Students examine the evolution of cities from antiquity through the middle-twentieth century, including their morphological and functional characteristics. A focus is placed on the value of historical landscapes in today’s urban fabric, and techniques for their protection and revitalization.
Students examine both the physical processes that operate in the coastal zone, at a range of spatial and temporal scales, and the resulting landforms. The actions of waves, tides, currents, wind, sea level changes and humans in the formation of coastal features are considered. Additional topics include the long-term development and classification of coasts. Classes 3 hours and lab 3 hours a week
Students are introduced to major qualitative research methods utilized by geographers. Topics include philosophical and conceptual underpinnings of the qualitative research methods, practical aspects and critical review of different types of qualitative data collection methods (*e.g. interviewing, participant observation, textual analysis, and focus groups), and interpreting, analyzing, and presenting qualitative research data.
Glaciers have profound effects on landscapes and are an important component of global physical systems. Glaciology, causes and records of fluctuations in glacial coverage, glacial processes, glacial landforms, and the legacy of past glacial activity on earth will be examined. Broader impacts of glacial activity and changes on humans and the environment will also be investigated. Classes 3 hours and lab 3 hours a week
Students are introduced to community and regional development theories, techniques, and approaches. Geographical perspectives of space, place, and scale will guide the discussions of community and regional development in the Canadian context.
Examines the location of residential areas in cities, and the differentiation and segregation of those areas by income, occupation, race, ethnic status, and religion. Emphasis is placed on the historical evolution of social patterns, on the link between social areas and the physical fabric of the city, on competition between groups for amenity locations and facilities, and on the conflicts over noxious facilities.
Examines the physical and environmental planning of urban areas, with special reference to current practice in Nova Scotia. Topics include the emergence of modern town planning, the Planning Act, planning process, structure plans, general and partial urban allocation models, municipal plans, zoning, subdivision control, site planning, urban renewal, and new towns. The costs and benefits of planning are appraised.
Natural hazards, including severe weather, flooding, landslides, melting ice masses and earthquakes, health hazards, and their functional relationships are analyzed in a multi-scale perspective in relation to climate change. Their human impact is discussed, with an emphasis on public awareness and action, along with approaches to forecasting and mitigation strategies.
Students investigate why and how people travel, in the past and today, before examining several prominent tourist landscapes to understand the particular geographies that both shape and are shaped by the tourist imagination. Students will also address ethical questions associated with tourism.
Maps reveal a great deal about the worlds of their makers, communicating the technical proficiencies, economic structures, social relations, political objectives and prevailing belief systems of the societies that call them forth. Students critically examine the map-society relationship in selected historical contexts, as well as in our contemporary society.
Students focus on applied geospatial analyses using ArcGIS and associated extensions. Topics include spatial analysis and geostatistics, 3D surface modelling, visualization, network analysis, predictive modelling and multiple criteria evaluations. Examples will be drawn from earth and environment science, geography, environmental studies, anthropology and business. Classes 3 hours and lab 3 hours a week
This course is project oriented. Students focus on the use of either geographic information systems (GIS) or remote sensing to address practical problems in areas such as resource management, marketing, regional planning, natural hazards and geomorphology. Students undertake a major research project using various GIS analytical functions, and develop skills relating to data creation, manipulation, quality assessment and presentation. Classes 3 hours and lab 3 hours a week
In this seminar, the foundations and development of the discipline of Geography are explored. The focus is on the major approaches to geographic enquiry, and their inter-relationships, strengths, and weaknesses. Particular attention is paid to recent developments and debates regarding philosophy, theory, and methodology.
In this seminar students consider general issues and procedures in geographic research, related to both philosophical and methodological issues. They subsequently define and justify their thesis question(s), and plan their thesis research project. Thesis proposals will be presented, critiqued, and refined.
Students register for this course in the first year of their program. Thesis research is conducted under the guidance of a Supervisor in conjunction with a Supervisory Committee. Successful completion of this course includes a satisfactory evaluation by the Supervisory Committee of the student’s Annual Progress Report, presented in written and oral forms. This report will normally be submitted by the end of September (start of Year 2).
Thesis II constitutes the second segment of the student’s thesis research project. Research is conducted under the guidance of the Research Supervisor in conjunction with the Supervisory Committee. The completed thesis is presented publicly, and examined by the Examining Committee and an External Reader.
Students are required to design, manage, and complete a clearly-defined and practically-oriented research project for an external ‘client’. The project is supervised by a faculty member, and the final project report must be submitted to both the client and the Department, and be approved by both. Work submitted for the Practicum may not be credited as part of the student’s graduate thesis.
A directed studies course on topics involving urban and regional geography.
A directed studies course on topics involving environmental geography.
A directed studies course on topics involving marine geography.
A directed studies course on general topics in geography.
Students focus on theory and practical methods for characterizing the structural and dynamic features relating to environmental systems. Practical applications include environmental systems related to rivers, lakes, coastal areas, fisheries, forests, ecosystems, underground mineral distribution, atmospheric variables (wind, temperature), and pollution. Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. per week.
GEOG 6800 – 6825 Special Topics in Geography 6 credit hours Course content varies from year to year.
GEOG 6826 – 6849 Special Topics in Geography 3 credit hours Course content varies from year to year.
GEOG 6850 - 6875 Directed Study in Geography 6 credit hours These courses are intended to supplement the course offerings in geography and allow students to delve deeper into a subject of particular interest to them. Students must show some initiative and be willing to work independently.
GEOG 6876 - 6899 Directed Study in Geography 3 credit hours These courses are intended to supplement the course offerings in geography and allow students to delve deeper into a subject of particular interest to them. Students must show some initiative and be willing to work independently.
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