Geography & Environmental Studies
Graduate Coordinator: David Sauchyn, PhD
Effective Winter 2015, the Master of Arts and Master of Science in Geography have been suspended.
Department Description
MA and MSc degree programs and in special circumstances a PhD 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 (Hardenbicker, 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 (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 (Piwowar, Siemer):
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
Current students will be permitted to complete the program in which they were admitted to.
Those interested in pursuing a master's degree in Geography may do so on a special case basis and are encouraged to contact either the Department.
Courses
GEOG 802 Applied Geographic Research (3)
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)
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.
Note: This is a renumbering of GEOG 900 to better fit course sequencing. The course content remains unchanged.
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 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 831 (431) Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (3)
This course focuses on the impact of climate change on biophysical and social systems, and the adjustments to policies and practices that will be required to minimize the negative impacts. It is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in this emerging and important field of study.
GEOG 839 Remote Sensing of the Environment (3)
Basic concepts of remote sensing, a review of sensors and their images, emphasis on image interpretation and analysis, and introduction to application areas in geographic studies. Upon successful completion you will be capable of undertaking basic computer-assisted image analysis to extract information from the image data. Prior applied experience with GIS is expected.
GEOG 849 (409) Advanced Spatial Analysis and Modelling (3)
This course builds on your existing geomatics knowledge and explores an array of spatial analysis techniques to investigate different types of geographic problems. Topics covered may include network analysis, point density measurements, spatial autocorrelation, spatial interpolation, and geographically weighted regression.
GEOG 850 Comprehensive Exam (3)
The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to assess the doctoral student's breadth and depth of knowledge in their discipline, academic background for the research to follow and ability to conduct original and independent research.
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 (1-15)
Thesis Research.