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Department of Geography

COURSES In BIOGEOSCIENCES

For more information on the Geographical Biogeosciences major consult the Academic Calendar.

List of undergraduate Geographical Biogeosciences courses being offered for the Winter 2013 session (Sept. 2013 - Apr. 2014). You can also see exclusive lists for Environment and Sustainability, and Human Geography.

First Year

Geomorphology Stream

GEOB 102 - Our Changing Environment: Climate and Ecosystems
Term 1 - Donner/Hamdan (Sec. 101)
Term 2 - Henry/Hamdan (Sec. 201)

Energy and water in the Earth-Atmosphere system, global climates and climate change, ecosystem properties and processes, human impacts. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion Lists. [3-2*-0]

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 103 - Our Changing Environment: Water and Landscapes
Term 1 - Cienciala (Sec. 101)
Term 2 - Ferrer Boix(Sec. 201)

Physical processes acting at the Earth's surface; water cycle; landforms; human impacts. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion Lists. [3-2*-0]

Course Schedule

Second Year

Geomorphology Stream

GEOB 200 - Atmospheric Environments
Term 1 - Hamdan (Sec. 101)

Physical principles underlying weather and climates. Thermal, moisture and wind climates at scales from valleys to the globe. Daily weather, air pollution, global change.

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 102, GEOB 102 or first-year science. Credit will be given for one only of GEOB 200, 204, GEOG 200, 204, AGRO 244. [3-2*-0]

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 204 - Forest and Agricultural Climatology
Term 1 - Black/Christen (Sec. 101)

Basic principles and processes of climatology. Energy and water balance concepts. Weather systems and climate change, microclimate of soils, crops, forests, and animals.

Credit will be given for only one of GEOG 200, 204, 300, GEOB 200, 204, 300, AGRO 244. [3-2-0]
Equivalency: AGRO 244.

Course Schedule | Website

Stream

GEOB 206 - Principles of Geomorphology
Term 2 - Cienciala (Sec. 201)

Processes and principles of landform development; introduction to techniques for measurement, historical reconstruction and analysis at various spatial and time scales; field trips are required.

Credit will be given for only one of GEOG 206 or GEOB 206, and its predecessor GEOG 306 and EOSC 330. [3-2*-0]
Prerequisite: One of GEOG 103, GEOB 103, EOSC 110.
Equivalency: GEOG 306.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 207 - Introduction to Biogeography
Term 1 - Willliams (Sec. 101))

Geographical ecology emphasizing plant distributions, abiotic-biotic interactions, effects of disturbance, succession, and human impacts across scales. Labs and field trips examine a local site. [3-2*-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 102, GEOB 102 and one of GEOG 103, GEOB 103.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 270 - Geographic Information Science
Term 1 - Cervantes-Larios (Sec. 101)
Term 2 - Aparicio (Sec. 201)

Computer-based graphical methods of data input and analysis. Emphasis on data visualization techniques such as cartographic modelling and exploratory data analysis.

Preclusion: Not available to those who completed GEOG 370 before September 2005. [2-2-0]

Course Schedule | Website

Third Year

Stream

GEOB 300 - Microscale Weather and Climate
Term 1 - Christen (Sec. 101)

Meteorology and climatology at the micro-, local, and meso-scales. Transfers and balances of heat, mass and momentum. Microclimates on scales of a leaf to those of a large valley. [3-0-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 200, ATSC 201. Credit will only be given for one of GEOG 204 or 300 or AGRO 244.

Course Schedule | Website

Stream

GEOB 305 - Introduction to Hydrology
Term 2 - Moore (Sec. 201)

Principles of hydrology at site, watershed, and larger regional scales. Introduction to techniques of measurement and analysis. Emphasizes surface water hydrology of western North America. [3-2*-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 200, GEOB 200, GEOB 204, GEOB 204, AGRO 244, APBI 244.

Equivalency: GEOG 205 or GEOB 205.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 307 - Biogeography and Global Change
Term 2 - Henry (Sec. 201)

Biogeographic concepts in understanding responses in ecosystems to environmental change at global, regional, and local scales. Conservation issues such as the loss of biodiversity and endangered species. [3-2*-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 207, GEOB 207, BIOL 302, BIOL 303, FRST 202.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 308 - Quaternary and Applied Geomorphology
Term 2 - Koppes (Sec. 201)

Quaternary landscape development emphasizing the history of glaciation with special reference to western North America; applications of geomorphology in resource development and land management; interpretation of quaternary materials. Weekend field trips required. [3-2*-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 206, GEOB 206.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 309 - Geographical Biogeosciences Field Course
Term 2 - Koppes/Henry/Moore (Sec. 201)

Field sampling, instrumentation, surveying, mapping techniques, and data analysis; 1 lecture per week during term and a 10-day field camp in April or May. Special fees and liability insurance are required. [0-3-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 200, GEOB 200, GEOG 204, GEOB 204, GEOG 206, GEOB 206.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 370 - Advanced Geographic Information Science
Term 1 - Klinkenberg (Sec. 101)

Theoretical and practical aspects of Geographic Information Systems, including cartographic modeling, digital terrain models, management issues, and spatial interpolation. Preclusion: Not available to those who completed GEOG 470 before September 2005. [2-2-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 270, GEOB 270. Or completed second year of Geography B.Sc. with some introductory knowledge of GIS.

Course Schedule | Website

Stream

GEOB 372 - Cartography
Term 1 - Mooney (Sec. 101)
Term 2 - Mooney (Sec. 201)

Cartographic methods: development of cartography; projections; data ordering, compilation and symbolization; cartographic design, map reproduction. [2-2-0]

Prerequisite: 6 credits from GEOG 102 or GEOB 102, GEOG 103 or GEOB 103, GEOG 200 or GEOB 200, GEOG 204 or GEOB 204, GEOG 205, GEOG 207 or GEOB 207.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 373 - Introductory Remote Sensing
Term 2 - Klinkenberg (Sec. 201)

Aerial photography; measurement from aerial photographs; photo-interpretation in geographic analysis; remote sensing of the earth's surface and atmosphere. [3-2*-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 270, GEOB 270. Or third-year standing in a Geography B.Sc. degree program.

Course Schedule | Website

Stream

BIOL 304 Fundamentals of Ecology
Term 1 or Term 2

Dynamics of plant and animal populations, structure of ecological communities and functioning of ecosystems. Interpretation of research results and application to environmental issues. Labs meet once a month.
Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion Lists.

Pre-reqs: BIOL 121

Course Schedule

Stream

BIOL 324 Introduction to Seed Plant Taxonomy
Term 1 - Ellis (Sec. 101)

Introduction to seed plant taxonomy emphasizing descriptive morphology and identification. Each student will be required to submit a plant collection.

Pre-reqs: BIOL 121

Course Schedule

Stream

EOSC 350 Environmental, Geotechnical, and Exploration Geophysics I  Term 1 - Oldenburg (Sec. 101)

Principles of geophysical survey design, data acquisition, processing and interpretation with emphasis on near-surface problems. Magnetic, seismic reflection/refraction, electromagnetic and ground penetrating radar surveys. Case history analysis of environmental and geotechnical problems.

Course Schedule

Fourth Year

Stream

GEOB 401 - Urban Meteorology
Term 2 - Christen (Sec. 201)

The impact of urbanization upon atmospheric processes and climates. The energy and water balances of cities. Meteorological effects (urban heat island, precipitation modification, etc.) and their significance. Models of the urban atmosphere.

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 204, GEOB 204, GEOG 300, GEOB 300, AGRO 244, APBI 244

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 406 Watershed Geomorphology
Term 1 - Eaton (Sec. 101)

Hillslope and stream channel processes and their rates of operation. Analysis and modeling geomorphic processes and associated hazards at the watershed scale. Applications in geoscience and engineering.

Prerequisite: One of EOSC330, GEOB 206.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 407 Vegetation Dynamics: Disturbance, Climate and Human Impacts
Term 2 - Williams (Sec. 201)

Investigation of vegetation dynamics integrating theory and research to address contemporary issues of global environmental change. Students will conduct fieldwork and learn to analyze data and interpret results.

Pre-reqs: Either (a) one of GEOG 207, GEOB 207, BIOL 302 or (b) one of BIOL 303, FRST 201.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 409 - Self-Directed Field Studies in Physical Geography
Term 2 - Henry/Koppes (Sec. 201)

Advanced research design, field sampling methods, instrumentation, surveying, mapping techniques, data analysis and management; self-directed fieldwork; 1 lecture per week during term and a multi-day field camp in April or May.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 448A & 448B- Directed Studies in Geographical Biogeoscience

For fourth-year students in Geography to permit investigation of a topic to be agreed upon by a member of the faculty and the student. Permission of the department head and of a supervisory faculty member is required. Credit will be given for only one of GEOB 448 and GEOG 448.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 449A & 449B- Honours Essay

Carries 6 science credits for students in the Faculty of Science, except for Honours Climatology students, who will receive only 3 science credits.

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 472 - Research in Cartography
Term 2 - Hermansen (Sec. 201)

Use of cartography in primary research applications. Discussion of contemporary topics in cognitive, social, and technical cartography and data visualization. [3-2-0]

Course Schedule

Stream

GEOB 479 - Research in Geographic Information Science
Term 2 - KlinKenberg (Sec. 201)

Students use GIS in primary research applications in conservation biology, crime analysis, and health geography; theoretical and practical aspects considered in a hands-on environment. [2-2-0]

Prerequisite: One of GEOG 370, GEOB 370. Preference given to Human Geography or Geographical Biogeoscience majors with at least 75 credits completed.

Course Schedule | Website

Stream

EOSC 429 Groundwater Contamination
Term 1 - Smith (Sec. 101)

Contaminant transport processes in groundwater flow systems; aqueous and multiphase transport; mathematical models describing migration and chemical evolution of contaminant plumes; case studies.

Pre-reqs: EOSC 329.

Course Schedule

Symbols

Core Courses

Core Courses

Climatology Stream

Concentration in Climatology

Core Courses

Integrative Capstone Courses

Hydrology Stream

Concentration in Hydrology

Geomorphology Stream

Concentration in Geomorphology

Hydrology Stream

Concentration in GIScience

Biogeography Stream

Concentration in Biogeography

 

Department of Geography - Faculty of Arts - The University of British Columbia
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