GEOG

Subject

GEOG

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 3 Geography 115 World Landforms (GN) provides an introduction to the modern geologic study of landforms and the Earth processes responsible for their creation and modification. Emphasis is placed on internal geophysical processes and external landscape responses to tectonic and climatic forcing. The course is structured into three units. The first unit introduces Earth's atmospheric processes. The second unit examines the relationship of water, weather and climate change to the dynamic equilibrium of landforms. The final and largest unit covers tectonics, weathering, mass movement, and fluvial, coastal and glacial processes and their role in shaping the large-scale details of Earth's topography and the geographic distribution of resources. This course includes 2 lecture discussions and weekly laboratory practicums with emphasis on terrain analysis, natural hazards and human adaptation and contribution to landscape change. Bachelor of Arts: Natural Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Locational analysis of changes in non-Western cultures. Problems of plural societies, economic development, population growth, and settlement. GEOG 124 Elements of Cultural Geography (3) (GS;IL)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. Elements of Cultural Geography, provides an overview of the impact of cultural processes at multiple scales, from the global to the local. Class time will include lectures and discussions in relation to how social identities, such as race and class, just to name a few, impact and are impacted by geographic concepts such as landscape, place and space. The course aims to survey and explore a range of perspectives on the nature of human integration with the environment and the manifestation of human culture on the landscape. The course will engage philosophical and metaphysical questions in addition to those of landscapes and place. The ultimate objective is for participants to develop a deep and multidimensional understanding of how social identities and the environment are inter-related. This course is a selection for majors; it ha no prerequisites and is not a prerequisite for any other course. It provide a foundation for understanding human-environment interactions at a global scale, including the regional interactions involved. Bachelor of Arts: World Cultures Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course is an introductory course on economic geography and serves as background for any course on international economics, economic development, international political economy, and international business management. GEOG 126 promotes the study of national and international macroeconomic concepts and principles through a geographic and geospatial lens, uncovering how physical and human systems influence economic decision-making and behavior around the globe. GEOG 126 provides a balanced view of contemporary globalization processes across the world, focusing on a wide range of topics including the history of globalization, spatial structures of firms and business, international trade, and state interventions based on detailed case studies. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

PLSC 1, or PLSC Elective 14 (GS) Supporting 3 Supporting 3 Course from Course from Department List Department List 16 15

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

an academic adviser for with an academic adviser for alternative options) options) Supporting Course (consult 3 General Education Course 1.5 with an academic adviser for (GHW) options) 16 14.5

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

MATH 21 College Algebra with Analytic Geometry with 3

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject that may be topical or of special interest. Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4203

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 12 Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

12

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

prior approval of program

This lecture, lab and field-based course explores Earth's physical environment and its interactions with human activities. While it is intended primarily for Geography majors and minors, the subject matter and approach are sufficiently broad to be relevant to any student with interests in the environmental and natural sciences. We survey the geographic patterns and physical processes attending Earth's environmental and landscape systems; its climate, hydrology, landforms, soils and vegetation, and their mutual interactions of energy and mass (water, sediment). We adopt both spatial 'map-able' and temporal perspectives; for example, the evidence for, causes of, and impacts from, past and contemporary environmental changes such as glaciations, pluvials (wet periods), and warming. An important emphasis involves human interactions with the natural environment; how human activities are constrained by, yet also constrain processes and alter features of, the physical landscape across spatial and temporal scales. Representative topics include the burning of fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases and particulates into the atmosphere, natural gas fracking and earthquakes, river diversion and dam construction, ground-water withdrawal and land subsidence, urbanization and the 'heat island' effect, land clearance and deforestation, irrigated agriculture, wildland fire, the introduction of invasive species, and coastal over-development. Our examples will come from across the globe, from areas as diverse as tropical oceans to the polar deserts. An important outcome of the course is that students become better scientific observers of Earth's environmental system and its spatio-temporal variations. Recommended Preparations: (ENGL 15 or ENGL 30H or ENGL 137 or CAS 137 or ESL 15) or EMSC 100 Bachelor of Arts: Natural Sciences General Education: Natural Sciences (GN) GenEd Learning Objective: Crit and Analytical Think GenEd Learning Objective: Integrative Thinking GenEd Learning Objective: Key Literacies

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

* *

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

and Sustainability Select 9 credits from the following: 9 GEOG 330N GEOG 333

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

GEOG 364 or 308 3 BA World Cultures selection 3 * GEOG 390 1 16 15

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Quantitative analysis and data-science skills are increasingly crucial for the study of geography. Emerging technologies, 'big data' and increased computational power have transformed our ability to understand patterns and relationships, enabling sophisticated analyses at the click of a button. However, given that basic knowledge about computing, statistics and data-science are rarely presented within a geographical context, it can be difficult to know where to begin when learning these advanced techniques, especially because the characteristics of space/time data make it easy to misunderstand results. This course is designed to bridge that gap, applying the fundamentals of programming and data analysis to real-world problems within geography. Its aim is to provide a technical foundation both for those progressing onto intermediate Geographic Information Science (GIS) courses, and also for those who wish to explore the fundamentals of data science within the context of people and place. The course begins by introducing data science, data management and programming best-practice, with a particular focus on the challenges posed by the complexities of space-time datasets. This is supported through practical experience using real-world examples and a variety of tools such as spreadsheets, GIS software and programming languages. As part of this process, students will gain practical experience in project workflow, finding and reading-in data, quality control, data analysis and visualization. Finally, each stage of the course is underpinned by discussion about key concepts in the geographies of data ethics, providing students with a space to critically assess the implications of their work, and to explore how advancements in data science might impact society. General Education: Quantification (GQ) GenEd Learning Objective: Crit and Analytical Think GenEd Learning Objective: Key Literacies GenEd Learning Objective: Soc Resp and Ethic Reason

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 12 Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

12

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 18 Creative projects, including research and design, that are supervised on an individual basis and that fall outside the scope of formal courses.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

18

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4205 Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 12 Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

12

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

prior approval of program

Learning to think geographically. GEOG 3GEOG 301 Thinking Geographically (3) The course explores the process of thinking geographically. As a discipline that draws on elements of four intellectual traditions - the physical sciences, the social sciences, the information sciences, and the humanities - geography offers an extensive palette of approaches to the study of the interactions among people, places, and environments. In addition to those traditions, geography also draws on key themes: setting events and activities into multiple spatial and temporal contexts; setting events and activities into multiple spatial scales from the local to the global; seeing complex, multi- way interactions between human and physical systems; recognizing the interconnectedness between places. In terms of methods, the fundamental building block is the idea of geospatial location and the associated spatially- or geo-referenced data. Data, both quantitative and qualitative in character, is increasingly available in terms of amounts and quality. Students must come to appreciate and be able to use this powerful way of thinking about the world. GEOG 301 assumes a beginning understanding of geography, in terms of basic content knowledge, and builds an understanding of how to think geographically, how to ask geographic questions, how to find geographic answers, how to assess the quality of those answers, and how to present and communicate those answers convincingly and compelling in multiple formats. Students will learn how to think geographically and to appreciate the power, applicability, and limitations of the geographic approach. Each year the course is organized around a significant contemporary problem as a commonly shared case study. Students will work in small groups to analyze the case study, presenting their own portfolio of work for 60% of the course grade and collaborating with group colleagues for a collective presentation for 40% of the grade. Work will be submitted in stages through ANGEL. GEOG 301 is required of all geography majors and will be offered Fall and Spring of each academic year with an annual enrollment of approximately 120 students. Preference will be given first to declared Geography majors, then to Geography minors, before places are offered to students from other programs. Geography 301 is a bridge between the knowledge that comes from the broad-based introductory geography courses and the detailed understanding that comes from the focused, advanced-level geography courses. It enables students to learn about and to practice geographical thinking in real-world contexts. concurrent: GEOG 160

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 010 , GEOG 020 , GEOG 030 , Prerequisite or

This course examines the theory and practice of research in geography, with particular emphasis on qualitative inquiry commonly used by human as well as environment-society geographers. Students will

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

or GEOG 310W Introduction to Global Climatic Systems Select 9-10 credits from the following (may not choose more than 1 9-10 course from GEOG 362, GEOSC 482, or METEO 477)

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Introduction to global atmospheric circulation, including tropical, midlatitude and polar subsystems; ocean, land, cryospheric and urban climatic systems and interactions. GEOG 310W GEOG 310W Introduction to Global Climatic Systems (3) Geography 310W is an advanced undergraduate course in Climatology that emphasizes study of the patterns of interannual climate variability ( climate fluctuations ) and the physical processes responsible for those variations ( climate dynamics ). Interannual climate variations include regional- to large-scale anomalies of temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, etc., that become manifest as drought, floods, heat and cold waves, etc. The physical processes associated with climate fluctuations include the following: interactions among the climate-system components (atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere); external forcing (e.g., solar variations, volcanic activity); and long-distance interactions involving the coupled atmospheric-ocean circulations, orteleconnections(El Ni�o Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the Arctic Oscillation (AO), and the Pacific-North America (PNA) pattern). Climatic teleconnections manifest shifts in the atmospheric pressure "centers of action", storm tracks, jet stream positions, etc. In addition to the study of these climate patterns and processes, the course examines the role of human activities in climate, particularly "global warming", desertification, deforestation and afforestation, urbanization, irrigation for agriculture, and aviation impacts. In this regard, a key issue that is addressed is the potential role of human activities on the frequency and intensity of teleconnections, such as ENSO, and of severe storms (thunderstorms, tornadoes) and hurricanes; possibly the result of modifications to the oceanic Thermo-Haline Circulation. Students write a term paper, as well as critiques of a number of published articles relating to the above topics in climate dynamics. There is a mid-term (essay) exam but no final exam. Writing Across the Curriculum

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 010 or METEO003

Introduction to the methods and techniques for collecting spatial and s environmental data for physical geography and ecological studies. GEOG 313GEOG 313 Introduction to Field Geography (3) This course explores a variety of methods used to acquire primary data from field locations. Aspects of physical, chemical, biological, and cultural factors are examined. Fieldwork is often an important component of research and it involves collecting and analyzing data, handling logistical concerns, developing sampling strategies and techniques, and addressing quality assurance and archiving issues. The course objectives are: to explore methods used to collect, analyze, and interpret field data; to expose students to techniques for sampling physical (geomorphologic, topographic, hydrologic), chemical (water and soil), and biological (flora and fauna) factors; and to explore ways to use field data to interpret geographical and ecological questions and hypotheses. Evaluation involves preparation of written laboratory reports, assignments, and

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Dynamics of plant and animal distributions on global, regional, and local scales; their causes and consequences. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 010 or BIOL 110 or equivalent

Geography 315 builds on concepts presented in the introductory physical geography course to explore the subfield of geomorphology from a geographic perspective. It surveys the various processes shaping Earth's surface and the landforms resulting from those processes. The course relates these processes and landforms and their connection to human activity on Earth's surface. By taking this course, students will be able to 1. recognize basic geomorphic processes and the resulting landforms and landscapes; 2. identify the observations and measurements used to understand geomorphic processes and landforms; 3. explain the implications for human use and livelihood on Earth's landforms and landscapes For students who are not geography majors, GEOG 315 may satisfy a General Education Natural Science requirement or may be used as a Natural Sciences selection for students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree. Bachelor of Arts: Natural Sciences General Education: Natural Sciences (GN) GenEd Learning Objective: Crit and Analytical Think GenEd Learning Objective: Integrative Thinking GenEd Learning Objective: Key Literacies GenEd Learning Objective: Soc Resp and Ethic Reason

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 210 or GEOG 10

Supporting Courses and Related Areas Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better for Credits teacher certification Select 3 credits in literature GH 3 Select 9 credits: 3 credits each (including one course with a lab) 9 from the following GN biological science, earth science, and physical 3 science 2 Requirements for the Option Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better for teacher 3 certification Select an option 16.5-30 Requirements for the Option Early Childhood Teaching Option (27-30 credits) Available at the following campuses: University Park 3 Code Title Credits 1.5 Prescribed Courses

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

12

Credits (max)

12

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

What is culture? Is it good literature, music, art and food? Or is it a full range of learned human behavior? Culture is in itself a very exciting topic; it invokes diverse imaginaries of life, livelihoods, ways of living, languages, and forms of entertaining, consuming, playing, and eating. In this course, we will delve deep to understand the 'how' and 'why' of culture, that is, how is a particular cultural landscape, a mode of living, produced and why? Most importantly, this course will examine how culture is not a stand-alone concept but rather a phenomenon that intersects with other social processes such as politics and economics. This course aims to survey and explore a range of perspectives on the nature of human integration with the environment and the manifestation of human culture on the landscape. The course will engage philosophical and metaphysical questions in addition to those of landscapes and place. The ultimate objective is for participants to develop a deep and multidimensional understanding of human-environment relations, and the manifestation of human activity on the landscape. Learning Outcomes: Through taking this course, students will be able to: 1. analyze the major themes and debates within cultural geography; 2. interpret representations of landscape, space and place in a variety of textual materials, such as academic readings, films, novels, newspaper articles : and art; 3. evaluate the landscape, space and place as an expression of cultural forces. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 220 or GEOG 20 or GEOG 2N

GEOG 330N Political Ecology 3 IST 170N GEOG 332N Science and policy of global greenhouse gas 3 IST 222H emissions and management IST 234N GER 157N The Amish 3 IT 210N GER 200N Contemporary German Culture 3 IT 225N

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Subject

GEOG

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

GEOSC 10 Geology of the National Parks 3 GEOSC 20 Planet Earth 3 GEOSC 21 Earth and Life: Origin and Evolution 3 GEOSC 40 The Sea Around Us 3 GEOSC 50 Planetary Geology 3

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

management This interdomain course introduces students to the science and policy of greenhouse gas emissions. The course focuses on emissions from natural sources, energy production and food production. Policy components will introduce students to the fundamentals of environmental policy and examine key policy options for mitigating and managing emissions. Global in scope, the course will also address how emissions and policy options differ in developed and developing countries. Topics will include overviews of the global carbon cycle, agriculture and land use change emissions, history of global energy use and production, overview of global climate change policy, frontiers in climate, energy and agriculture policy, amongst others. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: ENGL 15 Cross-listed with: ANSC 332N, METEO 332N General Education: Natural Sciences (GN) General Education: Social and Behavioral Scien (GS) General Education - Integrative: Interdomain GenEd Learning Objective: Global Learning GenEd Learning Objective: Integrative Thinking GenEd Learning Objective: Soc Resp and Ethic Reason

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

An introduction to natural hazards, integrating physical and social science perspectives. GEOG 333 Human Dimensions of Natural Hazards (3)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. Natural hazards -such as earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, and floods are not simply forces of nature. Their impacts depend on the interaction between the hazardous events and the characteristics of people, their communities, and the human systems in which they operate. The

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

We live in a time marked by unrelenting environmental challenges and increasing awareness of the human impact on the planet. The need for sustainable practices has never been more critical. This comprehensive course in geographic sustainability offers an in-depth exploration of the principles, strategies, and tools necessary to foster a resilient and regenerative future. Throughout this course, students will delve into the multifaceted aspects of sustainability, examining its intersection with global poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. Students will also learn how geographic sustainability studies contribute centrally to the broader field of sustainability studies, particularly regarding central concerns such as socio-environmental justice, rural and urban ecologies, well-being and landscape, and the role of the state and the nationalization of many sustainability questions. Students will develop a holistic understanding of sustainability through theoretical frameworks and case studies. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to become catalysts for sustainability, driving positive transformations in their communities, workplaces, and beyond. This course is part of the core curriculum for the degree in Environment, Society, and Sustainability and will prepare students for subsequent coursework in the ESS major.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 210 and GEOG 230

In today's rapidly changing world, the pursuit of sustainable development has become an urgent priority. Governments, organizations, and communities worldwide are increasingly adopting policies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges while striving to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4209 Goals (SDGs). This course offers an in-depth exploration of methods for assessing the impact of sustainability policies in alignment with the SDGs. Throughout this course, students will delve into the complex interplay between policy interventions and their tangible effects on sustainability outcomes. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from geography, environmental science, economics, sociology, and policy analysis, students will develop the analytical tools and critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of sustainability policies. The course begins by providing a comprehensive overview of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, examining their origins, objectives, and targets. Students will gain insight into the interconnected nature of the SDGs and the underlying principles guiding their implementation, such as universality, integration, and leaving no one behind. Building upon this foundation, students will explore a diverse array of methods for assessing the impact of sustainability policies across multiple dimensions. Topics covered will include quantitative and qualitative research methods, indicators and metrics development, ecosystem services, cost-benefit analysis, environmental impact assessment, social impact assessment, and participatory approaches to evaluation. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, group discussions, and hands-on exercises, students will learn how to apply these methods in real-world contexts. They will analyze case studies of sustainability policies implemented at local, national, and global levels, critically assessing their outcomes and identifying lessons learned. Moreover, the course will emphasize the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration in the assessment process. Students will explore strategies for involving diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and affected communities, in the evaluation of sustainability policies to ensure inclusivity and transparency. By the end of the course, students will emerge with a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in assessing the impact of sustainability policies related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies aimed at advancing sustainable development and achieving the SDGs on a local, national, and global scale. Successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in GEOG 340 is strongly recommended.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 210 and GEOG 230 Recommended Preparations:

Mapping is crucial to exploring and understanding distributions of geographic phenomena. It is also an important phase of many database- intensive analyses because a map is often the best way to visualize results and show them to others. Emphases in this course will be on designing and producing both thematic and reference maps that use symbols and visual hierarchies which allow the content of the maps to be readily understood. In addition to principles of graphic design, students learn about map projections, generalization, and data classification, with the objective of becoming proficient mapmakers. Hands-on computer work for lab sections will involve working with varied digital data sources using geographic information systems (GIS) software. Maps are often built from existing data created by government mapping agencies, stored as GIS databases, and based on remotely-sensing imagery. EME 210 or GEOSC 210 or METEO 273 or MATSE 219 or FOR 255 or

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

(GEOG 260 or GEOG 160) and (GEOG 265 or GEOG 161 or

GEOG 362 provides students with a foundational understanding of remote sensing principles and the practical skills needed to analyze remote sensing imagery data. This course covers the core concepts of remote sensing, including the principles of electromagnetic radiation, satellite orbits, and the specifics of sensor characteristics. As a multidisciplinary field, remote sensing integrates knowledge across various domains, becoming increasingly crucial with technological advancements, more accessible imagery, broader coverage, and sophisticated data processing software. It plays a pivotal role in addressing critical global challenges, such as land cover change monitoring, weather prediction, water resource management, and climate research. The course emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical application, focusing on image processing and analysis such as geometric and radiometric calibration, filtering and enhancement techniques, and the classification and interpretation of imagery. Through hands-on exercises with datasets, students will acquire the essential skills needed to utilize remote sensing in analyzing and solving practical problems. This course is designed for those new to the field, aiming to equip students with the knowledge and skills to effectively leverage remote sensing technologies for a broad range of applications. EME 210 or GEOSC 210 or METEO 273 or MATSE 219 or FOR 255 or CMPSC 101 or CMPSC 121 or CMPSC 131 or IST 140 or ERM 300 or FORT 260 or WILDL 211)

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

(GEOG 260 or GEOG 160) and (GEOG 265 or GEOG 161 or

AFR/PLSC 440 Globalization and Its Implications 3

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Option elective 3 Option elective 3 ‡† CAS 100 or ENGL 202C 3 Option elective 3 *

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Select 9 additional credits, including at least 3 credits in Analytics 9 and 3 credits in Big Data.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

BA Fields course 3 Minor/certificate/supporting 3 * course Minor/certificate/supporting 3 Minor/certificate/supporting 3 * * course course

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject that may be topical or of special interest.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject that may be topical or of special interest.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 12 Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

12

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

prior approval of program

This course studies processes that control spatial and temporal change in forests. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 010 , GEOG 314 ; or BIOL 220W

This course studies processes that control spatial and temporal change in forests. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences Writing Across the Curriculum Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4211

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 010 , GEOG 314 ; or BIOL 220W

Theories and observations of past, present, and future climatic change and variability; introduction to techniques used in climatic change research. GEOG 412W Climatic Change and Variability (3)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. GEOG 412W introduces , students to the physical dimensions of climate change and variation. Climate change topics include radiative forcing, greenhouse gases, scenarios, equilibrium models, and time-dependent models. Important Climate variation topics are teleconnections and the El Nino-Southern Oscillation phenomenon. GEOG 412W would appeal to students with interests in Earth and atmospheric sciences, as well as environmental protection. As a writing-intensive course, GOEG 412W aims to help students improve their ability to communicate scientific information. The course devotes considerable class time to the mechanics of reading, writing, speaking, and especially report production. Students not only write, but also learn to edit and critique writing.Because most professional research on climate change and variation involves collaborative science teams, GEOG 412W focus on collaboration and participation. Students form teams, conduct research, and compile formal collaborative reports on climate change and variation. Students document their individual contributions by producing portfolios. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences Writing Across the Curriculum

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 110 or METEO003

Earth's cryosphere is undergoing rapid change, with high latitude warming and ice losses among the most prominent signatures of anthropogenic climate change. In turn, cryospheric changes possess global ramifications, including impacts on sea level, the planetary energy balance, and global weather and climate. Addressing climate change begins with understanding its manifestations, and few natural components of the Earth system are changing as quickly and with greater impacts than the cryosphere. This course focuses on the cryosphere and its significance in the global climate system. It provides an introduction to the dynamics of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice, including the various feedback mechanisms inherent to these systems. We begin with an exploration of evidence for past variability in ice sheets governed by natural Earth system cycles, before embarking on analysis of interactions between ice and the climate system today, and potential future cryospheric changes in a warming climate. This course combines lecture-based instruction, applied activities, and project-based learning. Emphasizing a data-driven approach, students gain an introduction to Python programming tailored to earth and climate sciences, as well as Jupyter Notebooks for interactive data exploration. The course investigates techniques used in contemporary cryospheric sciences, including analysis of satellite remotely sensed data, output from regional and global Earth system models, in situ meteorological observations, and climate reanalysis products. Students will build proficiency in practical and transferrable skills essential for modern cryospheric and climatic research. or METEO 101 or METEO 201 Recommended Preparation: Basics of college algebra and physics; experience and/or interest in scientific data analysis, particularly using Python.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 210 or EARTH 2 or EARTH 103N or EARTH 303

Select 3 credits from: 3

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

A discussion of the application of satellite data to current and planned large-scale climate experiments. GEOG 417GEOG 417 Satellite Climatology (3)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. Geography 417 presents the theory and practice of satellite remote sensing as applied to the study of climate. Remote sensing refers to the acquisition of information about a target or phenomenon from a distance; climate is the low-frequency signal of weather that involves interactions among Earth's environmental systems (atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere). Combining these two disciplines into Satellite Climatology is logical because the fundamental basis of both remote sensing and climate is radiation transfer through Earth's atmosphere. The course emphasizes understanding the different techniques used to determine, from space-borne platforms, the atmospheric, oceanic and land surface conditions important to climate and its variations, and the interpretation of these remotely sensed data in the context of "climate dynamics" and "synoptic climatology." Specific topics include the following: Satellite systems (platforms, sensors, orbits data processing); Remote sensing clouds and cloud systems, Retrieval of atmospheric temperature, moisture, and precipitation, the Earth- atmosphere radiation and energy budgets, and Land-surface conditions and their modification by humans . In addition, examples of the different satellite-based climatologies, and their advantages and limitations with respect to conventional observations ("ground truth"), are presented. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 362

This course investigates selected urban issues through the lens of comparative urbanism. GEOG 420Y Comparative Urbanism (3) (US;IL)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. As an upper level urban geography seminar, this course investigates selected urban issues through the lens of comparative urbanism and requires active class participation. Examination of readings from the growing literature on comparative urbanism will introduce students not only to possible ways to design an effective comparative study but also to the varying goals of such work. Other readings, drawn from a wide variety of sources, will target particular issues facing urban areas that may vary from year to year, such as economic restructuring, uneven urban redevelopment, transportation planning, historic preservation, arts districts, the social construction of race and ethnicity, aging in place, and urban poverty. Students in turn will be required to design and carry out a comparative research project focusing on a particular urban issue, highlighting both the similarities and the differences between their selected case study cities and placing them in local, regional, and global contexts. This course is reading and writing intensive and satisfies United States Cultures and International Cultures requirements, as well as the Bachelor of Arts Social and Behavioral Sciences Field. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 120 , GEOG 160

This course examines key demographic characteristics of the U.S. population and how they are distributed in space. At the same time, we will look at how individuals come to be part of a population and with what implications. The course will focus on the U.S. with a special emphasis on where people live in U.S. cities. Given this focus we will spend significant time on issues of segregation, gentrification, health disparities, environmental justice, and migration. The class includes a significant lab component and students will have the opportunity to conduct empirical analyses that are common in the fields of planning, epidemiology, social work, and other cognate professional fields. This course meets the social and behavioral components of the BA field. The first goal of this seminar is to prepare students to think critically about the way demography and policy interact to produce outcomes that vary within and across populations and across space. Many of the most critical policy debates of our time hinge on an understanding of subgroups delineated by gender, age, race, and/or immigration status. Students will learn to identify the role of history, economics, culture and geography in shaping the contexts in which these policy debates now , exist and will gain the critical capacity to evaluate changing conditions in the world around them.The second key goal of this course is to train students in some of the basic techniques for analyzing populations. Being able to devise and execute a project that answers basic questions about the distribution of a population is a foundational skill for many careers that geographers might choose to follow, and can be powerful for engagement in the policy process. The emphasis here will be on applying statistical and GIS skills learned elsewhere to the messy world of real-life

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

6 to 9 credits from: CED 230(3), CED 309(3), CED 409(3), CED 410(3), ERM 411(3), GEOG 430(3), GEOG 431(3), GEOG 434(3), GEOG 438W(3), GEOG 439(3), EMSC/STS/SOC 420(3), PLSC 403(3), PLSC 412(3), PLSC 426(3), PLSC/STS 460(3), PLSC 471(3), PLSC 490(3), STS 201(3). Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 359

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course examines the actors, processes, and policies relevant to understanding the global economic system. How does the global economy work? How is it changing? What are the pieces and how do they fit together? What can we do to shape outcomes within this system? In the first section of the course we examine these questions in the context of the 2009 World Development Report produced by the World Bank. The report has as its focus "Economic Geography" with a particular focus on the role of cities in development. We will emphasize the differing assumptions made by economists and geographers with regards to processes of economic development and the impact of globalization. In the second portion of the class we will focus on specific industries, firms, and regions in an attempt to put the broader concepts from Part 1 into an applied context. The focus of this section will be on identifying the complexity of the economic system. In Part 3 of the class we draw from the literature on alternative understandings of the global economy and its possibilities and link this literature to broader debates about global capitalism, international economic policy, and social welfare. Bringing together the broad themes from Part 1 and the applied responses and strategies gleaned from Part 2 we will attempt to synthesize both macro and micro-scale understandings of the present economic system. EBF 200 Writing Across the Curriculum

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 326; GEOG 126; or ECON 102; or ECON 104; or

This class examines the spatial interactions of race, class and poverty in the United States. GEOG 425 Geography of Race, Class, and Poverty in America (3) (US)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. The terms 'race,' 'class,' and 'poverty' are often discussed in the same breath in academic scholarship. Research portrays the interwoven relationships between economic status, economic security, and ethnic heritage. Despite this powerful and abundant literature, few scholars examine the spatial interactions among race, class, and poverty. The class introduces students to a range of literatures on the meaning of race, class, and poverty in the contemporary United States. We will situate these terms in their local spatial context and investigate how location influences perceptions of the meaning of race, class, and poverty. We will blend historical, contemporary, theoretical and empirical scholarship as we investigate the meaning, understanding and manifestation of race, class and poverty in the U.S. Beginning with history, we will move through the 20th century examining how economic and political cycles have influenced social understanding of these terms. There will be a particular focus on deconstructing the measurement and meaning of the terms and their use in public policy discussions based on perceptual understandings of the terms 'race' , 'class' , and 'poverty.' We will examine powerful historical and contemporary media images of race, class, and poverty as seen through the lens of place and identity. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4213 United States Cultures (US)

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 126 ; ECON 102 or ECON 104

Gendered Worlds examines how systems of dominance manifest in everyday life. Through an intersectional approach to social differences, such as gender, race, class, ethnicity, age, ability, and sexuality, the course highlights the significance of difference in shaping experiences of space and place in a global context. The course incorporates approaches from cultural, postcolonial, subaltern, queer, gender, and critical race studies, all of which have influenced current debates across the field of geography. Feminist scholars have long been concerned with the spatial politics of cultural difference. As a point of entry to discussions of gender and geography, this course will explore the diverse ways in which geographers have conceived of, analyzed, and redefined gender as a contested spatial practice that intersects with other facets of identity such as race, class, and sexuality. Using contemporary geographic texts, we will explore the gendered dynamics of geographic research, citizenship, violence, security, nationalism, nature,and globalization. The purpose of this course is to examine how gender is understood and utilized in the field of geography. This course also aims to enhance students' ability to engage in first-hand critical research, as well as collaborative learning, through a reflective and on-going process of research and writing over the course of the semester. At the end of the course, the successful student will be able to: 1. Deploy contemporary debates around gender theory, gendered spatial practices, and cultural difference. 2. Critique the cultural and social construction of gender across time and cultures. 3. Analyze representations of gender in social institutions such as the media. 4. Apply theories of gender and cultural difference in the context of critical written analysis. and (C or higher in ENGL 15 or ENGL 30H or ENGL 137H or CAS 137H or ESL 15 ) Recommended Preparation: GEOG 324 (preferred) or GEOG 320 or GEOG 326 or GEOG 328 Cross-listed with: WMNST 426W Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( GEOG 220 or GEOG 20 or GEOG 2N or WMNST 100 )

This upper-level undergraduate seminar examines theories and concepts of political geography, with special emphasis on the geographic foundations of power in a globalizing world. The course covers the foundational themes of political geography: state formation; citizenship and nationality; geopolitics; borders; sovereignty; colonialism/ postcolonialism; environmental politics; political identity and social movements. The course readings include a balance of theory and case study material and include international and domestic examples. As a writing-intensive course, students will write weekly assignments, workshop their essays in peer-groups, and focus on the techniques of expository writing on political geographic topics. The objective is to develop effective writing skills for presenting analyses of political geographic processes and basing these analyses on investigation, evidence, and clear argumentation in a concise essay format. Students will receive regular feedback and evaluation from the instructor and have several opportunities for presenting their work to their peers. The final project consists of a larger research and writing project and class

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course reflects critically on a number of issues related to global urbanization, including the culture and political economy of urban space. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 020 , GEOG 126 , or GEOG 120

The human use of resources and ecosystems and social causes and consequences of environmental degradation in different parts of the world; development of environmental policy and management strategies. GEOG 430GEOG 430 Human Use of Environment (3)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. Geography 430 examines the human use of resources and ecosystems, the multiple causes and consequences of environmental degradation, and adaptive institutional and policy arrangements as prerequisites for resilient and sustainable management and development in different parts of the world. The major objective of this course is to help geographers, earth scientists, and other professionals to develop an awareness and appreciation of the multiple perspectives that can be brought to studies of human use of the environment and of the ways in which resource-management decisions are made in human society. This is a capstone course that encourages students to place their individual major and technical skills within the context of multiple approaches to environmental decision making and management in complex and dynamic social-ecological systems. GEOG 430 is designed as a collective/social learning experience. This implies that the professor and students share responsibility for the learning process and take advantage of collective skills, insights, experiences, and efforts of each other. As in system dynamics, this requires both commitment and flexibility and the willingness to explore foreign territory. As part of thi philosophy, learning consists not only of information flow from professor to student, but also from student to student and student to professor. The course follows a case study approach to explore real life lessons of adaptive management around the globe. To make this process work, attendance and active participation are imperative. The course is run more like a seminar than a lecture course and integrates lectures, in- class discussions, presentations, and interactive activities. Student performance is evaluated based on active participation in all of the above, individual short assignments, group projects, in-class quizzes and exams, and one major writing assignment, varying by faculty teaching. This course is offered every semester. 130 or permission of the program Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 010 or GEOG 020 or GEOG 030 or GEOG 040 or GEOG

GEOG 431 is designed for students to understand the natural processes of aquatic ecosystems, management of water resources, and threats to sustaining water quantity and quality, for all types of freshwater surface, groundwater, rivers, lakes, wetlands. This course should appeal to water resource managers, geographers, ecologists, earth scientists, planners, other environmental professionals as well as non-science majors. This course will develop awareness and appreciation of the multiple perspectives about water as a precious resource, commodity, and sometimes hazard. Students in the course will first examine water. Course Justification characteristics, sources, classification systems, and aquatic ecosystems. Next, we will examine water resource management, including issues surrounding irrigation; floods and dams; provision of safe potable water; threats to water quantity and quality including human and aquatic ecosystem effects; the water economy including virtual water and water footprints; water laws and policy; institutions for water management at the global, national, regional and local scale; and issues of water conflict, security, and climate change. Course Objectives: - Learn how/why water is distributed unevenly in space and time around the Earth. - Examine ways resource management decisions made in human society are strongly related to the availability, quantity, and quality of water. - Examine water characteristics, sources, classification systems, and aquatic ecosystems. - Examine water resource management, including issues surrounding irrigation; floods and dams; provision of safe potable water; threats to water quantity and quality including human and aquatic ecosystem effects; the water economy including virtual water and water footprints; water laws and policy; institutions for water management at the global, national, regional and local scale; and issues of water conflict, security, and climate change. When you successfully complete this course, you will be prepared to: - Identify the unique characteristics of freshwater. - Describe, with a geographic perspective, how and why freshwater is distributed unevenly in space and time around Earth. - Explain the natural processes of aquatic ecosystems. - Discuss why conflicts arise over the vital resource of freshwater. - Identify challenges facing water management in varied climate types around the world. - Compare how humans interact with aquatic ecosystems. credits natural science Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

(GEOG 10; or GEOG 210; or GEOG 30; or GEOG 230 ) ; or 6

s Analysis, formulation, implementation, and impacts of energy-related policies, regulations, and initiatives. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: EBF 200 and EGEE 120 and PLSC 490 Cross-listed with: EME 432

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

The justice concept has been a topic of interest within various academic and policy realms concerned with the inequities experienced by racial groups, socio-economic class, and ethnicity. The environment justice movement is generally understood to have begun in the early 1980s with a series of events that demonstrated the inequitable distribution of health hazards and risk. While much work in environmental justice has usefully focused on the disproportionate exposure of poor and minority populations to environmental hazards, conceptualizations of justice have expanded in recent years to include systematic and comparative research within urban and rural populations, industrialized and developing contexts, access to and control over resources, as well as unwilling exposure to hazards, processes and institutions of environmental governance. These trends have resulted in greater attention to the social processes that create and perpetuate inequality on the basis of race, gender, income, or other social categories. In exploring the 'fast conceptual transfer' of the environmental justice concept to other settings, Walker and Bulkeley (2006: 655) suggest emerging interest in distribution between nation-states, an expansion of terms to include gender, age and future generations, and intersections with the vulnerability literatures to examine the threat of natural and produced risks. This course engages with the history and future of social and environmental justice. We begin by examining the emergence of the environmental justice movement in the United States and subsequent export of the justice concept to other topics, including sustainable development and climate change, and within other settings, including Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. In exploring the diverse ways that justice is being applied at the present time, we will also question the future viability for justice as a conceptual and organizational tool. Course Objectives This course has four primary objectives: - Examine the history of the concept of environmental justice and the environmental justice movement in the United States; - Consider multiple definitions of environmental justice such as procedural and distributive justice; - Examine the application of the environmental justice concept to other topics, including sustainable development and climate change, and within other settings, including Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America; and - Consider future directions for environmental justice.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course explores politics related to the use, transformation, valuation, and representation of the environment. GEOG 434GEOG 434 Politics of the Environment (3) Scholarship in geography and related disciplines has demonstrated that nature in general and specific environments in particular are unavoidably political. Environmental management can thus never be a purely scientific or technological challenge; it requires critical analysis of cultural, political, and economi contexts, factors, and effects. For instance, effective environmental management requires consideration of how culture shapes how we perceive and value our environments, who wins and who loses in any particular approach to environmental management, and what the relative advantages and disadvantages of competing institutional approaches to environmental management are.This course examines the development of environmental governance, with a primary focus on the United States. It explores both how various groups within society conceive of and value the environment, and multiple approaches to environmental governance and protection. It reviews the history of environmental movements and regulation, and contemporary issues and debates in environmental Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4215 governance, with particular attention to the effects of institutional forms and social movements. In particular, it examines competing arguments for and against governance approaches centered on state action, market mechanisms, and prominent roles for NGOs and social movements.Students will be evaluated based on: 1) their participation in class discussions, based on critical engagement with material from course readings and lectures; 2) their performance on a midterm and a final examination; 3) an individual research project on a topic relevant to the course, to be designed and carried out under the supervision of the course instructor.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

6 credits in social sciences or humanities

This course explores the motivations, key concepts, and contemporary challenges of US and international energy policy. The approach of the course is inherently geographical in that we engage the concepts of scale, place, landscape, and materiality to evaluate energy policy issues. The course addresses the following questions: 1) Why and how is energy governed? 2) How does energy policy differ across political scales and energy sectors? 3) Who are the key stakeholders influencing energy policy? 4) How are the costs and benefits of energy policy distributed? 5) How can a geographic perspective advance energy policy making? 6) How well do existing tools and policy frameworks address emerging challenges in energy policy and governance? The course is designed to explore these questions through interactive discussion, drawing on examples from various political levels and in various geographical contexts. A combination of independent writing and presentations will provide students with the expertise to be careful and critical observers of policy developments, and to prepare students for future roles as policy advisors in business and government settings. The course is divided into four parts: 1) overview of US and international energy policy; 2) key concepts and debates in analyzing energy; 3) case studies; and 4) emerging issues and challenges. After successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Analyze the origins, motivations and distributional impacts of U.S. and international energy policies; 2. Apply key concepts from the energy social sciences to contemporary energy debates; 3. Critically assess how geographic perspectives can advance energy policy making C or higher in an English composition course ( ENGL 15; ENGL 30H; ENGL 137H; CAS 137H; ESL 15 ); Recommended Preparation: GEOG 330N or GEOG 332N or ANSC 332N or METEO 332N Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences Writing Across the Curriculum

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( GEOG 230 or GEOG 30N or EGEE 101 or EBF 200 ) and

Elective (consider fulfilling with EBF or GEOG minor 3 courses or EARTH certificate courses) BA Fields course 3 *

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

In this project-based capstone course, students will address real- world sustainability challenges through focused research. Building on coursework in the Environment, Society, and Sustainability major, students will work independently or in teams to design and implement research projects addressing sustainability issues aimed at making a tangible, positive, impact on the environment and society. The course begins with a careful introduction to research design that ensures students can identify a project or question where they can make a meaningful contribution. Drawing inspiration from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), students will identify specific sustainability issues that resonate with their interests and passions. This segment will conclude with students presenting a polished research proposal. These proposals will undergo rigorous review and refinement to ensure feasibility, innovation, and alignment with sustainability principles. The bulk of the course will be dedicated to guided research with training on how to overcome common hurdles to original research, including data acquisition and cleaning, method choice, and visualization of results. Students will engage with stakeholders, conduct research, gather data, and utilize appropriate methodologies to design and execute their projects effectively. Throughout the course, students will receive guidance and support through focused lectures, class discussions, and one-on-one consultations with the instructor. At the conclusion of the course, students will present their sustainability projects to the class and, if appropriate, relevant stakeholders. The final project is meant to serve as a culminating document demonstrating the student's capacity to contribute meaningfully in a wide range of sustainability-focused settings. Recommended Preparations: As this is a capstone course, additional sustainability-related coursework beyond the prerequisites is expected.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 210 and GEOG 230 and GEOG 340 and GEOG 344

The course is designed to analyze the ecological, economic, political and cultural factors that influence resource extraction and governance in Africa. The course will examine traditional, colonial and post- colonial resource management systems and philosophies, as well as the reengagement and empowerment of local communities in the management of resources. The benefits and trade-offs between conservation, resource extraction, development and justice will be explored. Many students are particularly interested in solutions for biodiversity conservation and climate change; this course will examine theories of behavior change related to environmental management and governance. Students will be introduced to current evidence on how, when and why people take action to address complex environmental issues, including climate change. Finally, the course will explore strategies for evidence-based environmental policy and equitable policy enforcement. AFR 105 or AFR 110N Cross-listed with: AFR 444 Bachelor of Arts: World Cultures Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 30N or GEOG 210 or GEOG 220 or GEOG 230 or

This course examines local and regional domains of disease prevention, health behavior and promotion, and health inequities in the context of urban and suburban neighborhoods. We will draw on urban geographic and social theory as well as urban planning, public health, and environmental justice literature to identify ways in which neighborhood and geographic features combine with policies, individual-level behaviors, and social interaction to produce health and disease. We will further apply concepts and issues addressed in course readings and lecture to selected urban areas, large and small, to gain understanding of the tools and methods most often used in evaluating urban spaces for community health and health equity. completion of GEOG 260 and GEOG 320 are recommended but not required United States Cultures (US)

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 220 Recommended Preparations: Successful

Subject

GEOG

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Most maps produced today are electronic, dynamic, and often ephemeral -- with millions of maps generated on the web each day. At the same time, computer graphics technologies developed to enable scientific visualization generally, are being adapted and extended for applications with geographic information (geovisualization). Geovisualization becomes increasingly vital in the era of big data as the ability to visualiz and analyze vast and complex geospatial datasets is essential to uncover patterns, trends, and insights critical for various real-world applications. This course introduces students to the conceptual understanding, fundamentals, techniques, and applications of geovisualization, by engaging students with both "big" and "small" real-word geospatial datasets such as geotagged social media data, mobile phone location data, human mobility, and Census data. Topics include but not limited to: geovisualization fundamentals, geospatial big data, exploratory spatial data analysis, interactive web maps development, geo-visual analytics, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and geovisualization, and map-enabled decision-support. Through a blend of lectures, hands- on exercises, and group projects, students will learn practical skills and theoretical knowledge applicable to real-world applications across various domains including disaster management (e.g., hurricane evacuation, flood mapping), public health (e.g., infectious disease transmission, environmental health impacts), and social media analytics.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 361 or GEOG 362 or GEOG 363

Theory and practice of mapping and geo-representation in a dynamic media context. Applications in science, policy, travel, and education. GEOG 461W GEOG 461W Dynamic Cartographic Representation (3) (BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. Most maps produced today are electronic, dynamic, and often ephemeral -- with millions of maps generated on the web each day. At the same time, computer graphics technologies developed to enable scientific visualization generally, are being adapted and extended for applications with geographic information. The goal of this course is to provide students with both the conceptual understanding and practical experience needed to design effective dynamic representations and assess their effectiveness. During the term we will explore the potential and implications of recent advances in cartography, exploratory data analysis, and information visualization as they relate to the theory and practice of geographic visualization (geovisualization). A key focus of the course is on 'dynamic' representations of geographically referenced information. Dynamic representations are those that change as a result of user actions or data updates. Topics include: animated and interactive Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4217 maps, exploratory multivariate spatial data analysis, geovisualization to support knowledge construction, interactive web maps, navigation aids for real and virtual worlds, map-enabled decision-support, collaborative geovisualization, dynamic maps to enable learning, semiotic principles for design of dynamic maps and related geovisualization tools, and perceptual/cognitive issues in dynamic geo-representation (including methods for studying the success of visual displays and interaction devices). As a writing intensive course, particular attention will be given to writing for geographic information science (GIScience). This writing will include laboratory project reports, reviews of published literature, and a term project. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences Writing Across the Curriculum

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 361 or GEOG 362 or GEOG 363

This course provides the requisite knowledge and skillset to understand and apply advanced remote sensing techniques to study Earth and its e environment. Every day numerous satellites from different platforms acquire and transmit different types of observations of Earth and its environment. Such data are used for a variety of operational and research applications, such as weather forecasting, natural hazards, land use and land cover, surface temperature, climate change, urban planning, and many others. Massive amounts of data are received, processed, stored, and distributed by data centers worldwide, giving unprecedented access to global high-resolution information. Such information can give new insights to study the complementary nature of different variables of Earth's environment. This course covers several major topics including optical remote sensing, microwave remote sensing, altimetry, and gravimetry, illustrated with various applications on land, ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere, and urban systems. or prior exposure to R programming language Prerequisite: GEOG 362 or FOR 455 or METEO 477 or EE 477

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

Recommended Preparations: (GEOG 365 and GEOG 464)

Geospatial information management provides a fundamental support for various kinds of functions and web applications associated with Geographic Information Systems/Science (GIS). This course introduces the basic knowledge and techniques to design information management systems (usually in a database format) in non-spatial environments and further explores the spatial components while designing and implementing a spatial database to solve GIS problems. The course will cover the basic concepts, techniques and methodologies for designing and implementing a spatial database. The main content of this course will include: 1) fundamental database concepts, benefits of using databases, functions of database management systems; 2) data modeling and database design: Entity-Relationship diagrams, relational model, object-oriented database design, object-relational database, geo-relational model; 3) Structured Query Language (SQL) for database creation, query and manipulation; 4) spatial database design and implementation, and spatial query; 5) use of modern spatial databases products; 6) understanding of databases for big spatial data management; 7) other topics related to spatial database optimization, e.g., spatial indexing and cloud-based data management.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

GEOG 468 Supporting Courses and Related Areas Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better Select 12 credits from one of the following: 400-level political science courses in International Relations, Comparative Politics, or Theory/Methodology (excluding courses taken to fulfill other requirements in the major) from an approved department list in consultation with an adviser World language courses beyond the 12th-credit level 9 of these credits must be at the 400 level. With adviser approval, all 12 credits may be below the 400 level, but must be in addition to the language proficiency for BA requirements. National Security Option (30 credits) Available at the following campuses: University Park, World Campus Code Title Credi

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Before taking GEOG 465, students will have learned the fundamentals and principles of GIS. This course extends such knowledge to modeling geospatial scenarios. A GIS model simulates real-world phenomena, including environmental, physical and natural features, as well as social features such as demographic, transportation and origin-destination data. We will model raster and vector data types with an emphasis on multi-criteria GIS operations, using ArcGIS, R and potential other software packages. Upon completion of the course, successful students will have achieved the following objectives and learning outcomes: Students will be able to: a) discuss basic GIS modeling principles; b) find, use, store, retrieve and evaluate GIS datasets; c) describe capabilities and limitations of GIS methods and models; e) implement capabilities, tools and packages in ArcMap GIS and R environments; f) use R for programming tasks such as looping and branching; g) evaluate an external software program and create a model using this software; h) exhibit ability to design and carry out spatial analyses using GIS; i) communicate the results of geographic analyses to others, both in oral and in written form; j) analyze spatial data sets in terms of predictability and uncertainty; and k) calibrate models based on real-world datasets.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 363

Project-based map production problems with emphasis on map design and advanced mapping tools in geographic information systems.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Roles of geographic information systems in energy siting decisions focusing on electric energy transmission networks. GEOG 469 Energy Industry Applications of GI S (3) Over 2 million miles of oil and gas pipeline and nearly 200,000 miles of electric transmission grid currently traverse the U.S. Geographic information systems (GI S) are used to help maintain these far-flung and extremely expensive energy infrastructures. GI S is also used to help determine optimal routes for pipelines and transmission lines as energy demand and production increase, and as the grid is extended to connect to new energy sources and consumers. GEOG 469 provides students with an in-depth exploration of the complexities of siting decisions. The course introduces a variety of siting challenges that confront the energy industry and its customers and neighbors, but focuses on the siting of electrical transmission lines. The course also provides hands-on experience with a common decision support technology, and considers how the technology may be used to facilitate public participation in siting decisions. Students will undertake a term-length project in which they must propose, research, develop and implement a siting recommendation for an electrical transmission line. They will utilize activities from each lesson to develop primary and alternative routes. Using GI S, students will develop overlays, weights and rankings to determine the most suitable location for a proposed transmission line. Students' final product will be maps showing proposed routes based on the siting criteria and rankings developed to minimize the impacts associated with the various siting criteria used. To help students develop the critical thinking skills needed in the energy industry, students will learn to critique their peers' analyses systematically from the perspective of local stakeholders who are most affected by siting decisions. GEOG 469 is designed to help students achieve two of the programmatic educational objectives established for the Energy and Sustainability Policy degree. It fosters energy industry knowledge by illuminating the difficulties intrinsic to facilities siting decisions. And it nurtures analytical skills by familiarizing students with GI S methodology, and by teaching them how to critique GI S analyses systematically.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 030 , EGEE 102 , EME 444

This course examines the nexus of geospatial intelligence analysis with cyberspace, the geopolitics of cyber threats, the politics of censorship and hacking, public safety, disaster response, and humanitarian relief. Students will utilize a range of cyber data, systems, and spatial sciences to examine human social networks of the Internet. The course will be centered on geospatial intelligence with emphases on technology, information theory, and cyber and human networks.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 160 , GEOG 482 , or permission of program

Using imagery and terrain data in typical application scenarios faced by the geospatial professional.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 482 or equivalent professional experience

Using airborne topographic lidar to create elevation models for GIS applications. equivalent professional experience Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 362 or GEOG 480 ; GEOG 160 or GEOG 482 ; or

Despite its widespread use in thousands of organizations worldwide, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) remains for many an obscure set of technologies and professional practices. Even practicing GIS professionals may have limited awareness of the breadth of the field and its impacts in government, industry, and non-governmental and non-profit organizations. The course uses case studies of meaningful applications of GIS to reveal key topics across the spectrum of industry sectors defined by the U.S. Department of Labor in its Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM): Positioning and Data Acquisition, Analysis and Modeling, and Software and Application Development. Topics to be mastered include concepts like positioning frameworks, uncertainty, and geo-enablement, methods and techniques including the GPS positioning, spatial modeling, and geo app development, and relevant ethical, legal, and policy issues such as locational privacy. In addition to topical objectives, the course cultivates competencies associated with lifelong learning, a cornerstone of the GTCM. Students achieve educational objectives by searching, discovering, and evaluating information from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, the Internet. Those with substantial professional experience are encouraged to share their perspectives. Students develop mastery through class discussions in which they collaboratively prepare to demonstrate individual mastery in tests. They also learn to craft case studies of their own by creating and presenting story-telling web apps using cloud-based GIS technology. They gain self-knowledge by assessing their individual competencies in relation to the GTCM. The awareness, knowledge and technical skills they gain prepare them for success in programs such as Penn State's Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Master of GIS graduate degree program, and for professional growth.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

admission to the Master of GIS program or Certificate

How geographic information systems facilitate data analysis and communication to address common geographic problems. GEOG 483 Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4219 Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 482

Database design, creation, maintenance, and data integration using desktop GIS software. GEOG 484 Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 483

Course available at Harrisburg campus Digital Arts and Communication

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Theory and practice of cartographic design emphasizing effective visual thinking and visual communication with geographic information systems. GEOG 486 Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 484

This course takes a problem-based approach to investigating, evaluating, and communicating the results of spatial analysis applied to a wide variety of environmental challenges. Students will develop competencies related to securing spatial data from reliable sources, designing, developing, executing spatial analysis workflows, and presenting results with contemporary mapping systems. Students gain experience with a variety of spatial data science concepts and technologies that they are likely to encounter as environmental management professionals. (GISC_PCT), Master of GIS (GIS_MGIS), or Master of Science in Spatial Data Science (SDS_MS) program

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

Enrollment in Post-baccalaureate Certificate in GIS

In GEOG 489, you will learn advanced applications of Python for developing and customizing GIS software, designing user interfaces, and solving complex geoprocessing tasks using both proprietary and open source platforms. Students will also learn the use of version

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 12 Classroom instruction with supervised student activity on a group community service project. GEOG 493GEOG 493 Service Learning (3-12)

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

12

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

* scholarship course Minor/certificate/supporting 3 Minor/certificate/supporting 3 * * course course BA Other Cultures course or 0-3 Elective 0-2

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 12 Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

12

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

prior approval of program

/Maximum of 13 Supervised off-campus, non-group instruction including individual field experience, practicums, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

13

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

prior approval of proposed assignment by instructor

/Maximum of 10

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

10

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. GEOG 495C enables MGIS students who participate at a distance through the University's World Campus to earn credit through contributions to the Department's resident programs. Qualified MGIS students will be encouraged to earn one credit (up to a maximum of three) for every semester that they supervise a resident Penn State Geography student in GIS-related internship conducted in the MGIS student's place of work. Qualifications will be judged by MGIS students' academic advisors. Advisors will help MGIS students recruit qualified internship candidates. Advisors will also evaluate the quality of supervision on the basis of the documentation provided by both the MGIS student and the student intern he or she supervised. MGIS students unable to provide internships may still contribute by serving as mentors to students enrolled in the resident course EM SC 300: Professional e-Portfolio Development, through the University's LionLink program. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 10 GEOG 495GGEOG 495G Giscience Internship (1-10)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. Prospective interns apply directly to faculty members in charge of the Department of Geography's Geo VISTA Center or Gould Center for Geography Education and Outreach, or to persons in charge of appropriate public or private agency external to the University. Students accepted into the internship program are assigned to research or application projects that involve the development, evaluation and/or use of geographic information technologies under the supervision of an experienced faculty member or professional. Per Faculty Senate rules, interns are expected to devote 40 hours of effort for each credit earned. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

10

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 160

/Maximum of 18 Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

18

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 18 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 18 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Qualitative or quantitative methods in geography: Select 3 credits from the following: 3

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 3 No description.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Select at least three of the following: 3 GEOG 501A GEOG 501B GEOG 501C GEOG 501D All M.S. students are required to complete at least one seminar at the 500 level. Supporting courses are chosen in consultation with an entrance committee (in year one) or the adviser (in subsequent years). Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies. (https:// gradschool.psu.edu/graduate-education-policies/) There are three paths to a Ph.D. One is a five-year Ph.D. with M.S. degree, which is available to students who enter Penn State Geography’s graduate program without a master’s degree. These students are on an accelerated schedule and earn an M.S. along the way to the Ph.D. The second is a four-year Ph.D., which is available to those students who have already received a master’s degree in another program either at Penn State or at another university. The third is an M.S.-to-Ph.D. path, which is available to Penn State Geography M.S. students who decide either to continue into the Ph.D. program after they have started their master’s program, or to return for the Ph.D. after having graduated with the M.S. Students on this path are not accelerated and therefore will usually require two years to earn the master’s and four years to earn the doctorate. There is no fixed number of credits; courses are prescribed according to the student's prior experience and academic goals. A student’s Ph.D. committee can require reading knowledge and/or demonstrated working knowledge of a foreign language, specialized training in linguistics, or training in computer programming languages, depending on the student’s research interest. All doctoral students are required to enroll in GEOG 500 and GEOG 502 during their first year of residence.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

The objective of this course is to examine feminist approaches to traditional research methodologies. The objective of this course is to examine feminist critiques of traditional research. The course will examine the animated and contentious debates among feminist scholars about what constitutes a feminist method. Although there is no single feminist method, this diverse academic community is searching for techniques consistent with their convictions as feminists. For this reason, the course will distinguish between methods, as tools for research, and methodology, as theory about the research process. The course reviews methods such as ethnography, interviewing, oral history, discourse analysis, visual analysis, and mixed method approaches. Cross Listings : GEOG 508 will be added as a cross-listed course. Cross-listed with: WMNST 508

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 18 Analysis of current literature in physical geography focusing on theoretical and methodological debates. GEOG 510 Seminar in Physical Geography (3 per semester/maximum of 18) This seminar explores current issues in physical geography. The focus for each offering of this advanced seminar is on a specific theme of current importance. Recent developments and ongoing research issues within that topic are explored in-depth. Topic examples include, but are not limited to: synoptic climatology and climate dynamics, the cryosphere, remote sensing, ecological biogeography and ecosystem dynamics, landscape and restoration ecology, wetlands ecology and management, and coastal and inland hazards.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 454 , GEOG 455

/Maximum of 18 Analysis of current literature in human geography focusing on theoretical and methodological debates.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 18 Theory and method in human-environment interaction subfields; may be re-taken when topics vary; readings, discussions, research.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Recommended Preparations: One course in ecological or hydrological sciences. This course explores the diversity, complexity, ecological functions, conservation, and cultural values of freshwater and coastal wetlands through interdisciplinary discussions, readings, projects, and field trips. Learning Outcomes: Students successfully completing this course will gain an understanding about the ecology, management, and conservation of freshwater and coastal wetlands. They will be able to classify different wetland types using multiple methods, understand the breadth of wetland functions, and become familiar with laws, regulations, and approaches to conserve wetlands.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 18 Geographic information science problems/theory, e.g. GIS, cartography, remote sensing, spatial analysis, modeling.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Examination of geographic information science topics: GIS, cartography, remote sensing, spatial analysis, modeling, spatial cognition, geospatial semantics, geovisualization.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course constitutes a culminating experience in the MS in Spatial Data Science (SDS). The course includes a semester project that demonstrates an SDS student's ability to apply advanced knowledge and skills related to applying spatial data science principles in a way that makes a substantial contribution to research in Spatial Data Science. Students in this class work individually to design, implement, and report on a project based on the application of spatial data science knowledge and skillsets gained through the SDS curriculum. Students will also collaborate with each other to iteratively develop and refine project topics, methods, and solutions. Students are oriented at the beginning of the course with modules reviewing research methods, public presentation strategies, and scholarly communication skills. Students commence their research immediately at the beginning of the semester and meet weekly milestones through the balance of the semester, engaging in peer review to refine their work in addition to receiving guidance from their instructor. Graduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 1145 Concurrent: All degree and option requirements must be met prior to taking this course or be met concurrently in the same semester this course is taken.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Traces of geographic information reflected in digital data continuously increase in volume, variety, velocity, and variability. New geographic data sources, together with advancements in high-performance computing, present opportunities to dissect complex real-world problems in unprecedented ways. Human cognitive capability, however, remains constant, thus limiting our ability to extract value and insight from this data deluge. Geovisual analytics is the emerging science of analytical reasoning supported by interactive geovisualization, computational methods, and user-centered design. Geovisual analytics constitutes an essential subdomain in the broader field of Spatial Data Science. This seminar investigates the role of geovisual analytics in facilitating the human sensemaking process through (a) a survey and synthesis of research challenges surrounding the design, use, and evaluation of geovisual analytics systems and (b) exercises to design geovisual analytics approaches to tackle complex problem contexts such as those found in crisis management, epidemiology, and transportation domains. Recommended Preparations: GEOG 486

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

GEOG 581 is for students who are concerned about the ethical implications and social impacts of geospatial technologies and methods. It traces the roots of Spatial Data Science Ethics in moral philosophy, professional ethics frameworks, and critical studies in the geospatial field. Students analyze non-trivial ethical case studies in which right and wrong actions are not clear-cut. They compare and critique relevant legal and policy issues in the U.S. and abroad. In addition, they evaluate the organizational ethics of firms and agencies (including current or potential employers) that provide spatial data science products and services.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course focuses on the scientific and technical challenges that lie at the intersection of spatial data science and artificial intelligence (AI) Geospatial data and geographic visualizations are not readily supported by contemporary AI approaches, but development in this area of GeoAI is rapidly advancing. Spatial reasoning, spatial analysis, and cartographic design are all potentially aided via the use of AI in the near future. Students will engage with key theories, methods, and systems to develop new workflows that enable geospatial problem solving with the support of AI. Students will engage with emerging literature to contextualize and critique ongoing scientific progress towards achieving GeoAI goals, including engagement with ethical considerations related to geospatial extensions of AI. They will also develop customized solutions for AI- supported spatial data science tasks through lab exercises. These labs will allow students the opportunity to create and evaluate AI-supported spatial data science workflows with an emphasis on reproducibility and ethical responsibility. A culminating project in the class will allow students to create a new AI-supported spatial data science solution for a real-world application.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 485

Systematic approach to requirements acquisition, specification, design and implementation of geospatial information systems. GEOG 583

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 484

Design, development, and implementation of web mapping applications using OGC standards and open source software. GEOG 585 Open Web Mapping (3)The geospatial industry has developed a culture of open standards and specifications by which both data and mapping tools can be made interoperable. Web Mapping requires the detailed application of a thorough theoretical understanding of these standards, as well as a working knowledge of how these standards are realized through recent information technology advances in web services and middleware. The course gives students the theoretical base from which they can go on to design, develop, and implement custom web mapping applications using open standards and open source software. On completion of the course, students will be able to build and deploy a complete web mapping solution including selecting the spatial data, the server and client software. Students will be able to determine which type of mapping server is required for their needs and to explain why choosing an open standard based solution is better than a proprietary solution. The course will cover a variety of open source software packages for web mapping and will provide pointers to commercial solutions where appropriate. Open Web Mapping is designed specifically for adult professionals. The course will be broken down into ten lessons. Each lesson will take one week to complete and requires a minimum of 8-12 hours of student activity each week, totaling approximately 120 hours of activity. Topics to be covered in each lesson include: Lesson 1 Open Web Mapping Framework International Methods Lesson 2 Web Map Servers (WMS) basics Understanding the structure of a WMS request Understanding the structure of a WMS response Lesson 3 Web Feature Server (WFS) basics Understanding the structure of a WFS request Understanding the structure of a WFS response Lesson 4 Introduction to XML XML and web mapping XML schemas Lesson 5 Styling maps with WMS and Styled Layer Description (SLD) Cascading Web Map Servers Lesson 6 Geographic Markup Language (GML) Application Schemas and Profiles . Lesson 7 Advanced WFS Gazettteers Other specialist applications of WFS Lesson 8 Building a web mapping applications Deploying a WMS Deploying a WFS Lesson 9 Building a thin web mapping client Client/ Server techniques Web mapping libraries and customizing them Lesson 10 The future of web mapping

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 485

Electives 12

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Conservation GIS applies geospatial problem solving to ecological research and resource management issues to enhance conservation planning.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 487

This course focuses on theoretical discussions in spatial data science as well as the application of a range of spatial data science methods and tools to solve real-world problems and model geographic phenomena. Students will read, discuss, and synthesize research articles and develop coding solutions for spatial data science tasks through a series of lab exercises. Discussions will provide a platform for students to address emerging research challenges and coding problems in a collaborative framework. Exercises in this course provide students an opportunity design, implement, and troubleshoot analytical workflows while creating reproducible code for future adaptation. Students will develop concepts presented in readings to compare spatial data science methods and to create a new approach for a semester project. Recommended Preparation: General programming and statistical analysis skills are recommended as preparation for this course.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Highlights emerging theoretical and methodological trends in high- performance remote sensing for geospatial analysis through discussion and laboratory experiences.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 480, GEOG 883

/Maximum of 3 Continuing seminars which consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Applications and theory in geographic information systems for analyzing the geographic dimensions of human health.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 484

/Maximum of 3

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 3 Culminating experiences in current professional and ethical problems facing the geospatial intelligence professional. courses

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 882 , GEOG 883 , GEOG 884 , GEOG 885 , or equivalent

This course brings together the concepts from the geospatial intelligence program and reinforces the standards of professionalism applicable to geospatial intelligence analysis. The aim is to enhance the student's understanding of the role of geospatial intelligence, develop individual competencies, reinforce professional concepts, and improve geospatial analytical techniques and methods. Students explore and critically analyze a current topic of interest and apply geospatial technical tools, concepts, and theories learned in previous coursework. Students prepare and deliver a formal presentation of the results of their geospatial intelligence capstone research project.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 594A

/Maximum of 9 Creative projects, including nonthesis research, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 999 A supervised off-campus, non-group instruction with a geospatial education focus. The instruction may include individual field experience, employment, or internship (paid or unpaid). Graduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 1147

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given on a topical or special interest subject which may be offered infrequently; several different topics may be taught in one year or term.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

6

Credits (max)

6

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

or GEOG 610 Thesis Research Off Campus Total Credits 33-36 Candidates may choose a capstone course or thesis option to fulfill their culminating experience requirement and demonstrate integration of knowledge and research experience acquired during their time in the spatial data science degree program. Students who choose the capstone course option must complete a work product advised by a Graduate Faculty member that demonstrates analytical thinking and synthesis of knowledge in the field of spatial data science. Students choosing the capstone course option will register for 3 credits of GEOG 570 Capstone in Spatial Data Science. Students will be encouraged to utilize an industry internship or current employer to identify a relevant or practical problem of importance that spatial data science methods could address, and to advance the state of the art in order to solve that problem. Students will be required to produce a paper and to present their results. The quality of the required paper is such that it must be suitable for publication in a professional journal or proceedings at a national or international conference. Candidates who choose the thesis option must write and defend, at an oral examination, a thesis based upon original research in the field of spatial data science. The thesis will demonstrate depth of knowledge to their adviser, a second reader, and the director of the SDS graduate program. Candidates must submit a thesis following the procedures specified by the Graduate School and register for 6 credits of GEOG 600/GEOG 610. The thesis must be accepted by the adviser and committee members, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School, and the student must pass the thesis defense. Students who s choose the thesis option for their culminating experience are expected to take two years to complete the degree.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

6

Credits (max)

6

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

0 Credits/Maximum of 999 No description.

Subject

GEOG

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 6 Theoretical and practical aspects of undergraduate instruction in geography.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

concurrent status as graduate teaching assistant

/Maximum of 12 Foreign study and/or research constituting progress toward the degree at a foreign university.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

12

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 999 No description.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

15

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

0 Credits/Maximum of 999 No description.

Subject

GEOG

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

In business, the application of maps and mapping technology ranges from a long-standing presence (commercial real estate, retail, and logistics) to nascent analytical applications across different industries. The momentum for commercial applications that encompass GIS, geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) technologies, and geospatial intelligence analysis is growing. In businesses, geospatial attributes are being combined with enterprise-wide databases. GIS and GEOINT tools and methodologies can now be folded into the more mainstream information technology (IT) applications of business intelligence (BI) to formulate

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course explores the spatial data science and technology associated with the transportation industry. This interdisciplinary field is often referred to as GIS-T. There is a natural synergy between GIS and transportation, which has resulted in a number of specialized techniques and a wide variety of GIS-T applications. To appreciate the value GIS brings to the transportation industry, students need to have some understanding of the business of transportation and the challenges and problems those in the industry face. Consequently, they will learn about a number of subdisciplines within transportation and examine how GIS has been applied to each. Students will also explore some of the key organizations in the transportation industry who use GIS and learn firsthand from transportation professionals, representing a variety of specialized fields, about the role GIS plays for them. Throughout the course, students will study GIS concepts and techniques which are fundamental to transportation, such as transportation networks and linear referencing systems. In addition, they will have the opportunity to explore a number of GIS applications and tools related to transportation. Due to the overall breadth of the transportation industry, the course will focus primarily on the largest application areas: highway and mass transit. We will, however, examine other significant modes, including aviation, maritime, pedestrian, and bike transit. Furthermore, while much of the course content is oriented around the U.S. transportation industry, students will also look at GIS-T applications and trends in other parts of the world. Recommended Preparations: GEOG 482

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Geospatial perspectives and technologies have a major role to play in planning for and responding to emergencies. As is true with other analytical paradigms, geospatial systems and technologies - from aerial mapping techniques to data acquisition - are changing rapidly. Emergency management is also changing quickly as the frequency and magnitude of crises and disasters are increasing, and more and more people and places are being impacted. GEOG 858 helps students develop proficiency in the theoretical, analytical, and technical perspectives required to support all stages of emergency (crisis or disaster) management activities with geospatial solutions, ranging from small-scale emergency management efforts to large-scale disasters and humanitarian crises. Topics covered in GEOG 858 will include advancements in geospatial data collection, geospatial data processing and analysis capabilities, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), geospatial artificial intelligence (geoAI), volunteered geographic information (VGI), geospatially-oriented social media, and others. Recommended Preparations: GEOG 483

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Reference Systems in GIS The course explores three important topics related to georeferenced data: Datums, map projections, and grid systems. Accurate coordinates are the key to successful manipulation in a geographic information system (GIS). The course begins with a detailed look at datums and the role they play in mathematically describing the Earth's shape and size, defining exact Earth coordinates, and establishing the height of a point above mean sea level. Map projections are examined next. These formula- based entities are implemented as algorithms in GIS, remote sensing, and other kinds of mapping and spatial analysis software that systematically take Earth's coordinates and convert them to a planar environment. Grid systems conclude this course with a discussion of their utility when carrying out accurate measurement activities on maps. Collectively, this course provides the theoretical underpinnings and applied knowledge necessary to understand and effectively work with the wide range of available datums, map projections, and coordinate systems that are available today. RECOMMENDED PREPARATIONS: GEOG 483

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Cultivates a working knowledge of current and future capabilities of GPS and the emerging Global Navigation Satellite System. GEOG 862 GPS Modernization for Geospatial Professionals (1) Topic: The Global Positioning System (GPS) includes a constellation of earth-orbiting satellites that broadcast their locations in space and time, a network of ground control stations, and military and civilian receivers that calculate ground positions by trilaterating satellite positions. Geospatial professionals need to posses a working knowledge of current and future GPS capabilities because GPS positioning is so prevalent in geographic information systems (GIS) applications in government, industry, and academia. GPS has always been a dual use system, military and civilian. From the beginning, GPS signals have been available with no direct user fees. GPS is used now in all of transportation-aviation, maritime, railroad, highway and mass transit. Satellite positions also plays critical roles in telecommunications, land surveying, law enforcement, emergency response, precision agriculture, mining, finance, and scientific research. It controls computer networks, air traffic, power grids, and so on. As the scope of GPS has expanded, the system continues to evolve. Course Objectives: GEOG 862 provides students with an opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of the Global Positioning System that exceeds the basic awareness that is cultivated in prerequisite courses. For example, while it is useful to know that a minimum of 24 GPS satellites ensure 24-hour worldwide GPS coverage, it is equally important to understand why there are more than the minimum on orbit. Students in GEOG 862 learn that redundancy is necessary in a system upon which much of the U.S. economy now depends. Society's reliance on satellite positioning mandates GPS modernization. Student Activities: The course consists of four weekly lessons. Each lesson will require a minimum of 8-12 hours of activity. Lessons will include weekly lectures (via synchronous Web conference and/or streaming video), threaded discussion, readings, two quizzes and two writing assignments about concepts and tools in GPS Modernization. These assignments are designed to help students progress towards successfully completing the objectives for this course. * Class Participation: Individual participation

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

The Internet has greatly extended the reach of GIS beyond the desktop. Geospatial technology vendors and the open-source community have devised web service protocols and web mapping application programming interfaces (APIs) so that third-party developers can create their own applications for use on web-enabled devices. These applications serve a wide array of purposes, including place and way finding, data dissemination, and data collection. For example, tabular crime data published on a city's website can be combined with base data layers such as municipal boundaries and roads to produce a map that is valuable for both the city's police department and its citizens. This course focuses on how geospatial professionals can create such applications using industry-relevant geospatial APIs. Students will build applications using current and emerging web technologies. Topics covered will include the implementation of 2D maps and 3D scenes, understanding API documentation, layer discovery and visualization, user interface development, data querying, and geoprocessing.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 485

Subject

GEOG

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Theory and practical applications of using cloud computing and server resources to solve geospatial problems. GEOG 865 Cloud and Server GIS (3) This course teaches students to use cloud and server GIS resources to solve problems for which geospatial data is an integral element. Students will evaluate and implement systems using three cloud service models; infrastructure services, platform services, and software services. The course involves both lab exercises and critical reading and writing Graduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 1149 for infrastructure, platform, and software service models. This course presents common methodologies for setting up cloud services for creating maps, to customize cloud services for managing spatial data, and to invoke cloud services for processing spatial data. This course challenges students to apply critical thinking and technical skills to evaluate and develop successful cloud GIS projects. Written assignments focus on helping students improve their ability to explain and execute cloud GIS projects. A semester-long project involves creating a working cloud GIS project, including public presentation of results.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 484

This course helps students learn how to create, maintain, and retrieve data from a spatially-enabled database. Access to accurate data is the cornerstone on which all successful professional geospatial organizations are built. The data stewards who maintain an organization's information systems therefore have a crucial role to play. The course begins by introducing relational database theories and structures that are common in both geographic and non-geographic contexts (e.g., Structured Query Language and database design). It then focuses on the special considerations involved in the management of a spatial database by demonstrating two commonly utilized professional approaches

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 484

Total Credits 33 In lieu of specified prescribed and elective courses, M.G.I.S. students may elect to substitute those for courses that comprise an option. There are two option choices: Geospatial Intelligence Option (15 credits) and Geodesign Option (12 credits).

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Geospatial Intelligence Option Courses

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Orientation to the geographic foundations of geospatial intelligence and its applications in national security, international relief work, and disaster management. GEOG 882 Geographic Foundations of Geospatial Intelligence (3)Topic: Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) leverages geographic information science and technology (including cartography, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and global positioning systems) with intelligence tradecraft to develop intelligence products that support national security, disaster response, and international relief efforts. Course Objectives: GEOG 882 is designed to challenge current and aspiring GEOINT professionals to be more than technicians. Students who successfully complete GEOG 882 will appreciate that while geospatial technologies are useful in revealing what, who, and where, and to some extent how events are taking place, they are less useful in explaining why events occur, or what response is most appropriate. Students will learn that the political, cultural, historical, and economic perspectives of human geography are needed to put GEOINT analyses in context. The course will also challenge students to approach analyses critically, to consider alternative viewpoints and explanations, and to question their own assumptions. Student Activities: The course consists of 12 lessons that will span either the 15-week semester or the combined 12-week summer sessions. Each lesson will require approximately 10 hours of student activity. Student activity will include viewing and responding to recorded instructor lectures (delivered by digital video and audio), readings from textbooks or selected library resources, five quizzes on readings, four asynchronous online discussion forums, three reflection papers, and a collaborative role-playing simulation that provides a capstone experience.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

or GEOG 479 Spatial Data Science for Cyber and Human Social

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

or GEOG 483 Problem-Solving with GIS

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

GEOG 885 explores the challenges and opportunities created by combining human expertise with structured and automated analytical methods in the field of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT). The course focuses on the science and technology of human-machine collaboration using geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) in GEOINT and the professional and ethical concerns that must be considered in this rapidly evolving field. Students will be able to explain and apply structured analytic techniques (SATs), automation methods, and GeoAI tools to solve problems. Students will create analysis workflows that ensure the efficiency, credibility, and accuracy of analytical insights. SATs will be evaluated by students to gauge their ability to improve the quality and rigor of analysis. Students will also learn how to apply emerging GeoAI tools to summarize data and perform analytical tasks that have typically required human intelligence. This work is situated in decision-making across a broad range of industries, from defense and intelligence to environmental monitoring and urban planning. The amount of geospatial data available today is overwhelming, but by leveraging the strengths of both computers and people, analysts can gain insights from high- dimensional spatial data and effectively solve geographic problems.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 882

Introduces theory and methods for operating an unmanned aerial system for geospatial data acquisition and analysis.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

GEOG 480

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given on a topical or special interest subject.

Subject

GEOG

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu