Courses Offered in Geography and Sustainability

This course will introduce students to the experience of academic exploration that is at the heart of a liberal arts education. Through study of one or more compelling questions or topics in a small seminar setting, students will practice creative and critical thinking and will learn to express themselves effectively and appropriately in a college setting. They will develop relationships and practices that allow them to effectively utilize college resources and become members of a community of learners. The specific topic of the seminar will be developed by individual faculty and will be announced in advance. First year seminars are required for first-year students and transfer students with fewer than 15 credits. Not open to students who have received credit for IDS 189 or another first year seminar course.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: First Year Seminar

This course analyzes the elements and controls of weather on the earth's surface including the extent and composition of the atmosphere, atmospheric heating and cooling, pressure and winds, moisture and precipitation. An introduction to weather forecasting techniques and a descriptive analysis of world climate regions.An introduction to global climate change, past, present, and analysis of possible future climate change. Introduction to maps and basic topics in physical geography. Three lecture hours and one two-hour laboratory per week. Satisfies the Scientific Reasoning (with laboratory) for the General Education Core. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR100P, GGR101P, or GPH 101P.

Credits: 4.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Scientific Reasoning, Scientific Reasoning Lab

This course is designed to develop an understanding of the perspectives of geography, its evolution as a problem solving science, and its application to contemporary issues. Topics emphasizing spatial relations such as cultural perspectives, population dynamics the impact of economic development, social institutions and political organization are utilized. Case studies from around the world are used to increase the student's awareness of Geography. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR105.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society

As an introduction to geography, this course is designed to provide an overview of the different branches of geographic inquiry and thought to assist students in developing a critical awareness of the dynamic world in which we live, as well as to begin asking questions that seek to understand the spatial relationships between people, places and the environment. This course considers how the key concepts of place and space can be used to understand the special character and interactions of history, culture, economics, and the environment and will attempt to engage students' broad interests through the lens of geographical thinking and analysis.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society

This course examines the interrelationships of the physical and cultural patterns of the world regions. Special attention will be given to various specific locations. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR110.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: World Cultures

Global climate change is one of the dominant issues of our time. The earth's warming has already altered many ecosystems with marked results. This course studies these changes, their likely effects, and future scenarios. Students will consider the changes in the natural world and their impacts on societies around the world.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Scientific Reasoning

Global climate change is one of the dominant issues of our time. This course will provide a foundational understanding of climate change from the perspective of atmospheric science. The course will begin with an introduction into what climate change is and then explore past climate changes and how science is able to reconstruct the past. The course will explore how our current climate change is changing and what the driving forces of change are. Students will explore how a changing climate affects society in multiple ways and they will be introduced to various future scenarios of climate change. Students will also explore several mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Scientific Reasoning

This introductory course is designed to provide a working knowledge of maps as a medium of communication and a general overview of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The cartographic component includes material on map components, history, and use. The GIS component includes historical background, field developments, current trends and future prospects in this rapidly expanding field. Basic methodologies and analytical functions of GIS will be introduced along with additional spatial and geographic concepts including the nature of spatial data, data capture and acquisition, data sources, spatial queries and spatial analysis. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR150.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Quantitative Reasoning

This course applies geography's human-environment tradition to examine the regional and spatial dimensions of sustainability around the world. In pursuing sustainable development, humans seek to maximize the benefits of social and economic development while maintaining the services from and quality of the earth's natural resources. Students will explore case studies addressing some of the conflicts between human desires for material well being and our ability to protect the natural environment and maintain cultural and social traditions. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR275.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society

Recent years have seen an upsurge in global responses to the increasing threat of catastrophic climate change. This course explores this emerging global movement, with a particular focus on examining local and international responses, current policy debates and the future directions of the climate justice movement. Students will explore current news on climate issues, the impact and potential of climate activism, and debates around the radical political and policy changes that are necessary to avert a climate crisis. The course will develop students’ understandings and skills for participating in local solutions to the climate change. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society

This course present New England, a relatively distinct cultural, economic and historical region, in terms of its physical features and the urban and rural economic structure with a view towards evaluating the future potential of the region. Three lecture hours per week. Field trips may be included. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR158.

Credits: 3.00

This course is designed as an introductory survey course on the geography of Canada. It will be structured around the five fundamental themes of geography (i.e. location, place, human-environment interaction, movement and regions). The course will analysis the physiographic, climatic, cultural, economic and political regions and patterns of Canada. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR159.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: World Cultures

This course provides a detailed regional analysis emphasizing the interrelationship of the physical, historical, economic and social geography of the United States. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR222.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society

This course explores the physical and cultural environment in Latin America and the Caribbean. It will examine the rich heritage of the regions' inhabitants, their cultural, economic and political life and the effects of climate and geomorphology on their culture. Students will also explore the cultural heritage and diversity of this region, and the region's role in the global economy. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR229.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: World Cultures

This course deals with the complexities of the human and physical environments of Africa. The role of European colonialism in the economic development of the continent is studied. Emergent nationalism in independent states and racial policies in several of the major political units are analyzed. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR235.

Credits: 3.00

This course is an introduction to the science of analytical map development employing computer cartographic technologies. Concepts stress data acquisition, spatial analysis, and data display coupled with theory of cartographic compilation and generalization to produce analytically useful maps. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR241.

Credits: 3.00

This course analyzes the origins, types and purposes of protected areas as part of integrated resource and environmental management. The emphasis is primarily on North America but will also address parks and reserves at the global level. In addition to the physical environment of protected places, human interaction with the landscape will also be discussed. This course is not a "tour" of national parks but a study of the ideas and "place" of protected areas. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course introduces the concepts surrounding sustainable ecotourism development. The benefits and weaknesses of utilizing natural resources and wildlife as attractions and destinations will be discussed along with the importance of sustainability and environmentalism principles. Understanding how/why ecotourism is used as an economic development initiative globally is also considered. Students will develop writing skills through preparation of case studies and tourism analysis. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit or GGR367 or GPH363.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Written Communication-Level II, World Cultures

This course will examine the cultural and political geography of Native Americans. It explores the lands and natural resources under Native American jurisdiction. Students will be introduced to the importance of law, legislation and federal policies in the changing geography of Native Americans. The course will also examine cultural differences in how American Indians and Euro-Americans think about land, natural resources and place. Case studies of reservation land use, hunting and fishing rights, environmental protection, sacred sites and tourism development will be used to explore the complex cultural and political geographies of Native Americans. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR248.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society, Diversity, Power Dyn, Soc Just

This course provides an understanding of the nature and scope of tourism geographies. Specifically, the course will explore the significance of tourism to society, and its impacts on the economy and environment. Geographical approaches to the study of tourism and contemporary frameworks regarding human behavior and actions in touristic landscapes will provide the foundations of understanding tourist space, place and identities. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR261.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society

An introduction to the physical and human dimensions of global environmental change. The course will examine global elemental cycles and their interactions within the physical environment. In addition, human-driving forces will be analyzed such as land-use change and industrialization. Course will review use of remote sensing and GIS technologies for analysis of global and regional change. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR262P.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Scientific Reasoning

This course describes and analyzes the morphology of ocean basins and their geological origins. The physical and chemical characteristics of seawater, the dynamics of oceanic circulation, and the role of the marine environment as a human resource are discussed. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR252P.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Scientific Reasoning

This course provides an introduction to probability, statistics and spatial data techniques used in geographic research and in analysis of data in geographic information systems. The course includes: the meaning and significance of numerical data, the analysis of central tendency and variance, sampling, data distributions, point and area spatial measurement and models, inferential statistics, correlation and regression. Three lecture hours per week. This course is a prerequisite for GPH 302.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Quantitative Reasoning

This course prepares students for advanced research and departmental course work by examining the breadth of geography as an academic discipline, by understanding fundamental research techniques, by mastering basic computer skills and by developing and completing an original research project. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR205.
Prerequisite: GPH301 or GGR206.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Written Commun-Level III

This course provides an introduction to globalization of the world economy through an examination of its causes, patterns, and consequences in a variety of geographic contexts. Various perspectives explore the interface between human development and the environment in a global context. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR270.

Credits: 3.00

This introductory course is designed to provide a general overview of the field of transportation geography. Transportation is a very geographic phenomenon and also a crucial component for all aspects of society today and in the past. In this course, transportation geography from a historical, urban, facility, international, intermodal, and sustainable perspective will all be examined. Three lecture hours per week.
Prerequisite: W-I course or equivalent.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Written Communication-Level II, World Cultures

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are powerful forms of spatial information processing. Incorporating analytic geographic techniques to capture, maintain, analyze, and display data, GIS generate unique spatial information widely used by both the public and private sectors. Specifically, this course details the analytical and technical development and the applied uses of GIS for business, environmental, and social applications. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR320.

Credits: 3.00

This course details the applications of drones and other high resolution imagery along with the analytic use of the imagery including manual interpretation, elementary photogrammetric techniques, mission design and planning, as well as integration and preparation of derived aerial data for geographic systems analysis. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR342.

Credits: 3.00

This course explores how scientists study the Earth from space using satellite data. The course covers the fundamental concepts of remote sensing from the physics of light energy and the mechanics of satellite imaging to the visual and digital analysis of satellite imagery for problem solving. The course uses a combination of lecture and computer applications. This course will provide students with the conceptual foundations and the technical skills to apply remote sensing for problem solving in earth science and environmental issues. Satisfies the Scientific Reasoning (non-laboratory) for the General Education core. The course has no prerequisites, but it is not advised as a course for freshmen. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR343.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Scientific Reasoning

This course will involve the exploration and analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of crime, the use of technologies to analyze patterns of crime, and the development of crime prevention strategies. Theories of crime including those from Geography and Ecology of Crime, will be applied to the analysis of patterns of crime. Students will acquire practical skills of crime analysis through the use of modern geographic information systems and statistical crime tracking software. Students will learn about how these skills are directly relevant to, and currently used by, policing and corrections. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course offers an introduction to the researching, planning, coordinating, marketing, management and evaluation of special events and festivals. This course content will explore the theories and practices relevant to successful event planning for host community residents and tourists.

Credits: 3.00

This course focuses on understanding what energy is, how it is produced, and how it is utilized in modern society, drawing on concepts from physics, chemistry, geography and geology to understand energy production and conservation. The advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non-renewable energy sources will be analyzed, including issues of efficiency, availability, cost, pollution, and environmental impact. Three lecture hours per week.
Prerequisites: Completion of a laboratory science sequence, or permission of Department Chairperson. Not open to students who have received credit for IDS366.

Credits: 3.00

This course introduces the process of land use planning as it occurs in the United States. The history of American urbanization is examined especially as it relates to the development of the American planning system. Individual topics such as zoning, infrastructure planning, growth management economic development planning and environmental protection are all analyzed in this course. Three lecture hours per week. Group field trips may be substituted for some lectures. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR370.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines the geography of the global agro-food system. Students will learn about the economic, environmental and political factors shaping contemporary global and regional patterns of food production. The course explores the corporate consolidation of food production, processing, transport, marketing and retailing and the profound environmental, social and economic consequences of the global food system. The course also examines efforts to make the agro-food system more environmentally sustainable and socially just. We look at alternatives such as the local food movement, organic agriculture, slow food, community supported agriculture, farmers markets and other emerging agro-ecological models. The goal of the course is to provide a critical understanding of the global agro-food system and to explore debates over various alternatives and their viability. Three lecture hours per week. Environment Sustainability Concentration requirement, elective for others.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society

This course emphasizes the complexities of managing renewable and non-renewable resources at various geographic scales, local to global. Scientific and social concepts pertaining to resource assessment and use are presented, as are conservation policies, programs, and practices. Problems associated with resource-user conflicts are also discussed. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR250P.

Credits: 3.00

This course is designed to introduce students to the applied field of environmental impact assessment (or EIA). A comprehensive framework for evaluating environmental impacts is presented. Requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act for preparing and writing environmental impact statements will be covered with materials from actual EIS's. Other environmental regulations to be covered include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. The course provides students with a working knowledge of the EIA process. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR352.

Credits: 3.00

This course explores the issue of Environmental Justice in both domestic and international settings. The purpose of this course is to help students appreciate how environmental and social differences intertwine, to look critically at how environmental and social issues are framed, to understand how policy and institutional decisions and structures may create or exacerbate environmental conditions that affect historically marginalized and more vulnerable populations, and to attend to the experiences of marginalized communities and seek out solutions that benefit everyone, especially communities that are less powerful and often overburdened. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR357.
Prerequisite: W-I course.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Diversity, Power Dyn, Soc Just, Scientific Reasoning, Written Communication-Level II

This course analyzes the atmosphere, weather elements, air masses, fronts, and storms. It introduces the principles of weather forecasting and special problems of micrometeorology. Includes practice in the instrumentation and data analysis procedures of meteorological observation including the use of synoptic maps and upper air charts is provided. This course satisfies the scientific reasoning general education requirement. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Scientific Reasoning

This course is an independent study of a selected topic in systematic or regional geography with emphasis on intensive research and analysis. Subject to the approval of the study advisor and the Department Chairperson.

Credits: 1.00 - 6.00

This is an orientation course concerning selected geographic problems of a specific region followed by intensive field study in the area concerned. Focus will be on regions in the United States and selected foreign areas. Course repeatable with permission of the Department Chairperson.

Credits: 3.00 - 6.00

This is an internship under the auspices of various public and private organizations involved in areas directly related to the student's academic interest in Geography or Cartography. Number of credit hours will vary with commitment. To register, students must meet departmental requirements and have Department Chairperson's approval on credit hours before registration.

Credits: 3.00 - 12.00

This course provides an investigation of the fundamentals of digital image processing as applied to remotely sensed data. This course includes study of the physics of light and the hardware systems used to record specific wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Laboratory and fieldwork are related to the digital analysis of LANDSAT and other imagery in a sequence of analytic processes common to problem solving. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to student who have received credit for GGR345.

Credits: 3.00

This course prepares the student to administer and direct GIS technical and human resources. Students are exposed to GIS analysis and design by employing a structured method approach. Further, the student is shown how to identify, track and correct systems errors throughout the GIS implementation process. Students gain experience by developing and administering a prototype GIS. Three lecture hours per week with three additional hours per week in the Digital Geography Lab. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR421.
Prerequisite: GPH340 or GGR320.

Credits: 3.00

This course allows Geography majors to satisfy the final academic requirement for becoming a Commonwealth Honors Scholar and graduate as a member of the Commonwealth Honors Program. It is preceded by two 1.5-credit experiences
(Honors Junior and Senior seminars) in which students work extensively with peers on topic invention and development. This capstone experience requires students to undertake a significant creative or research project in the discipline of Geography
under the direction of a faculty member in the department. This directed study can be done in one semester for three credits. A more substantive two semester six credit version is available.
Prerequisites: W-II, IDS600H, consent of Commonwealth Honors Program Area Chair, and permission of Department Chairperson. Co-requisite: IDS601H.

Credits: 3.00

The student will participate in an independent study of a selected topic in systematic or regional geography with emphasis on intensive research and analysis. This course may be taken up to 2 times for credit, and for multiple credit/sections within a term, provided that the special topic is different each time.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and graduate coordinator.

Credits: 3.00

In this course, The student develops a Thesis proposal that requires a plan for empirical research on a significant geographic or geospatial question related to The student's program of study. The proposal is developed under the supervision of a faculty member and Thesis committee. This should be selected by students intending to continue toward a doctoral degree. Oral defense of the thesis and area of thesis study is required. A master copy will be retained in Salem State University Library.
Prerequisites: Final year of Master's program, minimum 3.5 GPA in courses or invitation by a faculty sponsor, and approval in writing by both the Faculty sponsor and the program coordinator. Required for students pursuing the Thesis option.

Credits: 3.00

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are powerful and relatively new forms of spatial information processing used by business, industry, and government. GIS is a unique data base management system which incorporates analytic geographic techniques to capture, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial data. This course deals with the design and use of GIS an analytic tool stressing proper scientific method to ensure viable results. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 903.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines how GIS is used for research or analysis and provides students with an opportunity to improve GIS skills. Students review literature on major theories and methods of geographic inquiry, as well as case studies. Students develop a research question and plan, conduct GIS analysis, and communicate findings. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 904.

Credits: 3.00

The emphasis is on the study of remote sensing systems other than aerial photography. High altitude color-infrared photography - CIR, multi-spectral scanned imagery - MSS, side-looking airborne RADAR - SLAR, and thermal-infrared images - TIR, are investigated. The present and potential uses of these image products is studied with regard to academic and practical applications. Student mastery of the subject is exemplified by a series of detailed interpretive map overlays. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 909.

Credits: 3.00

Investigation of the fundamentals of digital image processing as applied to remotely sensed data. Study of the physics of light and the hardware systems used to record specific wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Laboratory and field work related to the digital analysis of LANDSAT and SPOT imagery in a sequence of analytic procedures common to problem solving. Three lecture hours per week plus local field trips. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 910.

Credits: 3.00

This course explores the use of linear and non-linear spatial multi-variate techniques as they relate to Geographic Information Science. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 942.

Credits: 3.00

This course prepares the student to develop, implement and maintain Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Students are exposed to GIS analysis and design employing a structured method approach. Further, the student is shown how to identify, track and correct system errors throughout the GIS implementation process. Students gain "hands on" experience by developing a GIS prototype. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 945.

Credits: 3.00

This course presents concepts and applied uses of computer-assisted cartographic modeling. Topics include model development and implementation in applied environmental, demographic, and retail applications. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 946.

Credits: 3.00

This course introduces the student to the methods and techniques currently used in spatial data base design and analysis. The student gains proficiency in the structured method approach to analysis and design as applied to spatial data management and integration to the geo-computing environment. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 952.

Credits: 3.00

This course presents various applications in the use of GIS in Environmental and Automated flapping and Facilities Management applications. Students are presented an opportunity to critically evaluate the applications and present solutions to implementation problems. This course may be taken up to 3 times for credit, and for multiple credit/sections within a term, provided that the special topic is different each time.
Prerequisites: GPH903 or permission of instructor.

Credits: 3.00

This course is a graduate-level introduction to programming for GIS graduate students. The fundamentals concepts of computer software design and programming will be introduced within the geoprocessing framework. Basic concepts of different programming paradigms will be presented with an emphasis on object-oriented paradigm. Students will develop skills in software design and programming techniques to explore, manipulate and model spatial data. Three lecture hours and extensive programming work outside of class.
Prerequisites: GPH952 or approval of the program coordinator.

Credits: 3.00

To provide advanced study of specialized topics of importance to geographic information systems (GIS). Will include in-depth examination of scientific literature in an interactive seminar format concerning theoretical, applied and operational issues related to GIS and their development and applications. A substantial research paper on an approved topic is required for completion of the course. Course is required for students choosing the non-thesis option in the MS Geo-Information Science program and is recommended for students who intend to write a thesis. Not open to students who have received credit for GGR 965.
Prerequisites: GGR945 and at least 23 other graduate credits towards the MS Geo-Information Science degree.

Credits: 4.00