Last updated: March 20, 2003 @ 06:56PM

Geography

Chair
Hugh J. Gayler

Undergraduate Program Adviser
David Butz

Professor Emeritus
John N. Jackson

Professors
John Menzies, Keith J. Tinkler

Associate Professors
David Butz, Hugh J. Gayler, Alun O. Hughes, Deborah Leslie, Daniel McCarthy, Michael Ripmeester, Anthony B. Shaw

Assistant Professor
Xinxia Jiang

Lecturer
Christopher A. Fullerton

Senior Demonstrator/Instructor
Daryl F. Dagesse

General Information

Administrative Assistant
Virginia Wagg

905-688-5550, extension 3484
Mackenzie Chown C322
http://www.brocku.ca/geography/

The Department of Geography offers programs leading to BA and BSc degrees at the honours and pass levels and participates in a number of combined major programs.

Geographers study the distribution of physical and human phenomena over the Earth's surface and the interrelationships of humans and the natural environment. Their work ranges from description and mapping, through scientific analysis and explanation, to forecasting and planning for the future.

The discipline of geography has a broad scope and combines elements of both the social and natural sciences. Two principal divisions of the subject exist-human geography and physical geography-linked by a common background, a mutual concern for humans and the environment and a body of related theory and methodology.

Geography majors at Brock may choose from the following degree programs: BA Human Geography, BSc Physical Geography, BA Geography and BSc Geography. The first two are relatively specialized, while the last two strike a balance between the physical and human sides of the discipline. Within each program students may be admitted to the honours degree program at any time. An honours degree program provides students with an opportunity for a more intensive examination of issues in the discipline. These programs are described in detail in subsequent sections.

In addition, the department offers four-year honours programs leading to either a BA or BSc degree in Geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Science. This program combines Brock courses with those offered by Niagara College.

In most courses there is emphasis on practical work. This involves structured labs and seminars in early years and progressively more independent work in later years, culminating in an optional honours thesis in year 4. Field work features prominently in many courses. Students should note that a nominal fee may be charged in courses having a field work or laboratory component.

Two field courses, GEOG 3P56 and 3P57, are held during registration week in early September, with follow-up seminars during term. One of these courses is mandatory for students entering year 3; prospective students must register with the department by April of the preceding academic year.

GEOG 4F99 is an internship program in year 4, enabling students to obtain work experience while still at the University.

Laboratories and equipment are available for work in biogeography, geomor-phology, climatology, cartography, surveying, remote sensing, geographic information systems and human geography. The University Map Library, containing an extensive collection of maps, atlases and air photos, is housed within the Geography department.

Program Notes
  1. Certain courses (GEOG 2P07, 2P96, 3F95, 3P01, 3P04, 3P05, 3P07, 3P81, 3P83, 3P95, 4F99, 4P02, 4P03) can be taken for either BA or BSc credit.
  2. In the case of GEOG 3V60-3V69, 3V90-3V99, 4F90, 4P95 and 4P96 the content in a given year determines whether the course yields BA credit or BSc credit.
  3. Students may hold credit for only one of GEOG 3P56 or 3P57.
  4. For students with a specific interest in geomorphology and soils the following ERSC courses are recommended as elective credits: ERSC 2P10, 3P61 and 4P61.
  5. Two Social Science credits are required and must be other than GEOG.
  6. Three Science credits are required and must be from: BIOL/BCHM, CHEM, COSC, ERSC, MATH and PHYS (excluding ASTR 1F00, BIOL 1F25, CHEM 1P00, COSC 1P93, ERSC 1F90, SCIE 1F30). One of these credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
  7. In all 20 credit degree programs, at least 12 credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above, six of which must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above and of these, three must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above. In all 15 credit degree programs, at least seven credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above, three of which must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above.

Course offerings

Courses offered by the department fall into two main groups, group A in human geography and group B in physical geography. A third group (C) emphasizes geographical techniques in cartography and related studies.

Group A:
·   GEOG 1F90
·   GEOG 2P02, 2P03, 2P06, 2P10, 2P91, 2P96
·   GEOG 3F90, 3F95, 3F96, 3P45, 3P52, 3P53, 3P57, 3P60, 3P65, 3P74, 3P81, 3P83, 3P84, 3P86, 3P87, 3P88, 3V60-3V69, 3V90-3V99
·   GEOG 4F90, 4F99, 4P60, 4P61, 4P70, 4P71, 4P95, 4P96
Group B:
·   GEOG 1F91
·   GEOG 2P04, 2P05, 2P09, 2P11, 2P96
·   GEOG 3F95, 3P10, 3P12, 3P24, 3P25, 3P26, 3P31, 3P33, 3P36, 3P56, 3P81, 3P83, 3P85, 3V60-3V69, 3V90-3V99
·   GEOG 4F90, 4F99, 4P12, 4P13, 4P20, 4P26, 4P28, 4P80, 4P95, 4P96
Group C:
·   GEOG 2P07
·   GEOG 3P01, 3P04, 3P05, 3P07, 3P90, 3P91, 3P95
·   GEOG 4P02, 4P03

Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography

Honours

Year 1
·   GEOG 1F90 and GEOG 1F91 (may be taken in Year 2)
·   MATH 1P98
·   one Humanities context credit
·   one Social Science context credit (see program note 5)
·   one-half elective credit
Year 2
·   GEOG 2P02, 2P03, 2P06, 2P07 and 2P10
·   one Social Science credit (see program note 5)
·   one and one-half elective credits (to include GEOG 1F91 if not completed in Year 1)
Year 3
·   GEOG 3P57
·   one and one-half GEOG credits numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group A
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group C
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from either group A or C
·   two elective credits
Year 4
·   GEOG 4F99
·   three credits from GEOG 4F90, 4P02, 4P03, 4P60, 4P61, 4P70, 4P71, 4P95, 4P96 or two credits from this group and
·   one GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group A or C
·   one elective credit
Pass

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the honours program entitles a student to apply for a pass degree.

Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography

Honours

Year 1
·   GEOG 1F91 and 1F90 (may be taken in Year 2)
·   MATH 1P97 and 1P98
·   one Humanities context credit
·   one Science context credit (see program note 6)
Year 2
·   GEOG 2P04, 2P05, 2P07, 2P09 and 2P11
·   one Science credit (see program note 6)
·   one and one-half elective credits (to include GEOG 1F90 if not completed in Year 1)
Year 3
·   GEOG 3P56
·   one and one-half GEOG credits numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group B
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group C
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group B or C
·   one Science credit (see program note 6)
·   one elective credit
Year 4
·   GEOG 4F99
·   three credits from GEOG 4F90, 4P02, 4P03, 4P12, 4P13, 4P20, 4P26, 4P28, 4P80, 4P95, 4P96 or two credits from this group and one GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group B or C
·   one elective credit
Pass program

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the honours program entitles a student to apply for a pass degree.

Bachelor of Arts in Geography

Honours

Year 1
·   GEOG 1F90 and 1F91
·   MATH 1P98
·   one Humanities context credit
·   one Social Science context credit (see program note 5)
·   one-half elective credit
Year 2
·   GEOG 2P07 or 2P11
·   GEOG 2P10
·   one credit from GEOG 2P02, 2P03, 2P06
·   one credit from GEOG 2P04, 2P05, 2P09
·   one Social Science credit (see program note 5)
·   one elective credit
Year 3
·   GEOG 3P57
·   one GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group A
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group A or C
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group B
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group B or C
·   two elective credits
Year 4
·   GEOG 4F99
·   two GEOG credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above from groups A, B, C
·   one GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above from groups A, B, C
·   one elective credit
Pass

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the honours program entitles a student to apply for a pass degree.

Bachelor of Science in Geography

Honours

Year 1
· GEOG 1F90 and 1F91
·   MATH 1P97 and 1P98
·   one Humanities context credit
·   one Science context credit (see program note 6)
Year 2
·   GEOG 2P07 or 2P10
·   GEOG 2P11
·   one credit from GEOG 2P02, 2P03, 2P06
·   one credit from GEOG 2P04, 2P05, 2P09
·   one Science credit (see program note 6)
·   one elective credit
Year 3
·   GEOG 3P56
·   one GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group B
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group B or C
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group A
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group A or C
·   one Science credit (see program note 6)
·   one elective credit
Year 4
·   GEOG 4F99
·   two GEOG credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above from groups A, B, C
·   one GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above from groups A, B, C
·   one elective credit
Pass

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the honours program entitles a student to apply for a pass degree.

Combined Major Programs

The Department of Geography participates in combined major programs with the following departments: Biological Sciences (BSc), Computer Science (BA and BSc), Earth Sciences (BSc), Economics (BA). The require-ments are listed in the calendar sections of the co-major discipline. Combined major programs with other disciplines are also possible; students interested in pursuing one of these should consult the Chair of Geography and of the other department involved. As in the single major programs, students pursuing a combined major may be admitted to the honours program at any time. The honours program provides students with an opportunity for a more intensive examination of issues in the field.

All combined major students are required to complete the following courses:
·   GEOG 1F90 or 1F91
·   GEOG 2P10 or 2P11
·   GEOG 3P56 or 3P57
·   GEOG 4F99
·   MATH 1P98 or equivalent
In addition, BSc Combined majors are required to complete MATH 1P97.

Concentration in Geographic Information Science

The Concentration in Geographic Information Science combines a training in the technical fields of cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and surveying with an education in a chosen academic discipline, which may be any subject that deals with spatial information relating to the Earth's surface. One combination Geography and Geographic Information Science has been developed to date and is described below.

This is a four-year honours program and involves courses offered through Brock/ Niagara College's postgraduate certificate program in Geographic Information Systems. Students completing the program receive a Brock honours degree in Geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Science, as well as a postgraduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Niagara College. The degree may be a BA or BSc, depending on whether the human or physical side of geography is emphasized.

The program caters to the increasing demand in society for professionals who possess both a solid technical background in GIS and related fields and the substantive knowledge necessary to apply those technologies successfully in the real world. Normally, this involves attending college after gaining a university degree, but the Brock and Niagara program combines the two in a single integrated package.

Students should note the following about this program:
1.  Students normally enter the program at the start of Year 2 and should apply for admission at the end of Year 1. Enrolment is limited, depending on the availability of lab space at Niagara College. Admission to the concentration will include concurrent admission to the Niagara College postgraduate certificate program in Geographic Information Systems.
2.  In Year 3 courses are taken at Niagara College in the Fall Term and at Brock in the Winter Term. In Year 4 courses are taken at Brock in the Fall Term and at Niagara College in the Winter Term. The Niagara College courses are taught at the Glendale Campus and are of 14 weeks duration with an additional week for exams.
3.  Upon completion of the required courses at Niagara College, with a minimum 70 percent overall average, students will have 4.5 transfer credits applied to their Brock degree. Students who successfully complete GEOG 2P07, 3P04, 3P05 and 3P95 and receive the 4.5 transfer credits will satisfy the concentration in Geographic Information Science. Students in this program may not take GEOG 3P01, 3P07 and 4F99 for credit.
4.  The courses in the Niagara College certificate program are listed below. The 100-level courses are normally taught in the fall term and the 200-level courses in the winter term.
  GEOG 112
Project Management

GEOG 114
Database Systems
GEOG 115
Introduction to Arc/Info
GEOG 116
Computers and Programming
GEOG 117
Spatial Analysis
GEOG 118
Foundations of Mapping
GEOG 230
Surveying and Data Collection
GEOG 231
Remote Sensing
GEOG 232
GIS Applications
GEOG 234
Applied GIS Project

GEOG 235
Advanced GIS Operations
GEOG 236
Digital Image Processing
Brock students are exempt from GEOG 118, and take GEOG 232 or 235.

BA (Honours) Geography with Concentration in Geographic Information Science

Year 1
·   GEOG 1F90 and 1F91
·   COSC 1P95
·   MATH 1P98
·   one Social Science context credit
·   one Humanities context credit
Year 2
·   GEOG 2P02, 2P03, 2P06, 2P07, 2P10, 3P05 and 3P95
·   one and one-half elective credits
Year 3
·   one and one-half GEOG credits numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group A
·   GEOG 3P04
·   one-half elective credit (see program note 2)
Year 4
·   GEOG 3P57
·   one GEOG credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above from group A
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above from group A
·   one elective credit (see program notes 2 and 7)

BSc (Honours) Geography with Concentration in Geographic Information Science

Year 1
·   GEOG 1F90 and 1F91
·   COSC 1P95
·   MATH 1P98
·   one Science context credit
·   one Humanities context credit
Year 2
·   GEOG 2P04, 2P05, 2P07, 2P09, 2P11, 3P05 and 3P95
·   MATH 1P97
·   one elective credit
Year 3
·   one and one-half GEOG credits numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from group B
·   GEOG 3P04
·   one-half elective credit (see program note 2)
Year 4
·   GEOG 3P56
·   one GEOG credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above from group B
·   one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above from group B
·   one elective credit (see program notes 2 and 7)

Environmental Economics

Brock offers an honours BA program in Environmental Economics. Starting in the second year, students choose a secondary component normally in Biological Sciences, Environment or Human Geography.

Consult the Environmental Economics entry for a listing of program requirements.

Minor in Geography

Students in other disciplines can obtain a minor in geography within their degree program by completing the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
·   GEOG 1F90 or 1F91
·   one and one-half GEOG credits numbered 1(alpha)90 to 2(alpha)89
·   one and one-half GEOG credits numbered 2(alpha)90 or above.