Environmental Studies Geography Degree

Exploration of the dynamic relations between culture and environment addressing ethnic diversity and conflict, development and underdevelopment, settlement patterns, movement of commodities and people (including refugees), and environmental degradation.

Examines the physical and human dynamics associated with topics such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, coastal processes, streams and flooding, soils, ground water, mineral extraction/processing, air pollution, energy production, water resources, and waste disposal. Explores contemporary environmental issues and events, including some of the key environmental issues in North Texas.

Environmental geology is applied geology and focuses on applying geologic information to solve conflicts in land use, to minimize environmental degradation, and to maximize the beneficial results of using natural and modified environments.

Examines interactions between organisms and the physical environment as an integrated system and the factors that regulate the quantity and flow of materials and energy through ecosystems. Covers the history and use of the ecosystem concept, factors governing the distribution and structure of ecosystems, relationships between ecosystem structure and function, and the influence of natural and human processes on ecosystem dynamics.

Examines political-economy of human and natural resources and their implications for our environment and global climate change. Focuses on human population and its implications for our environmental, food and energy needs.

Introduction to research for entry-level geography majors. Journal articles are examined in detail with reference to exploring research design and implementation. Students also develop an area of research interest, choose a specific topic, and formulate research questions from which hypotheses are developed. Culminates in the development of a research plan and prospectus for a topical research question.