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Undergraduate Courses

Essential concepts include the interconnectedness of people and places, interactions between society, culture, and nature and the relationships between development, difference, and inequality. Topics may include population dynamics, cultural differences and identity, urbanization, globalization…

Essential concepts include the interconnectedness of people and places, interactions between society, culture, and nature and the relationships between development, difference, and inequality. Topics may include population dynamics, cultural differences and identity, urbanization, globalization…

Geographic factors underlying multiculturalism and ethnic relationships in the United States. Spatial development and organization of culture; population growth, migration, and urbanization; and the spatial dimensions of political, economic, and social processes.

Spatial patterns and underlying processes of the physical environment and biosphere, including climate, vegetation, soils, landforms, and water resources.

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Atmospheric composition and structure, clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric motion and winds. Organized weather systems, including air masses, fronts, and severe weather. Discussion of global climates includes circulation, wind systems, climate classification, and climate change.

Atmospheric composition and structure, clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric motion and winds. Organized weather systems, including air masses, fronts, and severe weather. Discussion of global climates includes circulation, wind systems, climate classification, and climate change.

Analysis and classification of major types of land surfaces, stressing geographic characteristics. Interpretation of relationships between landforms and other phenomena through maps, air photos, and field observations. World coverage with emphasis on North America.

Interactions between physical systems and human activities, and their effects on environmental quality and sustainability. Geography of population and resource consumption, food production, water and air quality, energy policy, land/biotic resource management.

Provides fundamentals of environmental geography concepts and techniques and develops geoliteracy in relation to natural resources, with geographical critiques of societal uses and environmental protection. Provides fundamentals of environmental geography concepts and techniques and develops…

This is an introductory course for students who wish to increase their geographic literacy. This course considers the population, cultures, environment, and economies of world regions, and examines problems of development, ecological change, demographic change, urbanization, migration, and…

An introduction to the science of natural history and biota of Georgia, as well as the impacts of humans on regional and national resources (overfishing, human-driven extinctions). Students will gain familiarity with the geography, geology, plants, and animals (especially vertebrates) of the…

Essential concepts include the interconnectedness of people and places, interactions between society, culture, and nature and the relationships between development, difference, and inequality. Topics may include population dynamics, cultural differences and identity, urbanization, globalization…

Introduction to principles and applications of Geographic Information Science (GIS). Examines spatial data retrieval, accuracy, management, visualization, and analysis. Emphasis on interdisciplinary nature of GIS and relevance to society. Involves computer examples and exercises that emphasize…

The history, physical environment (landforms, vegetation, and climate), and sociocultural environment (artistic, political, and social development) of Africa.

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Spatial patterns and underlying processes of the physical environment and biosphere, including climate, vegetation, soils, landforms, and water resources.

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Atmospheric composition and structure, clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric motion and winds. Organized weather systems, including air masses, fronts, and severe weather. Discussion of global climates includes circulation, wind systems, climate classification, and climate change.

Geographic factors underlying multiculturalism and ethnic relationships in the United States. Spatial development and organization of culture; population growth, migration, and urbanization; and the spatial dimensions of political, economic, and social processes.

Introduction to international natural resource policy concentrating on endangered species, international trade, multiple land-use and conservation planning, eco-tourism, sustainability, and environmental education. Conservation continuum is explored from protectionist to utilitarian perspectives…

Interactions between physical systems and human activities and their effects on environmental quality and sustainability. Geography of population and resource consumption, food production, water and air quality, energy policy, land/biotic resource management.

Methods and techniques required at various stages of geographic data analysis, including the collection, manipulation, description, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of data. Exercises using statistical and GIS software packages on microcomputers integrate data analysis with geographic…

Introduction to use of maps and aerial photographs for analysis of geographic information. Examines the properties of maps and aerial photographs, measurement of map information, interpretation of qualitative and quantitative map information, unusual map types, graphs, aerial photography and…

Physical, cultural, economic, historical, and biological landscapes of Georgia, explored through videos, music, and computerized data sets, such as the Interactive Atlas of Georgia and the Georgia 100 GIS. Find Instructors / Syllabi on the UGA Bulletin

Earth surface processes and landforms, including tectonic, volcanic, weathering, soil, hillslope, karst, fluvial, glacial, periglacial, eolian, and coastal geomorphic systems. Relevance to environmental change is stressed. Field trip required.

Climatology from local to global scales. Topics include radiation/heat exchanges, the hydrologic cycle, global climate patterns, climate change, measurement and data sources, relationships of climate with ecosystem processes, and human activities, and climate forecasting

Climatology from local to global scales. Topics include radiation/heat exchanges, the hydrologic cycle, global climate patterns, climate change, measurement and data sources, relationships of climate with ecosystem processes, and human activities, and climate forecasting

The collection, display, and application of weather data. The use of meteorological instruments, codes, maps, atmospheric soundings, and thermodynamics diagrams. Interpretation of weather maps using basic meteorological principles.

The collection, display, and application of weather data. The use of meteorological instruments, codes, maps, atmospheric soundings, and thermodynamics diagrams. Interpretation of weather maps using basic meteorological principles.

The causes, impacts and policies regarding hazards due to atmospheric phenomena, including hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, extreme temperature and precipitation events, and climate change.

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The causes, impacts and policies regarding hazards due to atmospheric phenomena, including hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, extreme temperature and precipitation events, and climate change.

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Provides students with the opportunity to critically evaluate the climatic and environmental changes currently facing our planet. Students will gain knowledge of the mechanisms that force climate and the human activities that affect the magnitude and direction of these forcing mechanisms and the…

Provides students with the opportunity to critically evaluate the climatic and environmental changes currently facing our planet. Students will gain knowledge of the mechanisms that force climate and the human activities that affect the magnitude and direction of these forcing mechanisms and the…

Factors affecting plant and animal distributions at scales from organisms to biomes. Influence of ecological factors and human activity on distributions, historical biogeography, and patterns of earth's biomes.

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The geography of mountainous regions from around the world will be compared to emphasize complexities of the geo-ecosystem and the interplay between humans and the landscape in mountainous terrain. Environmental issues, sustainable resource development, and the historical roots of cultural…

Map design techniques including cartographic theory and principles, map interpretation, map database preparation, compilation, symbolization, computer mapping, map reproduction techniques, color, and thematic map design.

This course explores why the global economy operates the way it does.  It provides a broad overview of the discourse and politics of “globalization,” and then examines two critical processes that shaped the contemporary global economy’s emergence: 19th century imperialism and the 20th and…

Theories of inter- and intraurban locations. Procedures in geographical analysis of agglomerated settlements, including demographic, economic, and social attributes. 

This course will be taught 95% or more online.

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Theories of inter- and intraurban locations. Procedures in geographical analysis of agglomerated settlements, including demographic, economic, and social attributes.

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An examination of how, where, and under what specific conditions violations of human rights occur. Students will review local and global mechanisms for addressing human rights violations, and evaluate how international law, national policies, and local practices are mutually constituted.…

Africa's colonialism and its legacy; post-colonial politics; trading relationships; issues of migrant labor; debates over population growth and economic change; environmental degradation; urban development; and agriculture and food security.

The course will be taught as part of the…

An introduction to the political, economic, and social origins and implications of several Western food commodities, with a focus on breakfast (e.g., coffee, milk, eggs, and peaches). The course focuses on how natural and human resources are organized and regulated along food commodity chains.…

A survey of contemporary political geography structured around contemporary globalization. It focuses on major concepts in political geography, such as territoriality, geopolitics, and scale, while also introducing important topics in the subfield, including the geographies of nations, political…

Placement of students in an outside private or governmental agency where they will utilize geographic techniques in approaching practical problems relevant to the agency's mission. An initial orientation and a postinternship evaluation with the internship committee are required.

Landforming effects of surface-water movement with emphasis on surface-water hydrology, streamflow mechanics, floods, sediment transport and storage, and landform evolution. Field trips included.

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Weathering, erosional and depositional processes, and landforms in karst and arid areas. Formation of sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, springs, sand dunes, playas, and yardangs. Geoarchaeological and other evidence on the nature of past environments, including dating cave and aeolian sediments…

Chronology and geomorphic, isotopic, and palynological evidence of Quaternary paleoclimates. The effects of past climatic changes upon present landscapes, historic short-term fluctuations in temperature and precipitation, and possible explanations for climatic change are emphasized.

Chronology and geomorphic, isotopic, and palynological evidence of Quaternary paleoclimates. The effects of past climatic changes upon present landscapes, historic short-term fluctuations in temperature and precipitation, and possible explanations for climatic change are emphasized.

Methods in measurement, observation, recording and synthesis of field data in physical geography. Students conduct field research and present oral and written reports (with maps) of findings.

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Emphasis is placed on field observation of geomorphic systems (tectonic, volcanic, weathering, soils, hillslopes, fluvial, glacial, eolian, coastal, periglacial) on field trips, which may occur locally or abroad. The course involves travel to places with good examples of multiple geomorphic…

A quantitative investigation of large-scale atmospheric motion. Equations of motion are derived from basic physical laws. Concepts of vorticity, quasi-geostrophic theory, and general circulation are addressed.

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A quantitative investigation of large-scale atmospheric motion. Equations of motion are derived from basic physical laws. Concepts of vorticity, quasi-geostrophic theory, and general circulation are addressed.

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Theory and observations to understand mid-latitude weather systems. Focus is on application of quasi-geostrophic theory in weather forecasting. Analysis and interpretation of weather maps and numerical models. Development and life cycle of cyclones, fronts, and jet streams.

Theory and observations to understand mid-latitude weather systems. Focus is on application of quasi-geostrophic theory in weather forecasting. Analysis and interpretation of weather maps and numerical models. Development and life cycle of cyclones, fronts, and jet streams.

A weather forecasting practicum that provides an opportunity for students to obtain real-time, real-world experience forecasting conventional weather parameters at selected cities in the United States.

Class hours are by arrangement with the relevant faculty and vary depending on credit…

A weather forecasting practicum that provides an opportunity for students to obtain real-time, real-world experience forecasting conventional weather parameters at selected cities in the United States.

Class hours are by arrangement with the relevant faculty and vary depending on credit…

Application of satellite remote sensing in meteorology and climatology. Applications include clouds, atmospheric water vapor and precipitation, the Earth's radiation budget, sea and land surface temperatures.

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Application of satellite remote sensing in meteorology and climatology. Applications include clouds, atmospheric water vapor and precipitation, the Earth's radiation budget, sea and land surface temperatures.

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Advanced, quantitative study of Earth's physical climate. Includes global energy balance, surface-atmosphere energy exchanges, surface hydrology and water budget at various temporal and spatial scales. Methods of measuring and modeling are discussed. Case studies are used to illustrate how the…

Advanced, quantitative study of Earth's physical climate. Includes global energy balance, surface-atmosphere energy exchanges, surface hydrology and water budget at various temporal and spatial scales. Methods of measuring and modeling are discussed. Case studies are used to illustrate how the…

Hydrometeorology bridges atmospheric sciences and hydrology, including formation and distribution of liquid and solid precipitation, floods, and drought, and impacts on water resources. Topics address the observing, modeling, and forecasting of fluxes, flow, and storage of liquid water, ice, and…

Hydrometeorology bridges atmospheric sciences and hydrology, including formation and distribution of liquid and solid precipitation, floods, and drought, and impacts on water resources. Topics address the observing, modeling, and forecasting of fluxes, flow, and storage of liquid water, ice, and…

Do cities create their own thunderstorms? Will pollution from emerging mega-cities change climate? Exploration of fundamental concepts of the urban-climate system, observational and modeling strategies for studying the urban-climate system, and context for how human activity in the built…

Do cities create their own thunderstorms? Will pollution from emerging mega-cities change climate? Exploration of fundamental concepts of the urban-climate system, observational and modeling strategies for studying the urban-climate system, and context for how human activity in the built…

An introduction to the interactions between the biosphere and atmosphere. Energy, moisture, and carbon exchange in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum with applications to managed and natural environments. The impact of weather and climate on humans and domesticated animals. Elementary turbulent…

An introduction to the interactions between the biosphere and atmosphere. Energy, moisture, and carbon exchange in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum with applications to managed and natural environments. The impact of weather and climate on humans and domesticated animals. Elementary turbulent…

Fundamental theory, analysis, and exercises on mesoscale weather phenomena and principles of radar meteorology. A major topical focus will be thunderstorms, mesoscale convective systems, and tornadic supercells. Other topics will include mesoscale classification, observing systems, the boundary…

Fundamental theory, analysis, and exercises on mesoscale weather phenomena and principles of radar meteorology. A major topical focus will be thunderstorms, mesoscale convective systems, and tornadic supercells. Other topics will include mesoscale classification, observing systems, the boundary…

Special interest topics in atmospheric sciences. Find Instructors / Syllabi on the UGA Bulletin

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Patterns of plant distribution in contemporary landscapes and underlying processes, including vegetation dynamics, disturbance ecology, biogeomorphology, dendrochronology, and environmental history.

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Biogeography and ecology of the world's main terrestrial biomes. Includes world bioclimatic zonation, plant-geographic processes, other physical environmental factors, plant functional roles and types, vegetation dynamics, response to disturbance, and potential natural vegetation. Emphasis on…

Study-abroad to examine issues pertaining to the management of forested landscapes in the visited country. Introductory lectures on the natural and cultural history of the visited country will be followed by extended field examination of the country's forest resources and their management.

An exploration of the comparative dimensions of Black and Irish experiences in the Atlantic world through the study of cultural production from the United States, Africa, Britain, the Caribbean, and Ireland.

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Field studies to explore the management and conservation of natural resources with a focus on issues related to forestry, wildlife, ecology, recreation and tourism, geology, and/or coastal/water resources. The impact of humans on these resources will also be emphasized.

The course will…

Effects of conservation and development in coastal Guanacaste Province. Students will visit national parks, resorts, and local communities to examine conservation and development issues. Course assignments will focus on integrating what students are learning experientially with literature on the…

Mountain ecological principles are applied in geographical settings of Latin America and the Caribbean. Geographical narratives of culture and nature emphasize human-environment interactions on tropical mountains, cultural landscapes, ethnic traditional knowledge, post-colonial political effects…

Descriptive and inferential techniques used in quantitative geographic analysis. Probability distributions, sampling techniques, parametric and nonparametric inference, analysis of variance, spatial autocorrelation measures and regression procedures. Applications of statistical methods to…

An introduction to qualitative research problems in geography and to the major modes of qualitative data collection, analysis, and representation. Students will gain practical experience with interviews, focus groups, archival research, and observation techniques.

Principles and techniques of extracting descriptive and metric information about the environment from aerial photographs acquired in analog and digital forms. Applications emphasize planimetric mapping and interpretation of physical and cultural landscapes. A term project using the techniques is…

Remote sensing with emphasis on aerospace applications in the natural sciences. Fundamental properties of the electromagnetic spectrum and remote sensing devices such as multispectral cameras, thermal infrared line scanners, and television and radar imaging systems.

Fundamentals of geographic information science (GIS) concepts and techniques, and to foster students' geographical thinking in a GIS environment. Students will exercise concepts and techniques through hands-on practices in ArcGIS, a leading GIS software package.

This course will be taught…

Principles and applications of geographic information systems (GIS). Examines the nature and accuracy of spatially referenced data, as well as methods of data capture, storage, retrieval, visualization, modeling, and output using one or more GIS software packages.

An exploration of the uses of Geographic Information Science (GIS) technology in agricultural applications. Basics of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for location reference, GIS for field investigation, and remote sensing for crop and soil evaluation will be explored. Construction of GIS…

Theoretical frameworks for transportation network modeling and transportation planning strategies are explored. Conceptual issues linking geographic information systems and computer-based technologies with transportation modeling and planning problems are discussed. Recent developments in GIS-…

Introduces students to the ways GIS is used by city and state agencies, non-profit organizations, and community groups. It provides advanced instruction on collecting and storing geospatial data and creating online maps for public consumption. The course includes a required service-learning…

Theory and application of computer technology in the preparation of thematic maps and graphics. Emphasis on the creation, analysis, and display of statistical surfaces. Students explore trends in cartographic visualization methods, including interactive and animated mapping techniques.

Theories of analytical and digital (soft copy) photogrammetry as applied to topographic mapping. Topics include refinement of photographic measurements, coordinate transformations, stereoscopic parallax, collinearity equations, aerial triangulation, orthophotography, and digital image…

A geospatial image analysis course that will allow students to obtain necessary skills to process airborne/satellite images for environmental resources mapping and monitoring.

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A field-based remote sensing course that teaches students the theory and practical applications of field spectroscopy or proximal sensing (non-imaging systems). The field exercises will include experiment design and data collection using in situ sensors, model calibration, and validation to…

Geographic analytical methods and implementation. Theory and concepts of spatial analysis. Description, reduction, and comparison of point, line, area, and volumetric geographic data sets. Implementation and limitation of geographic information systems.

Advanced concepts in the development and implementation of geographic information science (GIS) are presented, including consideration of the underlying structure of GIS models, geo-database design and geocomputation, GIS applications to locational decision making, network analysis, geographic…

Students with basic Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills will advance their knowledge and techniques to better conduct GIS research on health and the environment. Course modules include advanced GIS analysis and modeling, GIS methods and application for health and environmental data,…

Computer programming skills tailored to the needs of advanced users of geographic information science (GIS) are developed, including customization of GIS applications with academic and commercial programming tools. Topics include GIS user-interface design, advanced functions and tools coding,…

The geography of retail activity and consumer demand. Principles of locational decision-making for retail and service firms.

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Advanced theoretical and empirical issues in economic geography, such as impacts of globalization, regional development, trade patterns, and labor issues. Topics will vary.

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Urban growth and approaches to urban analysis. Urbanization processes within urban systems, including economic, demographic, social, and technological change.

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The relationship, historical and contemporary, between race, inequality, and the American city. The focus will be on how urban space becomes racially structured and how racial process shapes urban space.

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An advanced urban geographic course that will focus on the intersection of urban social justice and the mobilization of urban social movements. This course analyzes the rationales, strategies, successes, and failures of urban social movement formation and their connections to ideas associated…

An advanced urban geographic course that focuses on the interconnected and intersecting politics of nature in the city. This course analyzes how urban geographic process help produce, and are in turn co-produced, through urban environmental processes. Special attention will be given to processes…

Addresses questions of power, politics, and identity in the urban environment, with a focus upon Paris. The course will only be taught in Paris as a study abroad course.

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Examination of the interrelations between cities and films, which are both tightly intertwined and quintessential elements of modern life. To do so, we analyze films to understand how the urban experience has been narrated. We also explore how cinematic narratives relate to the historical…

The distribution of world population and an introduction to population data and to basic demographic techniques. Topics include theories of population change, fertility, mortality, migration, population policy, and population-environment relationships.

The regional basis of economic growth and industry case studies. The impact of product and process innovation, entrepreneurship, globalization, and the service economy on the spatial distribution of industry.

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Regional development and the implications of globalization to regional economies of the industrialized countries. Discussions on the changing dynamics of international competition and the reorganization of production. Contemporary trends in regional economic development policy, including high…

Geographical aspects of Third World development, including population growth, migration, industrialization, trade, and foreign aid. The spatial characteristics of economic development are viewed at the conceptual level and implications for policy discussed.

Relationships between gender and globalization. Women and development, industrialization, and third world regions.

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An in-depth engagement with a major issue in contemporary political geography. Topics are drawn from the Introduction to Political Geography course and might include geopolitics, legal geography, the geography of nations and nationalism, political violence, or migrations.

The class…

Political issues affecting Europe, with a focus upon France. Topics may include political violence, migration, the development of extremist/nationalist groups, and international institutions' impacts upon domestic politics.

This course will only be taught in Paris as a study abroad course…

Geographic and socio-economic issues that face sub-Saharan economies into the twenty-first century. Emphasis on the physical landscape, environmental conditions, social and cultural distributions, and strategies and theories of economic development.

The geography of Latin America, including physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of different regions. Prospects for expansion of settlement, development of resources, and growth of industries.

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The physical and human geography of contemporary China. Emphasis is on modernization and development of agriculture, industry, and transportation within the context of China's resource base and large population.

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The physical and human geography of East and Southeast Asia. Major focus on resources, land utilization, population characteristics and distributions as they relate to economic and political problems. Emphasis is on Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, and Indo-China.

Geographic issues that affect Europe into the twenty-first century. Emphasis on current economic, social, and political controversies in Europe, as well as the historical context for these.

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Exploration of digital/internet issues related to archaeology, geography, and the digital humanities, e.g., who owns the past, and how do we disseminate (or withhold) information about our shared national and global heritage?

This course will be taught 95% or more online. Activities will…

This class is an advanced introduction to human-environment interactions. Students will read several foundational texts in critical nature-society theory, political ecology, science studies, environmental justice, and environmental governance. We will also consider these theories in the context…

Examination of the historical and geographic development of the industrialized global agro-food system. Alternatives to the global agro-industrial food system, such as organic food production, local food movements, and urban food systems are presented. Students will critically examine the…

Through cooperative agreement with local non-governmental agencies targeting hunger relief, this course provides students with service-learning experience growing produce for local consumption. Lectures, readings, and critical writing assignments address different aspects of the industrial food…

The capstone allows A.B./B.S. Geography majors to synthesize knowledge gained across diverse subfields of geography, while enhancing students’ appreciation of the discipline and connecting their education with future goals. It allows the department to assess learning outcomes and students’…

Collaborative research on outstanding research problems in the atmospheric sciences.

Directed study.

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Independent research and readings on geographical topics by arrangement with specific faculty.

Class hours are by arrangement with the relevant faculty and vary depending on credit hours.

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This course will allow students to engage in independent directed research.

Class hours are by arrangement with the relevant faculty and vary depending on credit hours.

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Crops and cropping systems in tropical America; influences of geography, climate, and socioeconomic factors, as well as the impact of agriculture, on the ecosystems of the region.

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Intensive field study in a tropical Latin American country; crops and cropping systems of tropical America; influences of geography, climate, and socioeconomic factors, as well as the impact of agriculture on the ecosystems of the region. Conducted in a tropical Latin American country.

Individual study, reading, or projects under the direction of a project director for senior Honors students.

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Individual study, reading, or projects under the direction of a project director for senior Honors students.

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Individual research in the major or related field for a senior Honors student.

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