The University of Toledo

Courses in Geography and Planning and Spatially Integrated Social Science

 

Course Number	Course Title		Catalog Description
GEPL 1010	Human Geography		Presenations of major approaches to geographic thought: the natural environment, regional studies, human ecology, development issues and spatial interrelationships.
GEPL 1100	Environmental Geography		While gaining a fundamental understanding of the world's physical environmnet, students explore issues regarding humanity's interaction with the earth. Current issues such as global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, deforestation and desertification are addressed.
GEPL 2010	Fundamentals of Geography		An introduction to basic geographic concepts of both physical and human geography, with emphasis on the interrelationships of people with their physical and cultural environments.
GEPL 2030	Cultural Geography - WAC		A learning-through-writing course. Systematic applications of the concept of cultural to geographic themes: culture areas, cultural landscapes, culture history, cultural ecology and cultural diversity.
GEPL 2040	World Regional Geography		The course examines the geographical distribution of urban, cultural, economic and demographic phenomena in several contrasting regions of the world.
GEPL 2050	World Cities		This course discusses the physical, cultural, socio-economic aspects of the mega cities of the world - the World Cities. It examines the causes and stages of growth and the decline of cities.
GEPL 2200	Climate Change		An overview of the understanding of climate change and role of human activities, including atmospheric processes, greenhouse effect, carbon cycling, physical evidence, impacts, and proposed global actions in response.
GEPL 2980	Selected Topics in Geography		Explores a topic representing a contemporary and significant issue of interest to geographers, the study of which reveals appropriate geographical principles, concepts and methodologies.
GEPL 3030	Geography of Europe		A detailed study of several regions. Special consideration of agriculture, industry and commerce from a regional viewpoint.
GEPL 3050	Geography of U.S. & Canada		Systematic and regional survey of physical, social and economic geography of the region. Emphasis on the region with respect to worldwide/continental problems and prospects in economic development, management of resources and population adjustment.
GEPL 3120	Geography of Asia		Compares and contrasts physical and human aspects of Asian countries and peoples in relation to economic development.
GEPL 3300	Geography of Latin America		Survey and analysis of the physical and cultural characteristics of Latin America.
GEPL 3610	Conservation Resources-WAC		An examination of the basic philosophies, principles and ethics of conservation and resource use. Case studies of selected resource management and environmental problems.
GEPL 3650	Industrial Geography		An introduction to industrial geography; including industrial location theory, competing production systems, and shifts from manufacturing to service-based economies.
GEPL 3900	Environmental Planning		GEPL 1100, 3550 or 3540 recommended. Explores history, goals, methods, ethics and social dilemmas encountered when trying to achieve environmentally sensitive planning. Presents case studies of environmental planning successes and failures, both within and outside the U.S.
GEPL 4040	Geography Education Strategies		Use of geographic inquiry in the emerging integrated social studies and standard geography education curricula for K -12 instruction.
GEPL 4110	Geographic Information Systems		Introduction to computerized methods for the capture, storage, management, analysis and display of spatially-referenced data for the solution of planning, management and research problems.
GEPL 4160	Patterns of World Development		An examination of contemporary global economic patterns and trends. Compares and contrasts population problems; the diffusion of multinational corporations, and the emergence of post-industrial economies.
GEPL 4180	Geographic Information Systems Applications		Advanced applications in geographic information systems (GIS) with an emphasis on advanced GIS analysis techniques, Global Positioning System applications in GIS, database design, and a survey of vector- and raster-based GIS software and databases.
GEPL 4210	Land Use Planning		A broad review of urban and regional planning in the US and Western Europe, introducing land use planning concepts and practices and their role in shaping the direction of urban development.
GEPL 4310	Gypsies (Romanies) & Travelers-WAC		Explorations into identities and distributions of Gypsies (Romanies) and Travelers (GR&T peoples) worldwide and the challenges that their study presents to Geography and to other social science disciplines.
GEPL 4420	Quantitative Methods in Geography		The presentation of quantitative methods and statistics in a spatial context with an emphasis on cartographic display of results.
GEPL 4490	Remote Sensing of the Environment		Introduction to theory, methods and techniques used to gather and analyze remote sensor data. Topics range from low altitude air photo interpretation through satellite image acquisition. Recommended: GEPL 3550.
GEPL 4500	Digital Image Analysis		Explores digital image analysis techniques such as classification and principle component analysis. Terrestrial and coastal applications of satellite image analysis are performed in intensive laboratory sessions.
GEPL 4530	Principles of Urban Planning		An introduction to planning theory. the planner's role in land use regulation economic development, housing and social service delivery is reviewed.
GEPL 4540	Weather and Climate		A survey analysis of meteorology and climatology. The physical processes of weather and the pattern of climate provide the basis for this course.
GEPL 4570	Land Development and Planning		The exploration of theoretical location analysis, pragmatic land development issues and analytic feasibility tools, and the consequences of land use policies that affect development.
GEPL 4580	Location Analysis		The application of geographic location theory, spatial interaction modeling, optimization techniques and geographic information system processing to the solution of facility location problems.
GEPL 4600	Urban Design		Concepts and procedures for the organization, design and development of public and private urban forms and spaces at the micro level, including a survey of intraurban elements, cultural, ecological and aesthetic considerations, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
GEPL 4650	Physical Geography		The development, characteristics and distribution of landforms, soils, vegetation, water resources and climates are presented.
GEPL 4700	Community Planning Workshop		This course introduces the skills and techniques used by practitioners in the planning process. Assignments will focus on the collection, analysis and communication of information by following community planning approaches.
GEPL 4710	Urban Environments		Social, political and economic functions of cities. Geographic perspectives on land use, residential and consumer behavior, health care, recreation and criminal justice systems in contemporary and future cities.
GEPL 4750	Transportation Geography		The role of transportation and communication in the economic development of places. Theories of geographic interaction, location of transport routes and the developmental implications of transport investments are explored.
GEPL 4810	Political Geography		An examination of geopolitical and geostrategic issues at the nation-state and international level.
GEPL 4900	Proseminar in Geography
GEPl 4910	Research in Geography
GEPL 4920	Readings in Geography
GEPL 4960	Honors Thesis in Geography
GEPL 5040	Geography Education Strategies		Graduate level preparation for K - 12 educators with geography specialization. Integrates social studies and standard geography curricula in response to state and federal mandates. (Also for students planning to teach college level geography courses).
GEPL 5110	Geographic Information Systems		Introduction to computerized methods for the capture, storage, management, analysis and display of spatially-referenced data for the solution of planning, management and research problems.
GEPL 5160	Patterns of World Development		Examination of contemporary global economic patterns and trends. Topics receiving special attention include population problems, the spread of multinational corporations, and the causes and consequences of the emergence of postindustrial economics.
GEPL 5180	Geographic Information Systems Applications		Advanced applications in geographic information systems (GIS) with an emphasis on advanced GIS analysis techniques, Global Positioning System applications in GIS, database design, and a survey of vector- and raster-based GIS software and databases.
GEPL 5210	Land Use Planning		A broad review of urban and regional planning in the US and Western Europe, introducing land use planning concepts and practices and their role in shaping the direction of urban development.
GEPL 5310	Gypsies (Romanies) & Travelers-WAC		Explorations into identities and distributions of Gypsies (Romanies) and Travelers (GR&T peoples) worldwide and the challenges that their study presents to Geography and to other social science disciplines.
GEPL 5420	Quantitative Methods in Geographic Research		The presentation of quantitative methods and statistics in a spatial context with an emphasis on cartographic display of results.
GEPL 5490	Remote Sensing of the Environment		Introduction to theory, methods and techniques used to gather and analyze remote sensor data. Topics range from low altitude air photo interpretation through satellite image acquisition. Recommended EEES2100 or GEPL3350.
GEPL 5500	Digital Image Analysis		Explores digital image analysis techniques such as classification and principal components analysis. Terrestrial and coastal applications of satellite image analysis are performed in intensive laboratory sessions.
GEPL 5520	Analytical and Computer Cartography		The theoretical and mathematical foundations of the mapping process in a digital environment. An introduction to the structure and manipulation of graphic and nongraphic geographical data to produce maps.
GEPL 5530	Principles of Urban Planning		Elaborations on planning theory. The planner's role in land use regulation, economic development, housing and social service delivery is reviewed.
GEPL 5540	Weather and Climate		Survey analysis of meteorology and climatology. The physical processes of weather and the pattern of climate provide the basis for this course.
GEPL 5570	Land Development and Planning		The exploration of theoretical location analysis, pragmatic land development issues and analytic feasibility tools, and the consequences of land use policies that affect development.
GEPL 5580	Location Analysis		The application of geographic location theory, spatial interaction modeling, optimization techniques and geographic information system processing to the solution of facility location problems.
GEPL 5600	Urban Design		Concepts and procedures for the organization, design and development of public and private urban forms and spaces at the micro-level, including a survey of intraurban elements, cultural, ecological and aesthetic considerations, historic preservation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
GEPL 5650	Physical Geography		The development, characteristics and distribution of landforms, soils, vegetation, water resources and climates are presented.
GEPL 5700	Planning Workshop		This course introduces the skills and techniques used by practitioners in the planning process. Assignments will focus on the collection, analysis and communication of information by following community planning approaches.
GEPL 5710	Urban Environments		Examines urban areas, the approaches to studying them, and explanations offered for urban processes and forms.
GEPL 5750	Transportation Geography		The role of transportation and communication in the economic development of places. Theories of geographic interaction, location of transport routes and the developmental implications of transport investments are explored.
GEPL 5810	Political Geography		An examination of geopolitical and geostrategic issues at the nation-state and international level.
GEPL 5910	Directed Research
GEPL 5920	Readings in Geography
GEPL 6100	Philosophy & General Methodology		Past and current trends in geographic thought and related methodological implications, with elaborations by current faculty members.
GEPL 6150	Seminar - Research Methods		A computer-based course in geographic research methodology. The course includes an introduction to research design, data measurement, spatial sampling and multivariate approaches to the study of areal networks and spatial distributions.
GEPL 6190	Advanced Geographic Information Systems Seminar		Seminar in advanced GIS topics which include database design, spatial analysis and specialized application to spatial problems.
GEPL 6200	Earth System Science through Inquiry-Based Learning		The course is geared towards in-service teachers. Teachers will explore four natural events affecting the earth as a system, using inquiry-based learning and lesson plan development.
GEPL 6550	Seminar in Environment Planning		Intensive group study of major goals and methodologies of environmental planning. Major emphasis is placed upon individual student research projects oriented toward specific environmental planning problems.
GEPL 6570	Seminar in Neighborhood Revitalization		Intensive group study of major themes in the revitalization of urban neighborhoods, both residential and commercial. Major emphasis is placed upon individual residential and commercial. Major emphasis is placed upon individual student research projects oriented toward specific revitalization problems.
GEPL 6580	Urban Development and Housing		Course examines the changing land use and functions of metropolitan regions. City suburban linkages, urban restructuring, urban policy and metropolitan planning issues are examined.
GEPL 6700	Teaching Practicum in Geography		Methods of teaching geography in a university of college setting. Supervision of labs or discussion.
GEPL 6910	Comprehensive Exam Preparation		The course is used for the completion of the comprehensive exam requuirement for M.A candidates.
GEPL 6920	Research Design		The course will have students prepare all the main components of a thesis proposal leading to the completion presentation of the proposal to their thesis advisory committee.
GEPL 6930	General Seminar
GEPL 6940	Internship in Planning		Professional work experience with a Greater Toledo planning organization related to academic education.
GEPL 6950	Applied Geographics Workshop		Capstone course for GIS/Applied Geographics certificate program to provide hands-on experience in applying GIS, remote sensing and desktop mapping systems to spatially-oriented problems that are unique to their individual disciplines.
GEPL 6960	Thesis		Work on a thesis is the culmination of graduate education and occupies most of the second year.
SISS 7010	Spatial Statistics		The course deals with statistical theory and applied statistical techniques for spatial data analysis. Topics include descriptive statistics, statistical modeling and hypothesis testing for spatial dependence and spatial heterogeneity.
SISS 7020	Geographical Information Science in SISS		The course emphasizes the fundamental elements of cartography, geodesy, statistics, mathematics and geo-computational methods that form the foundation for the development of GIS and spatial analysis tools.
SISS 8010	Foundations of Spatially Integrated Social Science		This course will examine the historical development of the social sciences, their philosophical and methodological approaches to research, and the emergence of the spatial perspective in social science research.
SISS 8020	SISS Theory		Advanced study of SISS requiring preparedness in theoretical and methodological aspects of spatial analysis in social sciences focusing on the spatial organization of society and spatial human and social dynamics.
SISS 8030	Advanced Spatial Data Analysis		Examination of spatial processes: spatial autoregressive models, gaussian Markov random ¿eld models, auto-logistic models, spatial discrete choice models. The topics include spatial panel data models, their applications and estimation methods.
SISS 8040	Research Design		Introduces students to research and research technicalities, including what is research, how to write research papers and research proposals, and how to design and manage a research project.
SISS 8150	Advanced Qualitative Analysis in SISS		Advanced qualitative analysis techniques and applications to a broad range of spatially oriented social science problems.
SISS 8160	Policy Evaluation and SISS		Examination of the role of space, place and location in the analysis of public policy, with particular emphasis on spatial approaches to needs analysis and policy and program evaluation.
SISS 8170	Space & Society Critical Theory in SISS		Critical examination of both the role of spatial inquiry and its limitations to the understanding of society and space.
SISS 8180	Discrete Choice Spatial Process Modeling		The study of the human factor in spatial processes with the aim to advance understanding of spatial aspects of social dynamics by modeling discrete choice spatial processes.
SISS 8200	Spatial Perspectives on the Environment		Examination of the relationship between SISS approaches and human interaction with the natural environment.
SISS 8920	Directed Readins in SISS		Independent study of research literature in Spatially Integrated Social Science and related fields.
SISS 8940	Seminar in Special Topics:		Discussion of the major advances in Spatially Integrated Social Science as presented in the primary research in a selected topic or set of topics.

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