Staff

Department Head: B.D. Thraves, Ph.D.

Graduate Chair: J.M. Piwowar, Ph.D.

Professors: D.A. Gauthier; Ph.D.; A.H. Paul, Ph.D.; D.J. Sauchyn, Ph.D.; R.W. Widdis, Ph.D.

Associate Professors: L. Awanyo, Ph.D.; J.E. Dale, Ph.D.; U. Hardenbicker, Ph.D.; J.M. Piwowar, Ph.D. (Canada Research Chair); B.D. Thraves, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors: K. Hodder, Ph.D.; J. Siemer, Ph.D.

Department Description

M.A. and M.Sc. degree programs and in special circumstances a Ph.D. program are offered in selected areas of Geography. Research interests of the department include: cultural, historical, economic, rural and urban geography, cartography, resource management, remote sensing, geographical information systems (GIS), hydrology, geomorphology, and applied climatology. Particular emphasis is paid to geographical analysis of the problems of the Canadian prairies.

Department Facilities

The Map Library:
The University of Regina Map Library is home to the University’s collection of maps and atlases. A focal point within the Department for both research and social activity, the Map Library is a Full Depository Library under the Communication Canada Depository Services Program/Natural Resources Canada Agreement. As such, through this agreement, our Map Library, in conjunction with the University-wide library system, has access to: an impressive array of atlases, cartographic texts and terrain models, the complete National Topographic Data Base (1:50000 and 1:250,000), the Canadian Digital Elevation Data collection (1:50000 and 1:250,000), the entire Administrative Boundary database, and the complete Updated Road Network database.

Laboratory Facilities:
Wet Physical Lab (Dale, Hardenbicker, Hodder, Sauchyn)
This lab houses the Dendrochronology lab described below and is outfitted for a range of studies pertaining to the preliminary analysis and preparation of a wide range of materials including soils, sediments, vegetation and invertebrate biological samples. It is equipped with a full range of equipment for particle size analysis including sieves, sediments shakers and crushers and a Micrometrics sedigraph. There are a number of ovens and a muffle furnace for ashing, fume hood and balances for coarse measurements. Standard equipment includes magnetic stirrers, hot plates beakers, pipettes and pH meters. Surveying equipment including 2 Sokkia transit levels, theodolite, plane table, Abney levels, precision tape measures and Brunton compasses are also housed in this lab, along with a variety of terrestrial and marine sediment and biological samplers.

Dry Physical Lab (Dale, Hardenbicker, Sauchyn)
This lab is designed for more detailed and precise research involving microscopy and high precision weight measurements. The lab has numerous dissecting and compound microscopes, some equipped for photography, as well as two balances that weigh to 4 decimal places. The lab has three drop-sites for access to computing facilities.

Dendrochrononlogy Lab (Sauchyn).
This lab houses analytical equipment (Tree Ring Incremental Measurement System) to support current research on environmental and climate studies using proxy data from tree rings. The lab also provides storage and preparation of tree cores, and has its own computing equipment for analysis. This lab is located at the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC-UR), an affiliated research centre found in the research park at the University of Regina.

Computer Facilities (Cecil, Piwowar):
The Environmental Research and Response Applications (TERRA) Lab is a state of the art geomatics facility with GIS, remote sensing and advanced statistical and graphics capabilities supported by extensive digital, print/plotting and file storage infrastructure to address and model environmental, economic, and social responses to innovative advancements in environmental science. Students and researchers using this facility are addressing issues of climate change, greenhouse gas emission reductions through home renovations, wind power generation facility location, environmental stewardship in oil and gas exploration, and a variety of issues related to water management from the local to the international. With TERRA as an integral part of Geography's and the Faculty's infrastructure, graduate students and researchers are addressing issues around the University’s Strategic Research Themes where matters of environmental policy, industrial response, and resource management are paramount.

Degree Requirements

The requirements for a Master's degree in Geography are as follows:

Students wishing to enroll in the Master's program and who have a Bachelor's degree in a subject outside the discipline will be required to strengthen their background in Geography. Programs for all Master's students are arranged in consultation with the Graduate Supervisory Committee of the department.

Students without any prior GIS experience must take GEOG 805. Successful completion of an undergraduate course in GIS is generally considered as prior GIS experience.

Minimum* M.A./M.Sc. Degree Program

*Students are encouraged to take as many electives as needed to gain the requisite knowledge for their research

Students without any prior GIS experience must take GEOG 802. Successful completion of an undergraduate course in GIS is generally considered as prior GIS experience.

Notes:
GEOG 803 & 804 will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. FGSR does not include Pass/Fail grades when calculating a student's GPA.

Course Descriptions

GEOG 801 Nature and Philosophy of Geography (3) (required course)
Examples of general research philosophies that transcend the artificial and historically specific confines of any one discipline. Methods of handling data and formulation of research problems. This course includes student seminar presentations.

GEOG 802 Applied Geographic Research (3) (required course)
A systematic introduction to the methods and applications of current geographic research. Topics include: physical and human data collection; research design; and scholarly writing.

GEOG 803 Geography Thesis Proposal (0) (required course)
Seminars presented by graduate students based on their proposed or ongoing thesis research. This course is a forum for the discussion of thesis research during its initial stages. It is evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

GEOG 804 Research Seminar (0) (required course)
A series of invited presentations on a variety of topics of geographical interest. All graduate students in their first and second years must attend and make at least one presentation.

GEOG 805 GIS and Spatial Analysis (3)
Advanced topics in geographic information systems. Topics include data structures, GIS functions and capabilities, DEM's network analysis, applications in large scale data analysis for problems in environmental monitoring, regional development and land use planning.

GEOG 811 (411) Field Techniques in Geography (3)
Techniques and instrumentation for the acquisition and analysis of field data used in geographical research.

GEOG 822 Regional Economic Development (3)
Theories of regional development in a spatial context are discussed and their applicability to current and past patterns of development are examined. Emphasis is placed on studies in North America, South America and Europe.

GEOG 823 Geomorphology (3)
Advanced topics in the study of landforms and the processes that create and modify them. Topics may include a particular geomorphic agent (e.g., glaciers), theoretical geomorphology or the relationship between geomorphology and environmental change.

GEOG 824 Urban Geography and Urban Planning (3)
A detailed examination of selected topics in inter-urban systems analysis, the socio-economic and political geography of the city, urban futures forecasting and urban land-use planning.

GEOG 826 Resource Management (3)
Advanced topics in resource management theory and issues within a spatial context. Examples of resource management and conservation efforts are drawn from agriculture, forestry, outdoor recreation, parks and wildlife.

GEOG 827 Water Resources (3)
Water resources management and planning; geographical, social, political, legal and administrative aspects of water management; decision making and project evaluation; case studies of water management with special reference to Canada. Recent water-related issues in Canada and their impact.

GEOG 834 Rural Development (3)
The theoretical and methodological bases, and the research techniques associated with rural development in different geographical contexts. Discussion of arguments in favour of rural planning as a distinct field of inquiry.

GEOG 836 Cultural and Historical Geography (3)
The interface between historical geography and cultural geography; the consideration of theoretical formulations and empirical studies relating to settlement of the frontier, rural settlement and urbanization with special reference to Canada.

GEOG 890AA-ZZ Directed Readings in Human Geography (3)
Directed Readings in Human Geography.

GEOG 891AA-ZZ Directed Readings in Physical Geography (3)
Directed Readings in Physical Geography.

GEOG 901 Research (Variable credit 1-15) (required course)
Thesis Research.