The primary purpose of GEO 206 is to provide a detailed overview of the physical environment in which we live. Specifically, this course seeks to provide students with (1) an awareness of the important concepts, facts and terminology of physical geography, (2) an introduction into the way natural systems (such as climate, the hydrological cycle, soils) function at global and regional scales, and (3) an appreciation of the interrelationships between humans and their environment.  If you wish to see a current syllabus for the course, access here.  In addition to the traditional (lecture-based) course, this class is also offered over the web on a reoccuring basis.  If you would like to see a preview of this web-based course, you can access it here.
 
 

    This course is intended for those students who have a basic background or interest in physical geography, biology, geology, and/or earth science. The major goal of GEO 306 is to provide students with the knowledge necessary to interpret the physical landscape so that they can later make informed and intelligent environmental decisions. Emphasis will be on process (e.g., how a stream works) and form (what landforms result). An understanding of these principles, and how they operate together, are the essence of geographical geomorphology, which examines the landscape from a spatial perspective. As the course progresses, examples of environmental management will be included.
 
 

    This course is intended for those students who have an intermediate background in physical geography, biology, geology, and/or earth science. The major goal of GEO 407 is to provide students with a detailed overview of regional geomorphology (e.g., Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Central Lowlands, etc) around North America. Emphasis will be on the geomorphic record from these areas and the prehistoric interpretations that can be derived. The highlight of the course is a week-long field trip to the central Great Plains, which takes place at the end of the semester (early May).   Included in this trip are stops in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.  We spend most of our time in Kansas, focusing on landscapes in the Smoky Hills and the Great Bend Sand Prairie.
 
 

    This course is the capstone course for Geography majors and, as such, has several objectives. The primary goal is to integrate all of the aspects of Geography within a historical, philosophical, and methodological context. Most of the course revolves around discussions in the classroom (above right), but field trips are possible.  By the time we finish this class, you should fully understand the origins of the discipline, where we are now, and future directions. Most importantly, you will gain a better feeling about your place within the discipline because you will enhance your ability to: 1) explain the evolution of Geography;  2) conduct geographic research; 3) make oral and written presentations; 4) identify professional opportunities for geographers.
 
 

    ISS 310 is an interdisciplinary course offered through the College of Social Sciences at MSU. This course is designed to provide a survey of global and regional interactions among people, their geographic location and utilization of space, and the physical environment. The primary emphasis of ISS 310 is how natural systems operate and what the human response has been. As a result, ISS 310 is a merger of Physical Geography with Social Science, although aspects of the former dominate. Political and social/societal aspects of human-environment interaction are discussed but not stressed. Significant parts of this course have more physical/natural science content than social science content.