2022-2023 Course Information

An introduction to the science and politics of climate change. The course pivots on the great gap between the urgency and magnitude of changes that climate scientists are imploring, and enduring ‘business-as-usual’ approaches. Struggles for action are considered in light of highly unequal responsibility and vulnerability.

Extra Information:3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course outline

Introduction to the phenomena and processes of the Earth-atmosphere system that underlie human environment interactions and environmental change: the physical geography of Earth. Topics include: the atmosphere and fundamentals of weather and climate, water in the environment, Earth surface processes, biogeography, and human appropriation and modification of earth-atmosphere systems.

Antirequisite(s):Geography 1100, 2131A/B, or the former Geography 020E.

Extra Information:2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

This course introduces students to the central problems, concepts, methods and applications of human geography. It pays particular attention to the ways humans interact with the world; for example, population growth, use of natural resources, culturally-based activities, urbanization and settlements, agricultural activities, and industrialization.

Antirequisite(s):Geography 1100

Extra Information:2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Examines environmental change over long periods of earth history, considering both physical processes and human impacts. An integrative approach provides a basis for understanding some of the world's most pressing environment and development challenges, such as biodiversity loss, desertification, climate change, energy consumption, and persistent hunger and malnourishment.

Extra Information:2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

An overview of the regional geography of Canada. Topics considered may include demographics, culture, the economy, resources and environmental issues.

Extra Information:3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• 2010A section 001 Course Outline
• 2010A section 002 Course Outline
• 2010B section 001 Course Outline
• 2010B section 002 Course Outline

A detailed examination of the province as part of the Great Lakes region, with special reference to its historical development, natural resources and patterns of human and economic activity.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• 2011A Course Outline
• 2011B Course Outline

Geography 2030A/B - Africa South of the Sahara This course provides an introduction to the geography of Africa south of the Sahara. The course will take a systematic approach. Economic, political, social and environmental issues will be examined with a focus on contemporary patterns of change within the context of the global economy.

Extra Information: 2 hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

This course adopts a geographic approach to understanding contemporary China. It examines how transformations of China’s land, people, economy, and society are recasting internal regional divisions and repositioning China in a rapidly changing world.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• 2041A Course Outline
• 2041B Course Outline

A global perspective on urbanism. In each session a selected city is used to emphasize a particular urban problem, urban spatial structure or world region.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Survey of human activity in outer space, including history of spaceflight, scientific exploration, economic and military uses of space, natural resources and hazards, legal and ethical implications, and plausible future developments.

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course, ONLINE COURSE

• Course Outline

An examination of the characteristics, origins and history of selected natural environments with particular reference to North America. Antirequisite(s): Geography 1300A/B. Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

This course examines the processes that underlie natural and human-induced climate change at global and regional scales and describes the resultant climates that have existed, those projected to occur in the future, and what impacts climate change has and will have on the physical and human environment.

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Geographical theories of local and international trade; relationships between the location of production and flows of goods, services and factors of production among countries and regions; the geographical patterns of world commerce.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Examination of tourism as a global, national and local phenomenon, with economic, social, and environmental impacts; emphasis on tourism in developing countries; hosts, guests, and tourism operators; tourism trends; mass versus alternative tourism; relationship between ‘ecotourism’ and nature protection.

Antirequisite(s): The former Geography 2144F/G.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

A survey of the methods and models used to understand human responses to hazards. The course reviews the rich tradition of hazards research in geography, particularly through the lens of social science. The course will include discussions of both so-called "natural hazards" (e.g., floods, fires, earthquakes) and "technological hazards" (e.g., nuclear technology, genetically modified organisms, terrorism, war) as examples.

Antirequisite(s): The former Geography 2152A/B

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• 2152F Course Outline
• 2152G Course Outline

Investigates the fast-changing geographies of animals in relation to global environmental change. The initial focus is on extinctions, endangerment, and broad population declines occurring among many wild animal species. The subsequent focus is on the soaring populations and conditions of life for a few species of domesticated animals.

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

A survey course exploring the connections between urban environments, health, and wellbeing, including key historical developments, theories, problems, and solutions. Hands-on activities throughout will teach skills and knowledge suitable for careers in planning, urban development, public health, medicine, business, civil engineering, and municipal government.

Extra Information: 2 instructional hours, 1 lab hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Principles and processes of land use planning for urban and regional development; current issues and case studies.

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

An introduction to the nature of geographical analysis of data and the application of statistical techniques and computing systems in Geography: data collection, research design, sampling; models of spatial data, probability, distributions, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression.

Antirequisite(s): Biology 2244A/B, Economics 2122A/B, Economics 2222A/B, Health Sciences 3801A/B,MOS 2242A/B, Psychology 2810, Psychology 2820E, Psychology 2830A/B, Psychology 2850A/B, Psychology 2851A/B, Social Work 2207A/B, Sociology 2205A/B, Statistical Sciences 2035, Statistical Sciences 2141A/B, Statistical Sciences 2143A/B, Statistical Sciences 2244A/B, Statistical Sciences 2858A/B, Statistical Sciences 2037A/B if taken prior to Fall 2010, former Psychology 2885 (Brescia), former Statistical Sciences 2122A/B, former Social Work 2205.

Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course from Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B, Environmental Science 1021F/G; or enrolment in the Major in Physical Geography and Environment, in the Certificate in Geographic Information Science, or in an Honors Earth Science Program for Professional Registration.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Fundamental concepts, geographic information representation and spatial data entry. Basic spatial analysis and remote sensing. Practical skills developed through use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Introduction to the principles, techniques, and geographic applications of remote sensing systems. Computer processing of remote sensing digital data. Interface of remote sensing data with geographic information systems.

Prerequisite(s): 1.0 from Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B, Environmental Science 1021F/G; or registration in a module in Science or in Engineering, in the Major in Physical Geography and Environment, in the Certificate in Geographic Information Science, or in the Commercial Aviation Management program in MOS.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hour, 0.5 course. Limited enrollment.

• Course Outline

Fundamentals of the physical processes underlying weather and climate; radiant energy, energy balances, clouds, atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics; principles of the "Greenhouse Effect", mid-latitude cyclones and aspects of weather forecasting, severe weather phenomenon and atmospheric optics.

Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course from Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B; or 0.5 course from Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Calculus, Environmental Science or Physics at 1000-1999 level; or enrolment in the Major in Physical Geography and Environment or in an Honors Earth Science Program for Professional Registration.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Spatial distributions of plants and animals; evolutionary and environmental controls on distributions; impacts of human settlement.

Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course from Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B, Environmental Science 1021F/G; or enrolment in the Major in Physical Geography and Environment.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 laboratory hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Water and sediment cycles at the earth's surface and explanation of the resultant landforms; examples of response to environmental change; selected applications to environmental management.

Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course from Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B, Environmental Science 1021F/G; or enrolment in the Major in Physical Geography and Environment; or registration in the Commercial Aviation Management program in MOS.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

The consequences of physical environmental change for Indigenous communities around the globe will be examined in relation to the processes of colonialism and environmental dispossession. Topics include: identity, culture, local economies, social functioning, food security and health.

Antirequisite(s): Indigenous Studies 2601F/G.

Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course from Environmental Science 1021F/G, Indigenous Studies 1020E, Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B; Women's Studies 1020E, Health Sciences 1001A/B and Health Sciences 1002A/B; Sociology 1020, Sociology 1021E, Sociology 1025A/B, Sociology 1026F/G, Sociology 1027A/B or enrolment in the Major in Ecosystem Health or in any of the Globalization Studies modules, or permission from the Instructor.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

The forces reshaping global economic geography; fundamentals of spatial economics; principles of locational decisions; spatial interaction; and growth of spatial economic systems are examined. Examples of these concepts are taken from a variety of countries.

Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course from Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B, Environmental Science 1021F/G; Economics 1021A/B, Economics 1022A/B; MOS 1021A/B, MOS 1023A/B, or enrolment in any of the Globalization Studies modules.

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

This course introduces students to current issues in public health and the environment. Theory, method and case study discussions focus on the important role of geography in understanding and explaining patterns of diseases, health and health care in communities, regions and nations.

Prerequisite(s): 1.0 course from Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B, Environmental Science 1021F/G; Health Sciences 1001A/B and Health Sciences 1002A/B; Sociology 1020, Sociology 1021E, 1025A/B, 1026F/G, 1027A/B or enrolment in the Major in Ecosystem Health or in any of the Global Development Studies modules, or permission of the instructor.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Growth, structure and morphology in industrial and post-industrial cities; theories of, and empirical research on, urban form and structure; land development decision making; development feasibility modelling; urban land-use policy.

Prerequisite(s):1.0 course from Geography 1100, Geography 1200A/B, Geography 1300A/B, Geography 1400F/G, Geography 1500F/G, Geography 2131A/B, Geography 2132A/B, Geography 2133A/B, Geography 2142A/B, Geography 2152F/G, Geography 2153A/B, Environmental Science 1021F/G, or Economics 1021A/B or Economics 1022A/B, or enrolment in any of the Global Development Studies or Globalization Studies modules.

Extra Information:3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Departmental field trips to develop student skills in field-based observation, data collection and recording, and analysis and interpretation of human and physical landscapes.

Antirequisite(s):Geography 3001F/G.

Prerequisite(s):3rd year status in any module in the Department of Geography except the minor; limited enrolment. Priority given to Specialization and Honors Specialization students.

Extra Information:Sessions and dates by arrangements. Students should be prepared to meet the necessary travel and living expenses. 0.5 course.

• Montreal Course Outline
• Forest Geography Course Outline

This is an advanced community-based experiential course that combines in-class discussions with community based research. Students will train in methodologies and ethics of working with First Nations communities. Areas of research may include but not limited to ecological restoration, land claims, self-government, education, health and wellness and urban issues.

Antirequisite(s): Geography 3000Y, Indigenous Studies 4023F/G.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

An introduction to multivariate statistics and data analysis using computational methods; reproducibility in data analysis, data presentation, exploratory data analysis, and data mining for Geography.

Antirequisite(s): All other senior level statistics courses numbered 2000 or above.

Prerequisite(s): Geography 2210A/B or Biology 2244A/B or Statistical Sciences 2244A/B and enrolment in a geography program or permission from the instructor.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Topics include exploratory spatial data analysis, global and local spatial statistics, spatial autocorrelation and interpolation, spatial regression models, and geographically weighted regression. The emphasis will be on developing analytical skills with practical applications using statistical software and Geographic Information Systems.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year status at the University including Geography 2210A/B or equivalent and Geography 2220A/B or permission of the instructor.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 lab hours, 0.5 course (main campus) Limited enrollment

• Course Outline

Methods and techniques in Geographic Information Science. Spatial data encoding from maps and geographic database implementation. Spatial interpolation and other modeling techniques. Integration of remote sensing, GIS and Visualization. Hands-on experience using ESRI, ArcGIS software.

Prerequisite(s): Geography 2210A/B or Biology 2244A/B or Statistical Sciences 2244A/B and Geography 2220A/B.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Principles of integrating GIS and Decision Analysis. Selected GIS-based decision-making techniques are applied in practical sessions. A range of applications from both public and private sector organizations are covered.

Prerequisite(s): Geography 2220A/B.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 practical work hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

GIS methods for analyzing environmental and ecological data. Emphasis is placed on quantifying and interpreting spatial patterns in data collected on plants and wildlife. The course will explore issues associated with scale, networks, disturbance, and feedback. Topics covered include habitat fragmentation, protected areas, wildlife tracking, home ranges, and species distributions.

Prerequisite(s): Geography 2210A/B or Biology 2244A/B or Statistical Sciences 2244A/B.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Provides a comprehensive introduction to concepts, theories, and models in the field of transportation geography. GIS and spatial analysis methods for solving transport issues and problems will be presented. Topics covered include accessibility, planning, public transit, active transport, smart mobility, impacts on land use, health, energy, environment, and social equity.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year-status and Geography 2220A/B, or permission of the instructor.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Introduces a computational social science approach to process, analyze, and visualize urban data in a reproducible way. Modern data science toolkits to support better decision making in urban development and planning contexts will be presented. Topics covered include exploratory/statistical/agent-based urban models, network analysis, applied machine learning, and advanced data visualizations.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year-status and Geography 2220A/B, or permission of the instructor.

Extra Information: 1 lecture hour, 3 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

A survey of a range of social scientific methods for studying humans (e.g., interviews, questionnaires); with an emphasis on research designs involving human interaction. Topics include identifying research problems, questions and designs, sources of error, ethics and values in research, methods of data collection, data analysis and presentation of findings.

Antirequisite(s): The former Geography 2250A/B (the former 237a/b).

Prerequisite(s): Two full courses in Geography and third or fourth year status at the University.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Principles of weather and climate at micro-, local, and meso-scales; processes associated with transfer of heat, mass, and momentum and resulting climates near the surface; local winds, fog, urban climates and air pollution.

Prerequisite(s): One of Geography 2310A/B, Geography 2320A/B or Geography 2330A/B, or at least 3rd year standing in an Environmental Science or Earth Sciences program. (A 1000-1099 level course in Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, or Physics is also recommended).

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

The geomorphology of rivers, including fluvial hydraulics, fluvial erosion and sediment transport, river channel morphology and dynamics, channel and floodplain sedimentation, the response of rivers to human activities and environmental change, and applications to river channel management.

Prerequisite(s): One of Geography 2310A/B, Geography 2320A/B or Geography 2330A/B, or at least 3rd year standing in an Environmental Science or Earth Sciences program.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

The evidence, causes, and chronology of environmental change, with emphasis on the Holocene in North America.

Prerequisite(s): One of Geography 2310A/B, 2320A/B or 2330A/B, or 3rd year standing in an Environmental Science or Earth Sciences program.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

This course provides students with an introduction to paleolimnology, which uses the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of lake sediments to determine past environments.

Prerequisite(s):One of Geography 2310A/B, 2320A/B or 2330A/B, or at least 3rd year standing in an Environmental Science or Earth Sciences program, or Biology 2483A/B, Biology 2485A/B, the former Biology 2484A/B.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

An examination of public and private facility location theory. Industrial location, retailing and public facility location approaches are discussed. GIS-based techniques for location analysis are applied in practical sessions.

Prerequisite(s): Geography 2220A/B or Geography 2420A/B or permission of the instructor.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 practical work hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

A critical examination of the major themes in the geography of health and health care. The focus will be on the importance of understanding place, space and environment as they relate to health. Geographical aspects of health inequalities, access and utilization will be explored.

Prerequisite(s): Geography 2430A/B or a related 2000-level course in Health Sciences, Sociology or Psychology, or permission of the instructor.

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

This is a survey course regarding the links between human health and environmental hazard exposure. Issues will include the health impacts of water pollution, air pollution, solid and hazardous waste, toxic substances, pesticides and radiation. The limitations of models and methods are discussed.

Prerequisite(s):

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Food is a basic human need and agriculture is one of the most fundamental ways that societies interact with their habitats. This course examines the diversity of world agriculture and the rise of a dominant industrial system, focusing on both the social and environmental dimensions of agrarian change.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year status at the Universiy.

Extra Information: 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Challenges students to examine, understand, and question the carbon footprint of their everyday geographies, and consider how modifying personal lifestyles—their own ways of doing and thinking—can mitigate environmental impacts. Everyday geographies are examined through exercises that focus on subjects including diet, clothing, transportation, and waste, and lower-carbon alternatives.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year status at the Universiy.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 tutorial hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Critical examination of current land use and development projects; students are required actively to participate in the discussions.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year status at the University.

Extra Information: 3 seminar hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Basic techniques for preparing, implementing, and applying land use plans and zoning controls.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year status at the University.

Extra Information: 3 seminar hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

This course explores the geography of housing in North American cities from an historical perspective, with a detailed investigation of the effects of land development, construction, financing, planning, public policy, demographics and lifestyle changes on the production and consumption of residential landscapes.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year status at the University.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 2 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

The object of the course is to expose students to the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of urban form and structure. A major focus is on static development feasibility models and their application to understanding urban change. The course provides a hands-on experience for students to build financial feasibility models of urban developments.

Antirequisite(s): he former Geography 377F/G, 378F/G, and 3460E.

Prerequisite(s): Geography 2460F/G. Business Administration 2257 is strongly recommended.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

This course examines policies used in economic development to ensure growth and competitiveness of urban economies. Topics include theories of urban economic development, analytical techniques for evaluating urban economies, business recruitment and retention policies, creative economy and quality of life policies, technology policies, and place-based economic development policies.

Prerequisite(s): Third or fourth year status; At least one of Geography 1400F/G, 2210A/B, 2220A/B, 2420A/B or 2460F/G.

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

Discussion of geographical paradigms within an historical and social context. A central concern is the relationship between the academic and professional practice of geography.

Antirequisite(s):The former Geography 348a/b.

Prerequisite(s):Fourth year status, and enrolment in a Specialization, Major or Honors Specialization in the Department of Geography.

Extra Information:2 lecture hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

The object of the course is to expose students to the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of urban form and structure. A major focus is on understanding the theories, acquiring the techniques to test the theories, and critiquing the approaches employed for the empirical tests.

Antirequisite(s):MOS 4314F/G.

Prerequisite(s):Geography 2210A/B, MOS 2242A/B, Statistical Sciences 2035 or equivalent and 4th year standing in any Geography or MOS modules.

Extra Information:2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hours, 0.5 course.

• Course Outline

A thesis on a geographical problem including the results of field work, cartographic representation, and a study of the relevant literature.

Prerequisite(s):Fourth year status, and enrolment in an Honors program with a Specialization or Major in the Department of Geography.

Extra Information:Hours by arrangement, 1.5 course.

A thesis on a geographical problem in the natural, physical or technical sciences.

Prerequisite(s):Fourth year status, and enrolment in an Honors program with a Specialization or Major in the Department of Geography.

Extra Information:Hours by arrangement, 1.5 course.