Graduate Calendar Archives: 2001 / 2002

Geography and Environmental Studies

The Department

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers programs of study and research in human and physical geography leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. Doctoral studies in physical geography may be undertaken in cooperation with the Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre.

Students are accepted into the graduate program based on the standard of previous academic work, research interests, letters of reference, and the availability of faculty to act as supervisors. Each student's program of study, as far as possible, is based on the interests of the individual, although certain courses may be required. An advisory committee, consisting of the student's research supervisor and at least one other member of the faculty, is established to monitor progress and provide thesis research guidance.

Excellent research laboratory facilities exist for the geotechnical study of near surface processes, and the physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics of earth materials, as well as for computer cartography and for remote sensing. These facilities are supported by a highly qualified full-time staff in laboratory instrumentation, cartography, and computing. There is a specialized Map Library in the geography building. The university's location in Canada's capital city offers students access to important federal resources, such as the National Library, the Public Archives of Canada, the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Statistics Canada, and the specialist libraries of many government departments.

Systematic interests of Departmental members are applied to a variety of world regions, although emphasis is given to Canada (including northern studies) and the Third World (especially Africa). The main clusters of specialization within the Department are the following:

Studies of natural processes close to the earth's surface and their geotechnical significance; climate-ground interaction; geocryology; chemical, physical, and thermodynamic characteristics of soils and sediments; hydrology. (C.R. Burn, N.C. Doubleday, Joyce Lundberg, M.W. Smith, J.K. Torrance)

Identification and analysis of development processes; the interplay of environmental, demographic, social, gender, political, and economic variables in the spatial development of land resources, settlement systems, outdoor recreation, tourism, and natural resource-based industries; environmental impact assessment and environmental management. Canadian and Third World development is stressed. (R.D. Bollman, M.J. Brklacich, John Clarke, M.F. Fox, A.F.D. Mackenzie, E.W. Manning, G.I. Ozornoy, M.W. Smith, D.R.F.Taylor, J.K.Torrance, A.I. Wallace)

Rural and urban settlement history; ethnicity; territorial organization and the concepts of state, group politico-territorial identities, territoriality, and self-determination; role of territory in conflict situations; perceptions of environment and geographies of the mind; gender as a cultural variable; urban heritage conservation. (John Clarke, Simon Dalby, N.C. Doubleday, Fran Klodawsky, V.A. Konrad, E.J. Marshall, D.R.F. Taylor, I.C. Taylor, John Tunbridge)

Geographical analyses of the social and economic organization of societies; area variations in social well-being; medical geography; provision of public and informal services in changing local and regional environments; implications of gender roles for environmental restructuring; industrial systems; philosophy of science and of geography. (David Bennett, Simon Dalby, Fran Klodawsky, A.F.D. Mackenzie, E.J. Marshall, G.I. Ozornoy, A.N. Spector, A.I. Wallace)

Development of applications in computer cartography and the use of remote sensing in geographical research. (M.F. Fox, D.J. King, D.R.F. Taylor).

Qualifying-Year Program

Applicants with exceptional promise who have a general (3 year) bachelor's degree, or who have substantially less than the Honours B.A. in Geography, may be admitted to a qualifying-year program. To be considered for admission into the master's program, qualifying-year students must attain at least an overall high honours standing in their qualifying-year geography courses. The General Regulations section of this Calendar provides details about the regulations governing the qualifying year (see p.55.)

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission into the master's program is a B.A.(Honours) or B.Sc.(Honours) in Geography, with at least high honours standing. In exceptional cases, pertinent work experience may be considered in support of an application to the Department. Applicants who have taken their undergraduate degree in the physical or natural sciences or engineering, as well as in physical geography, will be considered if their research interests coincide with those of the Department. Applicants in human geography may be accepted from related fields if their proposed research is closely related to faculty research experience. Students with academic deficiencies may be required to take additional courses.

Program Requirements

The M.A. in Geography normally takes from twelve to eighteen months, but field work may necessitate some extension. All master's students in geography are required to complete a minimum of 5.0 credits, including an M.A. thesis which must be successfully defended at an oral examination. All students are required to have a reading knowledge of the language considered essential to their research.

In addition to the formal requirements, M.A. students will normally be required to attend a Research Proposal Workshop and the Departmental Seminar series.

Doctor of Philosophy

The doctoral program in geography is structured around two fields:

* the geography of societal change with emphasis on the global political economy; restructuring and the environment; geographies of socio-cultural evaluation; feminist geographies

* the geography of environmental change with emphasis on environmental processes and anthropogenic impacts; appraisal and societal management of environmental resources

Students in each field are required to complete 45.600/45.601 which addresses substantive and methodological issues arising out of the interactions of social and environmental systems. Every student's thesis committee will include at least one faculty member from the field other than the chosen field.

Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission to the Ph.D. program is a master's degree (or the equivalent) in geography, with at least an A- average. A student already registered in the M.A. program who shows outstanding academic performance and research promise may be permitted to transfer to the Ph.D. program with a recommendation by the Departmental graduate committee.

Applicants whose academic preparation has deficiencies in certain areas may be admitted to the Ph.D. program with the requirement that they complete additional course work.

Admission to the Ph.D. program is granted on a full-time basis in September for the Fall term. In exceptional cases, a part-time program may be considered.

Program Requirements

Program requirements for the Ph.D. degree are outlined in the General Regulations section of this Calendar (see p.55.) The specific program requirements of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies are:

* 10.0 credits

* Geography 45.600/45.601

* Either Geography 45.603/45.604 or

* Two written comprehensive examinations including Geography 45.695 and either Geography 45.696 or Geography 45.697

* Presentation and oral defence of the thesis proposal as outlined below

* Language requirement as outlined below

* A thesis equivalent to 8.0 of the required 10.0 credits which must be defended at an oral examination

Comprehensive Examinations

Each doctoral candidate is required to write two comprehensive examinations:

* Geography 45.695

* One other examination in the chosen field of specialization

The comprehensive examinations must be completed after course requirements for the Ph.D. have been completed. Normally this will be the end of the third semester, but must be no later than the end of the fall semester of the second year of registration in the Ph.D. program.

Thesis Proposal

Candidates normally register in the thesis on entry to the program and work actively to define their research topic during the first term of registration. The thesis proposal must be presented after comprehensive requirements have been fulfilled. Candidates normally submit and defend the thesis proposal at an oral examination no later than the end of the fourth term of registration in the Ph.D. program. Continuous registration is required after initial registration in the thesis.

Language Requirement

All Ph.D. candidates are required to demonstrate an ability to comprehend geographical literature in a language other than English. This will normally be satisfied in the context of course work for the core and field seminars. The other language will normally be French, but may be an alternative pertinent to their research, as recommended by the thesis committee. Fluency in a second language required to undertake field research may be substituted as a fulfillment of this requirement.

Residence Requirements

All Ph.D. candidates must be registered full time in a minimum of six terms to satisfy the residence requirement.

Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for 2001-2002, please consult the Registration Instructions and Class Schedule booklet published in the summer.

F,W,S indicates term of offering. Courses offered in the fall and winter are followed by T. The number following the letter indicates the credit weight of the course: 1 denotes 0.5 credit, 2 denotes 1.0 credit.

In addition to the selection of courses offered by the Department, graduate students in geography are encouraged to consider, in partial fulfillment of their degree requirements, appropriate courses offered in such disciplines as biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, geology, history, international affairs, physics, political science, and sociology.

Courses at the University of Ottawa may also be taken for credit in a Carleton M.A. program; permission of the Departments in both universities is required.

Geography 45.500F1

Approaches to Geographical Enquiry

A review of the major philosophical perspectives shaping research and explanation by geographers. Particular attention is paid to interpretations of social structure and human action, the nature of the biophysical universe, and the interaction between human beings and their environments.

Geography 45.501F1,W1

Modelling Environmental Systems

An introductory seminar in methods and problems of research on the physical environment. With illustrative material taken mostly from the atmospheric and surface earth sciences, issues such as the identification and behaviour of environmental systems, temporal and spatial scale, experimental method under field conditions, and simulation and model development are considered.

Geography 45.505W1

Global Environmental Change: Human Implications

Global environmental change: its significance for societies, economies and international relations. Value systems underlying environmental discourse; political economy of the environment; sustainability and security. Environmental diplomacy and grassroots environmentalism. Regionalized impacts of pressures on natural environments; challenges of adaptation.(Also listed as International Affairs 46.571)

Geography 45.517F1, W1, S1

Field Study and Methodological Research

Field acquisition and analysis of geographic material; supervised field observations and methodology. (Individual or group basis, by special arrangement).

Geography 45.520F1

Issues in Development in Africa

Analysis of structures and processes of political, social, and economic change in intertropical Africa at scales ranging from the intrahousehold and local community to the state and international system. An objective is to integrate gender and the environment into analyses which draw on theories of political economy. (Also listed as International Affairs 46.563)

Geography 45.530F1

Soil Thermal and Hydrologic Regimes

Characteristics of soil regimes, particularly in freezing soils; role of soil properties; analytical and numerical methods, including computer simulation. (Alternates with Geography 45.532)

Geography 45.533W1

Geocryology

Development of ground ice in permafrost regions of Canada; ice segregation and pore-water expulsion during ground freezing; analytical and numerical approaches to modelling permafrost conditions.

Prerequisite: Geography 45.418 or permission of the Department.

Geography 45.534F1

Aspects of Clay Mineralogy and Soil Chemistry

The role of clay minerals in soils will be considered from a geotechnical and/or biological perspective.

Geography 45.537W1

Soil Resources

The properties of soils, development, classification, productive potential, and management problems of the world's soils. Primary emphasis will be agricultural, but environmental and geotechnical aspects will be considered.

Geography 45.540F1

Territory and Territoriality

Contemporary geographical and international relations theorizing is challenging notions of boundaries and territories in the political organization of modernity. Using contemporary writings on geopolitics, security, sovereignty, self-determination and identity politics this course investigates territoriality as a political and intellectual strategy. (Also listed as International Affairs 46.542)

Geography 45.541F1

Society and Space

Analysis of geographers' contributions to contemporary social theory and of the geographical significance of theoretical debates in related fields.

Geography 45.542F1

Selected Concepts in Social Geography

Theme to be announced.

Geography 45.543F1

Selected Concepts in Cultural Geography

Investigation of a substantive theme in cultural geography. Theme to be announced.

Geography 45.544W1

Gender and Environments

This course examines the relation between gender role change and the creation and use of environments. Changes in people's activities, in the first and third worlds, are assessed in the context of feminist analyses. Conceptual and methodological skills for gender-sensitive research are developed. Subsequent directed field experience may be achieved by taking 45.517.

Geography 45.545W1

Problems in Historical Geography

Philosophical and methodological approaches in geography, history, and historical geography, emphasizing the use of primary documents, model building, and statistical methods as they relate to the historical geography of Canada. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as Geography 45.435, for which additional credit is precluded.

Geography 45.550F1

Globalization and Localities

A review of recent theoretical and methodological debate in this field and analysis of the changing geography of production, employment, and social consumption in advanced economies. Policy issues will be considered.

Geography 45.555W1

Tourism Development

The nature of tourist development in various parts of the world, with special emphasis on its cultural and economic implications.

Geography 45.558W1

Agribusiness North and South

Analysis of the transformation of agriculture into an integrated multi-sectoral food production system and of its theoretical implications. Focus on the growth and strategies of agribusiness institutions in advanced industrial societies and on their penetration into, and impact upon, Third World economies. (Also listed as International Affairs 46.534)

Geography 45.570W1

Sustainability and Development in the Arctic: Transformation in the Circumpolar North

The Circumpolar Arctic Region is undergoing rapid political, economic, social and technological development, which impacts sustainability. Climate, contaminants and biological diversity focus international attention, Nunavut, the Russian North, major developments, and international circumpolar regime formation will be discussed, with significant emphasis on environment and development.

Geography 45.572W1

Issues in Canadian Resource Development

The economic, environmental, and social challenges facing Canadian resource-based industries and the communities they support. Focus on the agricultural, energy, forest, and mineral sectors. The global and national contexts of the political economy of production, marketing, and resource management are reviewed.

Geography 45.573F1, W1

Natural and Regional Resource Analysis

A review and critical appraisal of selected methods for natural and regional resource analysis such as plan evaluation methods, input-output models, resource optimization models, natural resource accounting, and ecological economics.

Geography 45.580W1

Spatial Information Systems

Advanced concepts and problems involved with spatial information systems, especially those with a mapping component.

Geography 45.583W1

Remote Sensing and Image Analysis

Radiometric, geometric, and resolution characteristics of remotely sensed data; image processing algorithms; analysis of spectral, textural, and contextual image information; applications to vegetation mapping and environmental analysis.

Geography 45.584F1

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Introduction to geographical application of GIS for students with no previous experience. Includes benefits and limitations of GIS, data formats and structures, input/output capabilities, analysis functions, and applications.

Geography 45.590F1, W1, S1

Graduate Tutorial

Tutorial, directed reading or research, offered on an individual basis, to meet specific program needs; may be taken in one of the areas of specialization of the Department.

Geography 45.599F4, W4, S4

M.A. Thesis

Thesis supervision will be given in all areas of specialization of the Department, as listed on p. 191.

* 600-level courses are open only to students registered in the doctoral program.

Geography 45.600F1, 45.601W1

Doctoral Core Seminar: Geography, Society and the Environment

Geographical perspectives on the development of society/environment interrelations in Western thought and critiques thereof. The course is taught by faculty representing the two fields of the program, the geography of social change and the geography of environmental change.

Geography 45.603F1, 45.604W1

Field Seminar: Geography of Societal Change

Analysis of current geographical and related research into the three themes of global political economy: restructuring and the environment; geographies of socio-cultural evaluation; and feminist geographies.

Geography 45.606F1, 45.607W1

Field Seminar: Geography of Environmental Change

Analysis of geographical and related research into the appraisal and societal management of environmental resources, and environmental processes and anthropogenic impacts.

Geography 45.695F1,W1,S1

Comprehensive Examination: Geography, Society and the Environment

This examination involves a general knowledge of geographical perspectives on the development of society/environment interrelations in Western thought and critiques thereof. A specific theme will be identified for each candidate. Evaluation is: Pass, Pass with Distinction, Fail.

Geography 45.696F1,W1,S1

Comprehensive Examination: The Geography of Societal Change

This examination focuses on research challenges in theory and methodology in the themes of global political economy: restructuring and the environment; geographies of socio-cultural evaluation; feminist geographies. A specific theme will be identified for each candidate. Evaluation is: Pass, Pass with Distinction, Fail.

Geography 45.697F1,W1,S1

Comprehensive Examination: The Geography of Environmental Change

This examination focuses on research challenges in theory and methodology associated with the appraisal and societal management of environmental resources, and environmental processes and anthropogenic impacts. A specific theme will be identified for each candidate. Evaluation is: Pass, Pass with Distinction, Fail.

Geography 45.699F,W,S

Ph.D. Thesis