51³Ô¹Ï

GEO 211 The World and Its Peoples

This course is an exploration of the rich diversity of cultures and societies of the contemporary world, as well as an introduction to world geography and how it has shaped major developments in global history. Critical readings of recent ethnography will be used to examine themes such as ethnicity and migration, rural life and traditionalism, and family and kinship. Students will also be familiarized with the growth of cities, demographic changes, the development of a leisure culture, and attitudes towards work as we survey the major world regions (Southern Asia, the Pacific Rim, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania). Furthermore, we will examine the interaction between humans and their physical environment, interrogate the role of language on national identity among peoples, and trace the evolution of world religions. NOTE: Students cannot earn credit for GEO 211 and GEO 211*D GEO 211*D can be used to fulfill the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice requirement.

GEO 222 Human Geography

This course provides an introduction to human geography in its multiple forms: social, cultural, environmental, urban, economic, and political. Students will explore human interactions through the lenses of community, culture, and society. While the focus will be on human populations, there will also be discussions of how interaction with nature and the environment shape relationships through an analysis of the human to land interaction. Globalization, cultural diversity, and migration will serve as important themes throughout the course. NOTE: Students cannot earn credit for GEO 222 and GEO 222*D GEO 222*D can be used to fulfill the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice requirement. Prerequisite(s): Any 100-level HIS or POL course

GEO 223 Africa and Its People

This course provides a survey of the geography of Africa in its multiple forms: social, cultural, physical, environmental, urban, rural, economic, and political. Students will explore Africa through these multidisciplinary lenses arid discuss the misconceptions that have plagued the continent and its peoples. Globalization, development,. cultural diversity, and migration will serve as important themes throughout the course. Prerequisite(s): Any 100 level Social Science Course (this is a regional geography course, which are multidisciplinary in nature)

GEO 231 Europe and Its Peoples

This course is an exploration of the rich diversity of cultures and societies of contemporary Europe, as well as an introduction to the continent's geography and how its unique physical attributes shaped world history. Critical readings of recent ethnography will be used to examine themes such as ethnicity and migration, rural life and traditionalism, and family and kinship. Students will also be familiarized with the growth of cities, demographic changes, the development of a leisure culture, and attitudes towards work in Europe. Furthermore, we will examine the interaction between Europeans and their physical environment, interrogate the role of language on national identity among European peoples, and trace the evolution of religion from paganism to "Post-Christianity." We will also study the development of political culture on the continent and historical and contemporary projects to create a united Europe from the Pax Romana to the European Union. NOTE: Students cannot earn credit for GEO 231 and GEO 231*D GEO 231*D can be used to fulfill the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice requirement.

GEO 232 North America and Its Peoples

This course is an exploration of the rich diversity of cultures and societies that make up North America (i.e., United States, Canada and Mexico), as well as an introduction to the region’s geography and how its unique physical attributes have shaped world history. Readings in spatially-inflected ethnography will be used to examine themes such as indigenous identity and rights, ethnicity and migration, religious practice, rural life, and cultural change. Students will also become familiar with demographic changes, industrialization, urbanization, land use, and the relationship between work and leisure in the region. Furthermore, students will study the development of political culture in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and contemporary efforts to bind the three countries through trade and regional cooperation. Prerequisite(s): Any 100-level or higher HIS, POL, GEO or GIS course.

GEO 340 Geography and Imagination

The course examines the role of imagination in the field of geography. We will investigate how humans envision, experience, and shape the world through discourse, representation, and various ways of seeing and knowing. Key concepts to be explored will include the "art" of-geography and the production of space and "nature," cartography as a mechanism of power and maps as tools to think with, and the role of culture in spatial understanding. We will ·also examine the relationship between physical, represented, and imagined places, especially through non-cartographic technologies of geographical imagination (e.g., travel literature, landscape painting, photography, museum installations, film/TV, videogames, etc.). Prerequisite(s): Any 200-level or higher ANT, ECO, GIS, GEO, HIS, POL, PSY, SOC or STS course.

GIS 301 GIScience

This course will cover fundamentals of geographic information science (GIScience), the application of geographic information systems (GIS) technology to scientific inquiry involving geospatial data. GIScience intersects with fields as diverse as epidemiology, urban studies, environmental science, criminal justice, public policy, business management, marketing, data science, etc. This course offers hands-on application of techniques for the capture, storage, processing, analysis, and communication of geospatial data Prerequisite(s): EGL 101 with a grade of C or higher and (any 200 level or higher GEO course, or MTH 110) all with a grade of C or higher and Junior Level Status.

POL 250 American Politics

This course introduces students to American Politics by focusing on national politics. In addition to examining the structure of U.S. government at the federal level, this course will also investigate American political behavior (especially political parties, elections, voting) and selected policy debates the animate contemporary political discussion. NOTE: Students cannot earn credit for POL 250 and POL 250*D POL 250*D can be used to fulfill the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice requirement.

POL 340 Constitutional Law and Politics

This course provides students with a foundational knowledge of US Constitutional law and the political context surrounding Supreme Court nominations and judicial decision-making. Students will be introduced to a wide range of topics: the origins, philosophical underpinnings, and structure of the US Constitutional system; the scope of federal and state authority; separation of powers; liberty interests arguably inherent in various Constitutional provisions; as well as the role of the judiciary—and Supreme Court specifically—in the American polity. Students will learn about, and apply, techniques of constitutional interpretation, and will brief recent Supreme Court decisions and communicate their findings to the class. Prerequisite(s): POL 110 and any other 200-level or higher Social Science course

POL 344 DEI: History, Politics, and Policy

This course examines diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. American history is tumultuous and rife with institutions that were designed to exclude various minority groups. DEI policies were developed as a way to combat these systemic prejudices. This course first delves into the history of DEI policy and discuss the circumstances that led to their development. The course further examines how to read and understand these policies and analyze the impact that they've had. Finally, the course explores the recent debates surrounding DEI policy and discusses possibilities for what a future with and without DEI policies may look like. Prerequisite(s): Any 200-level or higher POL course

POL 390 Environmental Politics

This course examines the evolution of the environmental movement in the U.S. and worldwide, focusing on the debate over environmental protection, policy-making, and the political ramifications for the national governments. Biodiversity, climate change, population issues, water pollution, regulation of emissions, land preservation, energy policy, transnational cooperation, eco-terrorism, and theories of the global commons will all be explored from a domestic and global perspective. Prerequisite(s): Any 100-level or higher HIS or POL course.