GEO 125   PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY- HOW THE EARTH WORKS   5 Units

This course is about: how planet earth is constructed, weather and climate, water cycle, plate tectonics, volcanoes and earthquakes, landforms, soils and ecosystems, rocks and minerals, earth resources. Builds knowledge of our physical planet and our place within it. Two lab sessions per week. Field trips may be required.

GEO 130   ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY   3 Units

An overview of how humans are part of nature, and how we interact with earth¿s water, land, air, and life. Exploration of serious environmental impairment is balanced with positive cases of human efforts to sustain a decent quality of life for all within nature. Field trips may be required. GEO 130 meets DPI requirements for environmental education at some UW baccalaureate institutions.

GEO 170   DISASTERS-LIVING ON THE EDGE   3 Units

Study of various environmental hazards, their causes, impacts on humans, and mitigations. Core topics are natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, flooding, landslides, tornadoes, hurricanes), and anthropogenic hazards (climate change/global warming, nuclear hazards, and overpopulation). Additional topics may be covered: coastal hazards, pollution of groundwater, air, soil, and water, other atmospheric hazards (extreme weather, droughts), impacts from space, extinctions, biohazards, chemical hazards, and terrorism.

GEO 270   GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE   3 Units

This course will examine contemporary scientific thought on the cycles of climate change, underst&ing of past climate conditions, the current state of the atmosphere, & predictions for future change & adaptation strategies. Close emphasis will be placed on evidence for climate change through cultural evidence for change (journals, historical documents) as well as physical evidence & proxies (tree rings, fossils, ice cores, sediments). Past periods of climate change will be analyzed in order to underst& how life was affected during those events as well as to set the context to better underst& scientific though on current & future climate trends

GEO 277   ENERGY RESOURCES AND PEOPLE   3 Units

A global overview of non-renewable and renewable energy. Creative human innovations that may provide a more sustainable energy future are emphasized. Socioeconomic and environmental aspects of energy resource recovery, distribution, and use are explored along with history of use, and prospects for the future.
PREREQ: 15 CREDITS OF COURSEWORK REQUIRED

GEO 299   INDEPENDENT STUDY   Repeatable   1-3 Units

Individual study under the supervision of an instructor. May be taken more than once for credit if topics are different.
PREREQ: CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR

GEO 385   CULTURE, HEALTH, AND GLOBALIZATION   3 Units

This course is an exploration of how the health of individuals, communities, and nations are impacted by globalization. The course uses an interdisciplinary approach to analyze the historical, economic, political, and socio-cultural dimensions of health in various regions around the world, including Sub-Sahara Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Rather than aiming to arrive at a fixed definition of "globalization" or to theorize the relationship between globalization and human well-being in universal terms, we will ask what is being globalized, how globalization is changing the world, and who is responsible for its consequences.
PREREQ: MINIMUM JUNIOR STANDING OR INSTRUCTOR CONSENT

GEO 450   ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION   3 Units

Study of the human use, conservation, and management of Earth's resources, ecosystems, human interactions with the environment; human population growth; impact of technology on the environment; and practical solutions to environmental problems. Field trip(s) may be required.
PREREQ: MINIMUM JUNIOR STANDING OR INSTRUCTOR CONSENT