Courses

An overview of French civilization, highlighting important aspects of French life today and over the centuries. Through a mainly historical approach, major developments in government, society, and the arts (including architecture) are examined, while the basic geographical features of France are noted and cultures of the various regions are explored.

An introduction to human geography and the notion of globalization by exploring some of the major economic, political, social, cultural, environmental, and technological changes that have recently occurred at the global level and are shaping local places. The course is designed to provide students with better understanding of the variation, interaction, and interdependence of places, regions, people and their environments in a globalizing world; and to demonstrate how human geographers might consider and examine the concepts, forces, processes, issues, and ideas that are associated with global transformation.

This course explores urbanization processes in developing countries, particularly in urban settings across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It provides a geographic perspective on the socio-economic, political, cultural, and environmental conditions under which cities of the Third World are rapidly growing and their relation to globalization issues. Case studies from selected areas examine such problems as unemployment, inadequate health services, housing shortages, and inadequate urban infrastructure.

Students are invited into understanding and using quantitative and computational inquiry to understand and discern computer-based spatial analysis as a mode of inquiry. Students develop confidence in using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and accompanying computer- based, spatial analytical tools to model geographic problems using mathematical and computing notation. Students are provided with the opportunity to investigate the theory and practical utility of GIS through collecting empirical spatial data, analyzing quantitative data, conducting computational spatial analyses to answer meaningful geographic and environmental questions, making judgements based on quantitative information derived from these analyses, and communicating the results with purposeful, multi-audience cartographic products.

This course examines the physical and human geography of the Pacific Rim. It gives particular attention to regional distribution of natural features and resources, population and settlements, economic activities and development, as well as globalization and its impact on this region. The Pacific Rim is a geographic realm that has changed dramatically since the middle of the twentieth century, therefore, this course explores the dynamic issues, problems, and challenges facing contemporary Pacific Rim countries, how the issues are being addressed, and the future prospects for the people and countries within this region.

This course examines the human and physical geography of Africa. Attention is given to the regional distribution of natural features and resources, population and settlements, economic activities and development, and globalization and its impact on this vast continent. Because Africa is a geographic realm that has changed dramatically since the middle of the twentieth century, this course explores the dynamic issues, problems, and challenges facing contemporary African societies, how the issues are being addressed, and the future prospects for the people and countries within this geographic region

This course introduces students to the globalization of the world economy. It provides theoretical and practical foundation for exploring the global economy in an era of technological advancements, restructuring economies, and geopolitical realignments. It focuses on economic development of developed and developing countries of the world, and examine the impacts and critical problems associated with economic growth, development, and distribution and how to address the problems.

Examines key themes in world history from antiquity to the seventeenth century AD. Students will analyze political and religious developments and systems of cultural and economic exchange. Students will be introduced to the historical and archival way of knowing so they can gain an effective means of understanding, appreciating, and critiquing the past to better understand the present and prepare for the future.

Examines key themes in the development of the modern world from the seventeenth to the late twentieth century. Students will analyze significant political, religious, economic, and cultural changes. Students will be introduced to the historical and archival way of knowing so they can gain an effective means of understanding, appreciating, and critiquing the past to better understand the present and prepare for the future.