Environment and Geography
Head: Mark Hanson
Campus Address/General Office: 220 Sinnott Building
Telephone: 204 474 9667
Fax: 204 261 0038
Email Address: environment_geography@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/environment-earth-resources/environment-and-geography
Academic Staff: Please refer to the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources website at: umanitoba.ca/environment-earth-resources/faculty-staff
Undergraduate Programming in the Department of Environment and Geography
The fields of study in this department can be divided into four overlapping areas: environmental sciences, environmental studies, human geography and physical geography. These areas are built on a diverse range of academic frameworks or foundations, including: natural, physical and social sciences, education, law, agriculture, management, medicine, humanities and architecture.
Environmental Science applies scientific knowledge from many disciplines to issues and questions relating to an increasing human population, the sustainability of resource use, degradation caused by pollution and disturbance, and the endangerment and extinction of species and natural systems. Environmental Studies applies the theory and practice of group and organizational communication, understanding public policies and programs that underscore environmental concerns, and the need to integrate diverse social, institutional, political and legal considerations inherent in attaining environmental objectives. (Students have the opportunity to focus advanced studies in one of several areas, defined through consultation with a Riddell Faculty student advisor.)
"Human Geography examines how people have been influenced by the environment and how, in turn, they have left their mark on the environment," Dr. Daniel Todd, Human Geographer. Students may choose to focus their studies into one of several areas including Human-Environment Relations, Urban and Rural Development, Social Cultural Geography, Population, Resources and Development, and Area Studies.
Areas of physical geography include the study of the environment through aspects of atmospheric science, geomatics, biogeography, and hydrology. Streams are currently available in Atmospheric and Hydrological Sciences, Geomatics (an emerging subfield, referring to the techniques of spatial data acquisition, handling and analysis) and Physical Geography.
Potential careers for graduates of these programs include a diverse array of possibilities in the natural sciences, social sciences, or a combination of both. Graduates are poised to assume positions where they identify and analyze the local, regional, national, and global patterns that shape our lives. As well, technical skills such as geographic information systems and remote sensing are demanded in several of the environmental sectors. Graduates of these programs can expect to enter the workforce in private, government, research, or not-for-profit sectors.
Programs
| Degree/Diploma | Years to Completion | Total Credit Hours | Has Co-op Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree/Diploma Environmental Science, B.Env.Sc. General | Years to Completion 3 | Total Credit Hours 90 | Has Co-op Option no |
| Degree/Diploma Environmental Science, B.Env.Sc. Honours | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option Yes |
| Degree/Diploma Environmental Science, B.Env.Sc. Major | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option Yes |
| Degree/Diploma Environmental Science Minor | Total Credit Hours 18 | Has Co-op Option no | |
| Degree/Diploma Environmental Studies, B.Env.St. General | Years to Completion 3 | Total Credit Hours 90 | Has Co-op Option no |
| Degree/Diploma Environmental Studies, B.Env.St. Honours | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option Yes |
| Degree/Diploma Environmental Studies, B.Env.St. Major | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option Yes |
| Degree/Diploma Environmental Studies Minor | Total Credit Hours 18 | Has Co-op Option no | |
| Degree/Diploma Geography, B.A. Advanced | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option no |
| Degree/Diploma Geography, B.A. General | Years to Completion 3 | Total Credit Hours 90 | Has Co-op Option no |
| Degree/Diploma Geography, B.A. Honours | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option no |
| Degree/Diploma Geography Minor | Total Credit Hours 18 | Has Co-op Option no | |
| Degree/Diploma Physical Geography, B.Sc. Honours | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option Yes |
| Degree/Diploma Physical Geography, B.Sc. Major | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option Yes |
| Degree/Diploma Physical Geography Minor | Total Credit Hours 18 | Has Co-op Option no |
Courses
Environment, Earth, and Resources
This course will present a multi-disciplinary introduction to the Planet Earth as both the source of essential resources and as the site of resulting negative impacts. Focus in the course will be provided by addressing important and current topics, case studies, and concepts that the well-educated citizen of the Earth should understand and will include natural and human-induced processes within a broad range of spatial and temporal scales.
Attributes: Recommended Intro Courses
Environment
This course will introduce students to the conceptual framework of the environment by examining its physical, biological, and social components. General topics to be considered will include ecological principles and the responses of natural and managed systems to disturbance; population growth; biodiversity and conservation; and environmental sustainability. Not to be held with BIOL 1340.
Mutually Exclusive: BIOL 1340
Attributes: Recommended Intro Courses
This course will briefly review the major features of the structure and function of natural systems along with the degree to which these have been compromised. The main component of the course, however, will concentrate on the identification of the issues that underlie environmental degradation, while exploring alternative conditions that have the potential to reverse current trends and ultimately contribute to ecological sustainability.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 1000 or BIOL 1340.
Attributes: Recommended Intro Courses
Field and practical experience in selected topics of current interest in the Environmental Science and Studies, with the content to vary depending on the needs of students and faculty.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Field and practical experience in selected topics of current interest in the Environmental Science and Studies, with the content to vary depending on the needs of students and faculty.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
A survey of general principles underlying the effects of toxic substances on biological systems, including consideration of the history, scope and applications of toxicology, the mechanisms of toxic action, and some major types of toxicants. Not to be held with ENVR 2190 or BIOL 2380 or BIOL 2382 or AGRI 2180 or AGRI 2190.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: [BIOL 1030 or BIOL 1031], and [(CHEM 1310 or CHEM 1311, or CHEM 1320].
Mutually Exclusive: AGRI 2190, BIOL 2382, BOTN 2190, ENVR 2190, ZOOL 2190
A survey of general principles underlying the effects of toxic substances on biological systems, including consideration of the history, scope and applications of toxicology, and the mechanisms of toxic action. Not to be held with ENVR 2180 or BIOL 2380, or BIOL 2382, or AGRI 2180, or AGRI 2190.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: [BIOL 1030 or BIOL 1031], and [CHEM 1310 or CHEM 1311, or CHEM 1320].
Equiv To: AGRI 2190, BIOL 2382, BOTN 2190, ZOOL 2190
(Lab Required) An introduction to technical communication skills required for environmental practitioners in research, government, and industry. The course covers technical writing and literature search techniques, business writing including reports, memos and e-mails, professional presentation skills, and fundamental internet skills. Practical experience is gained through assignments and laboratory exercises.
(Lab Required) An introduction to the chemistry of the environment. Emphasis will be on the composition of the natural environment and the processes of natural and human-introduced chemical species that take place within it. The course will provide students with the chemical basis for understanding the environment and environmental problems. Not to be held with CHEM 2550.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: CHEM 1310 or CHEM 1311.
Equiv To: CHEM 2550
Course is designed to aid students in the development of a skeptical, scientific approach to thinking about environmental and geographical problems and issues, as well as applying that skepticism and critical thinking to develop well balanced research hypotheses and data collection methods. May not be held with the former ENVR 2270 or the former GEOG 2530.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ENVR 1000 or GEOG 1280 or GEOG 1290 or GEOG 1700 or GPE 1700 or consent of department.
Mutually Exclusive: ENVR 2270, GEOG 2530, SCI 3300
Attributes: Written English Requirement
Through self directed learning students are introduced to the environmental sectors and issues including workplace health and safety, the respectful workplace, managing workloads and expectation, and professionalism. The course is a mandatory requirement to Cooperative Education Option admission.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: 30 credit hours of university credit.
Selected topics of current interest in the Environmental Sciences and Studies. Course content to vary with each offering depending on the needs and interests of students and faculty.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: Permission of department head, and 60 credit hours of university credit.
Field and practical experience in selected topics of current interest in the Environmental Sciences and Studies, with the content to vary depending on the needs and interests of students and faculty.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Field and practical experience in selected topics of current interest in the Environmental Sciences and Studies, with the content to vary depending on the needs and interests of students and faculty.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
(Lab Required) Environmental conservation and restoration are introduced and approaches based on science and traditional knowledge are contrasted. An emphasis is placed on systems thinking and both local and international case studies.
This course introduces the field of Ecosystem Services, an analytical framework for evaluating the economic, cultural, and biogeochemical contributions that ecosystems make to human health and well-being. Examples will be drawn from aquatic ecosystems and cover topics such as pollution and contamination cleanup, commercial and subsistence food provisioning, climate regulation, and cultural uses in folklore, art, religion, science, and recreation. A special emphasis will be made on microbes as key drivers of aquatic ecosystems, including topics in microbial diversity, metabolism, and evolution.
Environmental responsibilities and their legal framework in terms of policies, legislation, standards and guidelines and the tools to manage responsibility are examined through lectures, case study review and discussion. Environmental liability and due diligence are reviewed in relation to responsibilities of organizations and individuals. Strategies to manage environmental liabilities, including environmental and risk assessment, are also discussed. Not to be held with (ENVR 3150 or ENVR 2650).
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 2000 or permission of department head.
Equiv To: ENVR 2650, ENVR 3150
(Lab Required) This is a laboratory-based course exploring and critiquing the development, conduction and interpretation of toxicity tests in ecotoxicology. Students will learn how to perform standard bioassays for a variety of species (plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates) as well as systems (aquatic and terrestrial) at different levels of biological organization, from the individual to the ecosystem.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ENVR 2180 or BIOL 2380 or AGRI 2180, or permission of instructor or department head.
Equiv To: ENVR 3300
This course engages with the theory, principles and practices of environmental assessment as a planning and decision-making process to identify and mitigate adverse effects of development projects. Environmental assessment is defined in the context of federal and provincial legislation, and applicable standards and guidelines. Assignments involve practical experiences, case study review and basic report preparation.
This course provides an introduction to the culture, lifestyles, belief systems, material culture, art, environmental issues, and politics of Aboriginal Peoples in northern Canada, Greenland, Alaska, Siberia and Scandinavia.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Equiv To: NATV 3340
This course provides an introduction to environmental management systems and specific material on the ISO 14001 international EMS standard. Auditing principles and techniques are described with specific guidance on auditing an ISO 14001 EMS.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
An overview of the linkages between human health and environmental issues. The course discusses the nature of environmental hazards, human exposure and health outcomes. Major environmental and human health issues such as air pollution, hazardous substances, endocrine disruptors and products in the home are covered.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: 60 credit hours of university credit.
A research project in any aspect of environmental science, chosen in consultation with the department head and an appropriate supervising faculty member. Written reports and oral presentation on the results of the project will be required. The course is normally available only to final year students in the Environmental Science or Studies Program.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
(Lab Required) An introduction to classical and modern techniques for sampling, sample pre-treatment, and analysis of chemical substances in aquatic atmospheric and terrestrial environments and the interpretation of data obtained from such analyses. Not to be held with CHEM 3590.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 2550, or CHEM 2550, or CHEM 2470, or permission of department head.
An overview of the concepts and tools of Green building design and Green Planning. The course covers the history and trends in Green Building and Planning, related policies, tools and techniques. There is a strong emphasis on learning from local case-studies through seminars and field trips.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 2000 and 57 credit hours, or permission of department head.
This course approaches local sustainability issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. By looking at the ecological, social and economic aspects from a variety of discipline perspectives, a fuller understanding of sustainability is achieved. The broad range of perspectives is achieved through participation of guest speakers from other faculties and outside of the university as well as excursion outside the classroom. Not to be held with GEOG 3850.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: 60 credit hours of course work, or permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 3850
This course explores how human environment relations influence our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Students will delve into current research in health and wellness geography and related disciplines, particularly focusing on: therapeutic landscapes, ecological loss and grief, sacred spaces, and environmental influences on mental wellbeing. Also offered as GEOG 3890. May not be held with GEOG 3890.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ENVR 1000 or GEOG 1200 or GEOG 1280 or GEOG 1700 or GPE 1700 or permission of the department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 3890
Attendance and participation in seminars, conferences and workshops to foster greater interaction between students and practitioners in the environmental sectors. Students improve professional skill sets through assignments and mock interviews. The normal sequence for participation is after completion of ENVR 3980.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ENVR 2900, and 60 credit hours of university credit.
Work term report, completed in conjunction with the coop placement, designed to integrate professional experiences with the concepts and theories explored through academic study. Students must be admitted into the Coop program to be registered, and receive credit.
Work term report, completed in conjunction with the coop placement, designed to integrate professional experiences with the concepts and theories explored through academic study. Students must be admitted into the Coop program to be registered, and receive credit.
Work assignments in business, industry, research or government for students registered in the Honours or Major Cooperative program. This course is graded pass/fail.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 2900.
Work assignments in business, industry, research or government for students registered in the Honours or Major Cooperative program. This course is graded pass/fail.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite or Concurrent Requirement: ENVR 3900.
Selected topics of current interest in the Environmental Sciences and Studies. Course content to vary with each offering depending on the needs and interests of students and faculty.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: Permission of department head, and 60 credit hours of university credit.
Field and practical experience in selected topics of current interest in the Environmental Sciences and Studies, with the content to vary depending on the needs and interests of students and faculty.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Field and practical experience in selected topics of current interest in the Environmental Sciences and Studies, with the content to vary depending on the needs and interests of students and faculty.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
This course will provide students with an understanding of the practical applications of ecological science, environmental policy, and resource management approaches in the large-scale planning of landscapes. The course will review ecological principles and trace the historical development of the ecosystem concept. Comparisons are made to other possible environmental management approaches. The synthesis of major elements and concepts will be reinforced through case studies on the Manitoba landscape, with an emphasis on practical learning by students through field seminars and group discussions. Not to be held with GEOG 4050.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 4050
This course will provide students with a general understanding of the historical, ecological, analytical, and conservation aspects of biogeography. The course will also have a dual focus on the principles and concepts of reasons for the distribution of plants and animals worldwide, as well as incorporating discussion on as many local (Manitoba, Canada, North America) examples as possible. Not to be held with GEOG 4060.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 4060
(Lab Required) Topical issues and responses regarding the environment including conservation, management, and policy making are critically evaluated at local, national, and global scales. Term projects emphasizing applied work with environmental organizations and researchers are presented.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ENVR 2000, and 72 credit hours of course work, or permission of department head.
An advanced course that will give students working knowledge of current techniques for defining and mitigating the environmental risks associated with chemical and other contaminants. The course will cover the topics of problem definition, effects characterization, exposure characterization, risk assessment, causality, weight of evidence and risk communication and management.
An evaluation of global and local environmental health issues and the assessment and management tools used to manage these risks. Case studies of environmental issues and their human health effects are covered. Students have the opportunity to work on a substantial interdisciplinary environmental health project.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 3400.
Equiv To: ENVR 4220
A research thesis project in any aspect of environmental science or environmental studies, chosen in consultation with the course coordinator and an appropriate supervisor, typically a faculty member. Written reports and oral presentation on the results of the thesis project will be required. The course is normally available only to final year students in the Environmental Science Honours or Environmental Studies Honours Program.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: Permission of course coordinator, and a GPA of 3.00 in the last 30 credit hours.
An examination of biogeochemical processes affecting the distribution, speciation and bioavailability of chemical substances in the aquatic environment. The theoretical basis for the chemical behaviour of natural water systems is discussed, as well as the description of the processes involved in wastewater treatment. Not to be held with CHEM 4550.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 3550, or CHEM 3590, or permission of department head.
Equiv To: CHEM 4550
This course provides an in-depth review of Canadian law and policy relating to environmental protection and management. In particular, the course describes the laws governing a variety of topics related to the environment, including constitutional responsibilities, federal and provincial environmental legislation, water law, parks and protected areas, wildlife and fisheries management, species at risk, and international law including climate change.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum grade of C in ENVR 3160 (or the former ENVR 2650), or permission of department head.
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore the social causes, consequences, and necessary responses to climate change including adaptation and mitigation. It identifies key concepts and analytic approaches that assist with identifying the social, economic, political, and cultural processes that both drive climate change and influence responses. In particular, it engages with human environment relationships and the role of diverse values, identities, knowledge systems and emotions, and the differential amounts of power held across social groups. Examples will be drawn from the global North and South and at multiple scales from the local to global. May not be held with GEOG 4800 or ENVR 4000 when titled “Climate and Society” or GEOG 4670 when titled "Climate and Society."
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: 3 credit hours of 2000- or 3000- or 4000- level GEOG or ENVR, or permission of the instructor.
Equiv To: GEOG 4800
(Lab required) This course provides students with an understanding of relevant theory and practice in wildlife management. Topical management issues will be studied, selected through consultation with government and NGOs in Manitoba. There will be field trips and lab activities. May not be held with ENVR 4000 when titled "Wildlife Management."
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.
Mutually Exclusive: ENVR 4000
(lab required) This course focuses on the theory and application of geomatics in spatial problem solving in geography and the environment. The use of geomatics' technologies including GIS, Earth observation and spatial numerical methods will be covered. Students will learn the theoretical underpinning of spatial statistical concepts and will experiment with data exploration, inference and hypothesis testing. Lab assignments will provide practical experience with GIS and other geomatics software as well as CRAN-R. Not to be held with GEOG 4590 or GEOG 4720 or GEOG 4872.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3730 or permission of instructor.
Equiv To: GEOG 4590, GEOG 4720, GEOG 4872
Work term report, completed in conjunction with the coop placement, which is designed to integrate professional experiences with the concepts and theories explored through academic study. Students must be admitted into the Coop program to be registered, and receive credit.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 3990 (P).
Work assignments in business, industry, research or government for students registered in the Honours or Major Cooperative program. This course is graded pass/fail.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ENVR 3990 (P).
Geography
This course studies aspects of the human world: population, settlement and resources. Not to be held with GEOG 1200 or GEOG 1201, or GEOG 1281.
Equiv To: GEOG 1281
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 1200, GEOG 1201
Attributes: Recommended Intro Courses
This course studies aspects of our physical environment: climate, landforms, soils and vegetation. Not to be held with GEOG 1291 or GEOG 1200 or GEOG 1201.
Equiv To: GEOG 1291
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 1200, GEOG 1201
Attributes: Recommended Intro Courses
Introduces students to political economy and cultural geography through the close analysis of contemporary world events, including but not limited to instances of violent conflict, environmental change, international negotiations, political processes and events, social movements, and policy developments. A multimedia approach will advance students' understanding of geopolitical events from political economy and spatial perspectives. Specific content of the course will change year-by-year in response to developments in national and world politics. Also offered by the Faculty of Arts as GPE 1700. Students may not hold credit for both GPE 1700 and GEOG 1700.
Equiv To: GPE 1700
Attributes: Recommended Intro Courses
(Lab Required) An introduction to the principles of map compilation and reproduction, including analysis and cartographic display of spatially referenced data. Emphasis will be placed on cartographic data manipulation, generalization, and symbolization, map design, visualization and communication. Not to be held with GEOG 2221.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography courses numbered at the 1000 level, or permission of department head.
Environmental hazards to human settlement and economy are examined with particular attention to meteorological, soil erosion, mass wasting, earthquake and volcanic phenomena. Not to be held with GEOG 2440.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: one of GEOG 1290, GEOL 1340, or GEOL 1410,GEOG 1291, GEOG 1200, GEOG 1201, GEOL 1360 or permission of department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 2440
Critical thermodynamic processes are discussed that are associated with the Earth's atmosphere including dry and moist processes, phases of water, stability, cloud development and precipitation processes.
This course introduces students to the near-surface components of the hydrological cycle, including the processes of precipitation, evaporation, water-biosphere interactions, infiltration, overland and stream flow.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: (one of GEOG 1290, GEOG 1291,GEOG 1200 or GEOG 1201) and (one of PHYS 1020, PHYS 1021, PHYS 1050, PHYS 1051, MATH 1230, MATH 1500, MATH 1501, MATH 1510, MATH 1520 or MATH 1530) or permission of department head or instructor.
An examination of the factors controlling the number and distribution of human population. Variations in fertility, mortality and mobility will be analyzed and the causes and consequences reviewed. Not to be held with GEOG 2480.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: three credit hours from Geography courses numbered at the 1000 level, or permission of department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 2480, GEOG 2481
This course examines the social, economic and environmental dimensions of tourism and recreation. Historical and contemporary experiences from around the world will be studied. Not to be held with GEOG 2410.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: (GEOG 1200) or GEOG 1280, or permission of department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 2410
An introduction to the basic concepts of the subject and the distribution of resources. Stress will be placed on Canadian resources and resource requirements but examples from other resource systems will also be used.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography courses numbered at the 1000 level, or permission of department head.
This half-course examines the nature, controls, and observations of weather and the variation of climate in time and space.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography courses numbered at the 1000 level, or permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 2541
This half-course surveys a broad array of landforms in the world and the geomorphic processes responsible for their creation. Attention is strongly focused on those landform processes originating at the earth's surface.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: (GEOG 1200) or GEOG 1201, or GEOG 1290 or GEOG 1291, or permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 2551
A regional study of Canada in which the major regions of Canada are studied with respect to geographical patterns of their physical environment, settlement, culture, economic activity, and land use. Not to be held with GEOG 2560, GEOG 2561 or GEOG 3431.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography courses numbered at the 1000 level, or permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 3431
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 2560
A regional study of the United States in which the major regions of the United States are studied with respect to geographical patterns of their physical environment, settlement, culture, economic activity, and land use. Not to be held with GEOG 2560, GEOG 2561.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography courses numbered at the 1000 level, or permission of department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 2560
An introduction to the cultural geographic study of environment, focusing on the evolution of landscape, the creation of regions, and human relationships with nature.
An introduction to the study of cultural geography, with a specific focus on relationships of inequality and attempts to overcome them. Topics examined include globalization, landscapes and the environment, public space, gender and sexuality, colonialism and imperialism, and mobility.
This course introduces students to the various components of the Arctic system, including the terrestrial and marine environments, polar atmosphere, biological and chemical oceanography.
This course introduces the field of economic geography, paying particular attention to the historical, environmental and spatial dimensions that shape the global economy and current economic order, including: wealth and poverty, production patterns and community chains, consumption and retail processes; natural resources; the state's role in economic governance; global labour; and the ways in which economic structures and processes shape gender and ethnicity. Course materials will be global in scope but will provide both a macro- and micro-economic perspective. May not be held with the former GEOG 2210 or GEOG 2211.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Geography at the 1000 level.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 2210, GEOG 2211
This course introduces students to the various geographical themes, concepts and processes within the context of the natural and anthropogenic development of the Canadian prairie region. It traces the evolution of the prairie landscape. It will focus on academic writing in the discipline. Not to be held with GEOG 2450.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography courses numbered at the 1000 level, or permission of department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 2450
Attributes: Written English Requirement
This course provides an introduction to the physical, chemical, biological and geological processes in the world oceans and their interactions with the overall Earth system. This course is interdisciplinary, applying geological, chemical and biological processes to the study of the world's oceans.
(Lab Required) The course is an introduction to the principles of optical, active and passive microwave remote sensing. A review of satellite and sensors and their geographic applications will be presented, along with digital image analysis techniques. Laboratory assignments will provide hands-on experience in dealing with remote sensing data.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: (one of GEOG 1200, GEOG 1201, GEOG 1290 or GEOG 1291) and (one of PHYS 1020, PHYS 1021, PHYS 1050, PHYS 1051, MATH 1230, MATH 1300, MATH 1301, MATH 1310, MATH 1500, MATH 1501, MATH 1510 or MATH 1520) or permission of department head.
This course examines differing social vulnerability to natural hazards, before, during and after disasters, including class, gender, age, health, language, and ethnicity.
The course covers the critical dynamic processes that are associated with the Earth's atmosphere including forces that control wind, the kinematics of the wind field, general circulation, hodographs, thermal wind, laws of motion, mid-latitude circulations, convective storms and the utility of weather radar.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 2300, or permission of department head.
This course introduces the concept of energy balance climatology and examines relationships among climate, microclimate, and environments of the Earth's surface and human-made environments. Studies include bioclimates and hydroclimates.
This course surveys the geographic dimensions of migration and mobility of populations, with emphasis of contemporary events.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: GEOG 2330 or (GEOG 2480), or permission of department head.
The primary objective of this course is to provide students with a general understanding of the physical and astronomical factors that drive global climate change. Focus will be given to current and future climate change in the context of observations and modeling. Not to be held with GEOG 3610.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography or Environment courses, or permission of department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 3610
The course studies the processes and trends of urbanization; the classification of cities; central-place theory; cities as systems; land-use patterns; social forces and factorial ecology; and urban transport problems.
This course provides an intermediate-level assessment of current geographical approaches to society and environment. Students are exposed to critical realist, social constructionist, Marxist, feminist and post-Colonial traditions as they are applied to environmental and social justice, globalization and public health. It includes discussion and a community-based learning project.
(Lab Required) Weekly two-hour lab. The course introduces students to the evolving science, technology and applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Related geospatial technologies such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems and Remote Sensing, as well as the field of Geomatics will be introduced. Not to be held with GEOG 2250.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography, Geology or Environment courses numbered at the 1000 and/or 2000 level, or permission of instructor or department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 2250
A field course designed to introduce students to either a detailed area study or to field techniques employed for specific geographic enquiry.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
A field course designed to introduce students to either a detailed area study or to field techniques employed for specific geographic enquiry.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of three credit hours from Geography courses numbered at the 1000 level, or permission of department head.
This course will vary from year to year depending on the needs of students and the interests of instructors.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 3761
This course will vary from year to year depending on the needs of students and the interests of instructors.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 3822
This course focuses on the quantitative analytical methods available for the interpretation on physical and human geography applications. May not be held with the former GEOG 3680.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ENVR 2810 or the former GEOG 2530 or STAT 1000 or STAT 1001 or STAT 1150, or permission of department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 3680
Attributes: Mathematics Requirement
This course examines mapping theory and practice in order to reveal the meaning of maps including how maps construct knowledge, exercise power, and can promote social change. Using maps from a variety of sources, students will develop a solid foundation in the literature and gain experience in understanding and analyzing maps and other forms of geospatial representations such as Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing. May not be held with GEOG 3770 when titled "Critical Cartography."
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor or department head.
Mutually Exclusive: GEOG 3770
This course approaches local sustainability issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. By looking at the ecological, social and economic aspects from a variety of discipline perspectives, a fuller understanding of sustainability is achieved. The broad range of perspectives is achieved through participation of guest speakers from other faculties and outside of the university as well as excursion outside the classroom. Not to be held with ENVR 3850.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: 60 credit hours of course work, or permission of department head.
Equiv To: ENVR 3850
This course presents a variety of topics concerning the interactions between humans and animals, how humans influence and use animals, and the many roles animals play in human lives and environments. Animal Geographies lies at a meeting point between physical and human geography, where we must consider the blurring boundaries between what it means to be animal/human, and the implications of how animals are used and represented. A wide variety of perspectives, beliefs, and points of view will be explored.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
This course provides a critical examination of the geographies of food at a variety of scales, from the body to the global. The course focuses on themes in three interconnected areas: 1) food production and the global food system from farm to plate including agribusiness and alternative food production and distribution models; 2) food consumption habits and beliefs and foodways as geographically contingent material culture; and 3) food (in) security and its relationship to health and wellbeing. This course is cross-listed as HNSC 3870.May not be held with HNSC 3870.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 1280 or GEOG 1281 or HNSC 1200 or GEOG 1200, or permission of department head.
Equiv To: HNSC 3870
This course explores how human environment relations influence our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Students will delve into current research in health and wellness geography and related disciplines, particularly focusing on: therapeutic landscapes, ecological loss and grief, sacred spaces, and environmental influences on mental wellbeing. Also offered as ENVR 3890. May not be held with ENVR 3890.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ENVR 1000 or GEOG 1200 or GEOG 1280 or GEOG 1700 or GPE 1700 or permission of the department head.
Equiv To: ENVR 3890
In this course, students will gain a background on the study of biological oceanography. Biological oceanography is a very active and important field of study worldwide due to the spatial coverage and biological activity of the world's oceans. This course examines the interaction of marine organisms with other biological life, as well as with the physical environment.
This course will provide students with an understanding of the practical applications of ecological science, environmental policy, and resource management approaches in the large-scale planning of landscapes. The course will review ecological principles and trace the historical development of the ecosystem concept. Comparisons are made to other possible environmental management approaches. The synthesis of major elements and concepts will be reinforced through case studies on the Manitoba landscape, with an emphasis on practical learning by students through field seminars and group discussions. Not to be held with ENVR 4050.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Equiv To: ENVR 4050
This course will provide students with a general understanding of the historical, ecological, analytical, and conservation aspects of biogeography. The course will also have a dual focus on the principles and concepts of reasons for the distribution of plants and animals worldwide, as well as incorporating discussion on as many local (Manitoba, Canada, North America) examples as possible. Not to be held with ENVR 4060.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Equiv To: ENVR 4060
(Lab Required) Provides instruction in the current theory and application of remote sensing technology to Earth system Science. Emphasis will be placed on the processing and interpretation of remote sensing imagery and the integration of remote sensing data with other spatial data.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3200, or permission of department head.
Students will increase their understanding of the importance and significance of Sacred Lands and Sacred Spaces to International Indigenous Peoples. Experiential learning, seminars, and a field component may be included. Not to be held with NATV 4260.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Equiv To: NATV 4260
This upper-level seminar course will develop in students a depth and breadth of understanding appropriate to the honours undergraduate/graduate level in the area of gender geography scholarship. From critical social science theoretical positions, this course asks students to examine what we can learn about how humans live on the earth if we see them as gendered. Just as we may also understand humans and their interactions in and with spaces, places and environments through the lenses of race, ethnicity, class, age and/or combinations of these categories with gender.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: a minimum of six credit hours in Geography, or permission of department head.
This course provides an introduction to and critical examination of the geographies of health and healthcare. Topics include perceptions and determinations of health and health care; health care delivery, focusing on spatial patterns and inequities; and the relationship between environment and health, particularly impacts of environmental contamination.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Applied aspects of meteorology are described in terms of weather analysis and forecasting techniques for synoptic-scales and meso-scales using various meteorological tools. An introduction to severe weather forecasting techniques will also be described.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3310, or permission of department head.
A seminar course on advanced topics in microclimatology and micrometeorology.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3320, or permission of department head.
This course will primarily focus on numerical modeling applications and techniques of the Earth's atmosphere with an emphasis on weather prediction. This includes understanding basic modeling terminology, numerical schemes, structure of models, types of models, what is required to run a model, and an introduction to data assimilation and ensemble techniques to weather prediction. Not to be held with GEOG 4320.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3310 or GEOG 3320, or permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 4320
The course is taught in two segments, an on-campus component and field study component taking place in Banff National Park. The on-campus component examines the historical development of the concept of parks and protected areas, the role of interpretation, management and research in the parks and emerging issues in the management of parks and protected areas. In addition, during the on-campus component planning for the field will take place. The field segment will focus on a wide variety of management issues with particular attention to Banff National Park. Emerging issues and trends will be examined and past management responses evaluated. There will be opportunities for students to investigate specific management issues of interest to them and to participate in current research being conducted in the park. This course is also offered in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management as REC 4350.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Equiv To: REC 4350
Students will be introduced to the complexities of climate changes through a series of introductory lectures and reading assignments that focus on recent scientific publications and review articles (mathematical skills are not required). Both sides of the climate change debate will be addressed in weekly assignments, and students will defend their conclusions in classroom discussion. Each student will take on a project in some aspect of climate change -- glaciers, sea ice, temperature trends, precipitation, agriculture, animal migration, aerosols, or a regional impact.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3390 (or GEOG 3610), or permission of department head.
This course will examine field and analysis techniques that form the basis of climatological research, with particular emphasis on contemporary research in the areas of microclimatology and micrometeorology. Techniques for the examination of biophysical and biogeochemical processes driving the surface exchanges of heat, water and greenhouse gases form an important component of this course. The aim of the course is to prepare the student for independent research in applied climatology and meteorology, including the affiliated fields of ecology, hydrology, oceanography, as well as other fields of atmospheric science.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3320, or permission of department head or instructor.
Emphasis is placed on the use of regression techniques in regional analysis including the classical ordinary least squares methods and two-stage least squares. Migration and industrial location models are developed and calibrated using these techniques.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
This course involves the production of a thesis under the supervision of a department faculty member.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of department head.
Intensive study of selected geographic issues.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Prearranged written consent of an individual instructor and permission of department head.
This course will provide students with an advanced understanding of the relationships between nature and society by examining the rise of environmentalism through the past 50 years. Special attention will be paid to recent developments within the field of environmentalism and to theoretical work in the field of political ecology.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor,
This course focuses on a range of storms and mesoscale phenomena in the summer or winter. These include thunderstorms, tornadoes, squall lines, lightning, low level jets, gust fronts, blizzards, freezing rain, orographic storm, and polar lows. The emphasis is on the physical mechanisms leading to these events and it also examines how they may change in our changing climate. Not to be held for credit with GEOG 7780.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3310 or permission of department head.
Equiv To: GEOG 7780
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore the social causes, consequences, and necessary responses to climate change including adaptation and mitigation. It identifies key concepts and analytic approaches that assist with identifying the social, economic, political, and cultural processes that both drive climate change and influence responses. In particular, it engages with human environment relationships and the role of diverse values, identities, knowledge systems and emotions, and the differential amounts of power held across social groups. Examples will be drawn from the global North and South and at multiple scales from the local to global. May not be held with ENVR 4800 or ENVR 4000 when titled “Climate and Society” or GEOG 4670 when titled "Climate and Society."
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: 3 credit hours of 2000- or 3000- or 4000- level GEOG or ENVR, or permission of the instructor.
Equiv To: ENVR 4800
This course focuses on the theory and application of geomatics in spatial problem solving in geography and the environment. The use of geomatics' technologies including GIS, Earth observation and spatial numerical methods will be covered. Students will learn the theoretical underpinning of spatial statistical concepts and will experiment with data exploration, inference and hypothesis testing. Lab assignments will provide practical experience with GIS and other geomatics software as well as CRAN-R. Not to be held with ENVR 4872, GEOG 4590 or GEOG 4720.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3730 or permission of Instructor.
Equiv To: ENVR 4872, GEOG 4590, GEOG 4720
This course deals with the sources, distribution, and transformation of chemical constituents of the oceans, and the processes that control them. The emphasis will be given to biologically or climatically significant elements such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and mercury in the Arctic Ocean.
This course aims to (i) provide students with a strong background on the importance and current knowledge of Arctic sea ice and (ii) train students on current field techniques used in research pertaining to sea ice-related investigations. To attain these goals, the course will combine field safety training, classroom lectures and assignments, and direct field experience through a field trip pertaining to physical and biogeochemical processes of the snow-covered sea-ice environment.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
This course will examine the oceanographic-biological coupling occurring in the Arctic region, focusing on environmental conditions related to higher trophic levels and impacts of climate change. This course will extend the learning of the 3000-level course that examines biological oceanography, which focuses on the environmental factors that control primary production and lower trophic levels in the world's oceans.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: GEOG 3920 and a 2000- level BIOL course or permission of instructor.
Cooperative Education Option
A Cooperative Education Option is available to students registered in either the Major or Honours degree programs in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, or Physical Geography. Coop is an arrangement whereby students spend alternating periods in university and employment. There are several advantages to a cooperative education program for students. One benefit is that students are able to acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. This experience assists them in selecting areas of specialization for their senior courses in their chosen Focus Area or Stream. As well, Coop assists students in their professional development by enhancing networking opportunities, participation in conferences and workshops and provides the foundation of skills and strategies required in searching and acquiring employment after graduation. Students can also defray some of the costs of their university education through these work term placements. Further information about Cooperative Education and student eligibility is available from the Coop Placement Coordinator available in the Faculty general office.
Students electing to participate in the Cooperative Education Option will be assessed a program fee with their formal admission into the program. Once a student has accepted a position with a Coop employer, no portion of the program fee will normally be refunded.
The Cooperative Education Option consists of two employment work terms, each over a minimum period of four months, and contributes 6 credit hours towards the four year degree program. Students complete ENVR 2900, ENVR 3900, work term placements ENVR 3980, ENVR 3990, and the work term report courses ENVR 3910 and ENVR 3920. Additional work terms are available to interested students. Each academic term and each employment term commence in January, May or September. While on an employment term, a Cooperative Education Option student is not permitted to take more than three additional credit hours of academic work outside of the requirements of the Coop placement without permission of a Riddell Faculty student advisor.
Students are required to register in the appropriate Coop courses and pay course fees prior to beginning their placement.
For more information, please visit the Riddell Faculty Co-operative Education Program webpage