes techniques of analysis of water and soil samples. Water analysis includes biological and chemical oxygen demand, corrosion, pH, phosphorus, chlorine, VOCs, nitrogen, hardness, turbidity, thermal measurement and flow tracing. Soil analysis includes pH, loss on ignition, redox, and fertility.

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Study of the compositions and origins of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks in a plate tectonic context. Topics include mineral optics and geochemistry. Lab portion of course emphasizes identification and study of rocks.

Prerequisites:

GEOL 201

Areas of Interest:

Education and Training

Programs:

Earth Science (BS) | Geology (BS)