Radford University Undergraduate Catalog, 2011-2012

public lands systems. It covers history of the
federal lands, legal and institutional framework,
and planning and management concepts and
processes such as environmental impact analysis.
Current policy issues will be examined from
several perspectives.
GEOS 362. Water Resources. (4)
Four hours lecture, laboratory, and field work.
Prerequisites: GEOS 130, GEOL 100, or GEOL
105, and GEOS 250, or permission of the instructor.
An introduction to the science and policy aspects
of water resources with emphasis on U.S.
context.
GEOS 380. Spatial Analysis Techniques. (4)
Four hours lecture/laboratory.
Prerequisite: GEOS 250 and STAT 200.
The course, which will consist of both lecture
and GIS lab applications, is devoted to description
and application of methods for analyzing
spatial distributions and to evaluation and assessment
of geographic research problems in
the context of GIS technology.
GEOS 410. Advanced GIS. (T) (4)
Four hours lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisite: GEOS 125, GEOS 250, GEOS 315.
Theory and practice of a geographic information
system. Spatial data capture, manipulation
of data sets, GIS Modeling, geodatabase considerations,
manipulation of spatial data, and
hardcopy map generation with a full-feature
geographic information system.
GEOS 412. Advanced Geoprocessing. (T) (3)
Three hours lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisite: GEOG 410.
Theory and practice of advanced cartographic
techniques. Research and cartographic design of
complex cartographic projects and graphic design
of cartograms will be practiced.”
GEOS 425. Remote Sensing. (T) (4)
Three hours lecture; three hours laboratory.
Prerequisite: MATH 137, GEOS 130 (or GEOL
105), and GEOS 125.
Provides students the opportunity to (1) learn
theory and practice of contemporary remote
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sensing products (digital aerial photographs,
digital orthophotos, airborne and satellite sensor
platforms and their images), (2) learn and
experiment with the technologies utilized in the
analysis, image processing, and interpretation
of these products, and (3) learn the use of the
products in analog and digital format for other
geographic technologies.
GEOS 480. Seminar. (1-4)
Three hours seminar.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.
Intensive study of a special field of geography.
Topics determined by instructors and students’
interests. May be taken maximum of three times
for no more than nine semester hours of credit.
Depending upon the topic, this course may be
used to meet requirements for the minor in Appalachian
Studies.
GEOS 488. Final Honors Project. (2-3)
Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Honors Academy,
completion of all other Honors Academy requirements,
a minimum 3.5 GPA in all courses and in
geography.
Project and topic to be determined by the student,
the faculty member with whom the student
works, and the department. In order to receive
honors credit, a student must earn a grade of
“A” or “B” for the final project. Course may not
be repeated.
GEOS 490. Field Research Methods. (T) (3)
Three hours lecture and field work.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
Basic elements of geographic field research performed
in Radford area. Course focuses on tools
of field analysis. Students prepare single or group
projects as indication of acquisition of logic of spatial
analysis. This course may be used to meet requirements
for the minor in Appalachian Studies.
GEOS 492. Land Use. (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
Study of concepts and perception of land use.
Course stresses compatibility of geoecologic
systems and land use.