Earth Sciences Courses
Only want to take one class with a focus on sustainability rather than a minor or major? You can still take a variety of courses within the curriculum that also count towards General Education Credit, Issues credit, or may be required within your major.
For updated information of course listings and descriptions visit the Course Catalog
Geology
GEO 100 - Environmental Geology
The relationship between people and their physical geological environment. Topics include geologic hazards, hydrology and human health, mineral and energy resources, and land use planning. Primarily for non-science majors; not for Geology or Earth Science majors. Lectures and field trips. Fulfills Foundation - Physical Sciences. (3-0-0) Offered each semester and in summer. 3 cr
GEO 103 - Oceans
Scientific investigation of the oceans and interactions among ocean, atmosphere, and lithosphere. Introduction to the chemistry of seawater, physics of water movement, coastal processes, geological oceanography, changes in the oceanic system through geologic time, and the role of oceans in Earth’s geologic evolution.
GEO 105 - Living with the Great Lakes
Introduction to Earth Science using the Great Lakes as a theme and Lake Michigan as a natural laboratory. Review of the Lakes’ geologic setting, origin, and history; climatology and lake levels; physical processes including erosion; water chemistry as a function of geology; human interactions with the Lakes. Lectures and field trips. Fulfills Foundation - Physical Sciences. (3- 0-0) Offered in fall semester and in summer. 3 cr
GEO 107 - Climate Change: A Hot Science
Introduction to climate system science. Topics include energy, atmospheric dynamics/chemistry, albedo, glaciations, carbon cycling, ocean/atmosphere interaction, radiative forcings, solar cycles, orbital parameters, sea-level rise, paleoclimates, geochemical climate proxies, and anthropogenic climate change. Primarily for non-science majors. Does not count toward Geology, Geology-Chemistry, nor Earth Science majors and minors. Fulfills General Education Foundations - Physical Sciences. Offered every semester.
GEO 109 - Natural Hazards and Disasters
This geoscience course explores the scientific principles and human impact of natural hazards and disasters. The course emphasizes the earth processes associated with hazards, natural hazard forecasting and mitigation, and sustainable living within the Earth system. Fulfills General Education Foundations - Physical Sciences. Offered every semeste
GEO 111 - Exploring the Earth
Introduction to the study of Earth materials and processes, including minerals, rocks, mineral deposits, weathering, erosion, volcanism, and mountain building.
GEO 202 - Hydrosphere for Teachers
Introduction to how the hydrosphere works emphasizing a descriptive approach. Includes river, groundwater, glacial, ocean, and shoreline systems and human interaction with those systems.
GEO 203 - Weather and Climate
Introduction to weather and climate. Includes daily, seasonal, and long-term changes, weather patterns, mechanisms and evidence for climate change, and impact of human activities. Offered fall and winter semesters.
GEO 220 - Earth Surface Materials and Systems
A comprehensive analysis of biogeochemical, pedological, hydrologic and geological systems that produce, maintain, and change the Earth's surface. Lecture, lab, and fieldwork. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: Both CHM 125 and CHM 126 and one of the following: GEO 111 or GEO 100 or GEO 103 or GEO 105 or GEO 107 or GEO 109. Also recommended: GEO 112 and GEO 175 for Geology and Climate Science majors; ENV 160 for Environmental Science majors.
GEO 320 - Geomorphology
The patterns and genesis of landforms with emphasis on fluvial processes, climatic factors, and environmental implications. Independent study project or research paper required. Lectures, laboratory, and field trips.
GEO 360 - Earth Resources in Transition: Conventional to Sustainable
Exploration of transition from conventional to sustainable earth resource issues, technologies, and science. Focuses on one, or a combination, of earth resources: water, energy, or earth materials (minerals and metals). Topics may include water
resources, treatment and usage; oil and gas origins, exploration, recovery, and refining; mining and metals recovery.
GEO 417 - Physical Climatology
Project-based course on physical climatology. Topics include atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, ocean/atmosphere/cryosphere interactions, relevant fluid dynamics and thermodynamics with specific emphasis on atmospheric processes, orbital parameters, albedo, ice, anthropogenic forcings, and modeling inputs/outputs - including coupled and global climate models (GCMs). Prerequisites: , MTH 201, or permission of instructor, and junior standing.
GEO 425 - GIS Applications in Geology
Applied geographic information systems (GIS) in geology. Students already familiar with GIS will learn advanced skills and apply GIS skills to specific geology problems in hydrology, field mapping, mineral and land resources, water quality, and other topics based on student interest and background. Offered winter semester of even-numbered years. Prerequisite: GPY 307 or NRM 405 or equivalent course.
GEO 440 - Geohydrology
A study of the geologic principles that govern the occurrence, movement, and quality of groundwater. Lectures, laboratory, and field trip. (3-0-0) Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: GEO 220.
GEO 445 - Introduction to Geochemistry
Topics include crystal chemistry (nuclear/solid-state chemistry), water geochemistry (kinetics) and mineral stability (thermodynamics).
GEO 493 - Applied Field Geology
This course offers students hands on geological field experience to fulfill the field camp requirement for the geology major. This can be satisfied by participation in an external field camp or a field course offered through GVSU. May be repeated for credit. Offered summer semester. Prerequisites: Major in geology (geology B.S. or geology B.S. - environmental emphasis); registration permit required.
Geography
GPY 100 - Physical Geography
Explores the spatial patterns between landforms, natural systems of flora and fauna, and climate. Designed to increase awareness of the physical environment, its landscape, controls, and processes, and the interrelationships of natural phenomena.
GPY 101 - Sustainability and Place
The concept of sustainability holds that the social, economic, and environmental factors within human communities must be viewed in the context of their geographic locations. Strategies and decisions for sustainable development require understanding of the spatial patterns of human-environmental interactions, scale, and place. GPY 101 provides important place based perspectives on sustainability. Course offered every semester.
GPY 111 - Cities, Towns, and Villages
An investigation into cities, towns, and villages as physical phenomena, focusing on the role built environments play in the future of human civilization. Methods and theories from sustainability science are used to examine the relationship between the built environment and topics such as public health, economic inequality, and environmental quality. Fulfills one the Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences requirements.
GPY 112 - Global Climate Crisis
An introductory geographic survey of climate change impacts and vulnerabilities around the world. Attention will be given to causes of the unfolding global climate crisis, climate change scenarios through the end of this century, and mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency-planning strategies.
GPY 209 - Introduction to City and Regional Planning
An introductory course for people interested in careers in planning and public administration. The course explores the relationship between the goals of a community and the techniques needed to implement long-term and sustainable strategies. Fulfills one of the Issues requirements. Offered fall semester. 3 cr
GPY 220 - Cultural Geography
The distinctive spatial patterns of culture around the world will be investigated. Examines the distributions of population, language, religion, race, agriculture, industry, urbanization, and development and how these distributions change over time. Fulfills one of the Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Offered every semester.
GPY 235 - Geography for a Changing Worlds
A survey of geography followed by an examination of specific geographic concepts. Physical, cultural, economic, and related factors will be given more emphasis than place-name geography. Fulfills Foundation - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Fulfills Cultures - Global Perspectives. Offered every semester.
GPY 312 - Urban and Regional Environmental Planning
An introduction to the urban planning strategies that help towns and cities to preserve, restore, and even capitalize on their natural resources. This course investigates threats to clean air, water, and healthy ecosystems in our communities and examines solutions in the form of governmental policies, green designs, and urban inventiveness. Cross-listed with ENS 312 and PA 312. Offered winter semester of odd-numbered years.
GPY 316 - Introduction to Transportation Planning
This course is an introduction to transportation planning. It explores the planning, land use and policy implications of city and
regional transportation as it relates to urbanism, energy use, public health and safety, sustainability and economic
development. Offered winter semester of odd-numbered years. 3 cr
GPY 324 - Urbanization
Examines the process of urbanization and its impact on various cultures and its long-term comprehensive sustainability. Considers the dynamic growth of urbanization in third world countries and the significant increase in global urbanization, emphasizing the evolution of cities over time, space, and vastly different social, political, and cultural environments. Fulfills Cultures - Global Perspectives. Fulfills one of the Issues requirements. Offered fall semester. 3 cr
GPY 328 - Urban Ecological Design
Explores the ecological potential of the designed urban environment. Students will study and evaluate the relationships between historical indigenous methods, urban design and ecological performance through a series of case studies, field explorations, and site work. Field work regarding vegetation, stormwater management, energy, and pollution will be conducted. Part of the Issues - Sustainability. Fulfills General Education Cultures - U.S. Diversity. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
GPY 335 - Globalization and Development
Development involves positive and negative social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental changes for people living in a region or a country. GPY 335 explores the complex geography of the processes associated with development and in particular global development. Part of the Globalization Issue. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
GPY 345 - The Geography and Land Use Management of Michigan and the Great Lakes Area
A survey of Michigan's physical resources, such as climate, soils, hydrology, and flora -- as related to land use and land use management -- exemplified in settlement patterns, demography, economic development, infrastructures, industrialization, urbanization, and jurisdictional structures.
GPY 350 - Geopolitics, Energy, and Environment of Russia and Eurasia
This course examines the unique role of Russia and Central Eurasia in the world’s energy, water, and food security and many global geopolitical processes of the 21st century. With its complex ethno-cultural composition and vast deposits of oil, gas, coal, and uranium, this region is strategically important for the US. Fulfills Cultures - Global Perspectives. Part of the Globalization Issue. Offered winter semester.
Prerequisite: Junior standing.
GPY 356 - The Geography, Culture and Land Use Management of Europe
A survey of Europe's distribution and regional interactions of physical and human resources such as climate, soils, hydrology, and coastal geomorphology, along with cultural elements such as settlement patterns, language, ideology, economic development, infrastructure evolution, industrialization, urbanization, human capital, and jurisdictional developments and the associated land use management approaches. Fulfills General Education Cultures - Global Perspectives.
GPY 361 - People, Environment, and Development in the Amazon
This course explores natural resource use and human settlement over time in the Amazon Basin, from early tribal societies to the present. Topics include extractive economies, trade in animal and forest products, conservation and development initiatives, and the changing demands for resources in urban centers of Amazonia today.
GPY 362 - Farmers, Crops, and Our Challenging Agricultural World
A geography of the world's agricultural practices and development at different scales, from traditional methods to industrial agriculture with an emphasis on farming societies. Topics include indigenous agriculture and crop domestication, agroforestry and plantation systems, land use and rural societies, export crops, aquaculture and livestock, and drug cultivation. Fulfills General Education Cultures - Global Perspectives. Part of the Globalization Issue. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
GPY 363 - World Forests and Their Use
A geography of the world’s forests and their use, from traditional to industrial practices over space and time. Topics include the local, national and international exploitation of forests, forest societies, foods, fuel and medicines, timber, protected areas, and the challenge of sustainable forest use in different regions and environments. Fulfills one of the Issues requirements. Offered fall semester. 3 cr
GPY 410 - Landscape Analysis and Green Infrastructure
This course examines applications of landscape ecology concepts in land-use, urban, and regional planning. Attention is given to system analysis, integration of physical, biological, and cultural elements in landscape systems. Applications of sustainable landscape design and resiliency planning through integration of green and blue infrastructure are examined through case studies. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
GPY 412 - Global Environmental Change
The main theme of this course is the changing nature of our environment and human-environmental interactions. Topics include climatic fluctuations, environmental reconstructions, the interaction between humankind and the environment since
the prehistoric times, and human-induced environmental change of the last century at the global, continental and regional scales. Cross-listed with ENS 412. Fulfills one of the Issues requirements. Offered winter semester. Prerequisites: GPY 100 or BIO 105. 3 cr
GPY 414 - Land Use Planning
This course centers on the fundamental concepts, principles, strategies, and tools of urban and regional land use planning. The focus is on the real-world, local, and hands-on sustainable land use planning process and implementation. Cross-listed with PNH 313. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: GPY 111, and either GPY 209 or PNH 209.