AAG

Martin Lockley, Ph.D., Birmingham, 1977 — paleontology, fossil
footprints, evolution of consciousness
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY & THE
ENVIRONMENT
DATE FOUNDED: 1945
GRADUATE PROGRAM FOUNDED: 1947
DEGREES OFFERED: B.A., M.A., Ph.D. in Geography;
M.S. in GISc (on-campus and on-line); and B.A., B.S. in
Environmental Science
GRANTED 9/1/14-8/31/15: 21 Bachelors (Geography), 21
Bachelors (Environmental Science), 26 Masters, 2 Ph.D.
GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS IN RESIDENCE: 66 Majors,
14 Masters, 9 Ph.D.
NOT IN RESIDENCE: 38 Masters
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENTS IN
RESIDENCE: 104 Majors
CHAIR: Andrew R. Goetz
DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIR: Nicole
Chauvet
FOR CATALOG AND FURTHER INFORMATION WRITE
TO: Chair, Department of Geography, University of Denver, 2050 E.
Iliff Ave., Denver, Colorado 80208. Telephone (303) 871-2513.
Fax (303) 871-2201. Internet: www.du.edu/geography.
PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH FACILITIES: The University of
Denver is the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain
region, and has a total enrollment of over 12,000 students. Its location
within a large metropolitan area in close proximity to the Rocky
Mountains provides an ideal laboratory for physical and human
geographers alike. At the undergraduate level, the Department offers a
Geography major and minor, an Environmental Science major and
minor, and minors in Geology, Geographic Information Science,
Sustainability, and Tourism. At the graduate level, the Department
offers both the Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Geography, with
particular strength in the areas of biogeography, climatology,
economic geography, geographic information science,
geomorphology, global change, human environment interaction, Latin
America, population, Quaternary studies, transportation geography,
and urban geography. The Department also offers on-campus and online
Master of Science degrees in Geographic Information Science.
The applied aspects of each area are emphasized to enhance
vocational opportunities for graduates. A paid internship program is
available with municipal, state, and federal agencies and private firms
located in the Denver area for physical geography, human geography,
and geographic information science students at both the graduate and
undergraduate levels. Facilities at the University and within the
Department provide a wide variety of teaching and research
opportunities. Departmental lab facilities include a 24-seat GIS
instructional lab, a 14-seat Advanced GIS Lab, a Palynology Lab,
Soils Lab, Remote Sensing Lab, Climatology Lab, and a Special
Projects Lab. The Department maintains an inventory of mapping
grade GPS equipment and GPS processing software. We currently
maintain 10 Trimble Juno SB handheld GPS units and several Garmin
handheld GPS devices, as well as an ASD Spectroradiometer. The
Department also maintains a community GPS base station serving the
Front Range of Colorado. The University of Denver has an ESRI
University Site License with most ESRI software products available.
Students will find ArcInfo and Extensions installed in the GIS
laboratories. We also maintain current licenses for ERDAS Imagine,
ENVI, and other GIS and image processing software. In addition, the
Department has an extensive map library and equipment for its
geomorphology/soils/pollen laboratories.
ACADEMIC PLAN, ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS, AND
FINANCIAL AID:
UNDERGRADUATE: The program of study includes: 1) foundation
courses, 2) a core of courses intended to provide each student with
knowledge fundamental to geographers, and 3) an array of classes in
the areas of human, physical, and GIScience, from which the students
choose. Students can also register for our block of field courses in the
Fall quarter. Courses taught in the field span geographic scales from
the Denver metropolitan area to our field station on Mt. Evans, to
developing landscapes in Guatemala or to examine relationships
between humans and the environment in Europe, Nicaragua, and in
the Sonora and Baja regions of Mexico. The university also provides
an all-expense paid study abroad opportunity for all undergraduate
students. Admission requires submission of high school and/or college
transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, a personal essay, and
recommendation(s) from previous teachers or counselors. The
University has available a variety of financial aid opportunities for
which most students can qualify.
GRADUATE: At the Doctoral level, a research-based dissertation is
required, together with appropriate course work, tools, and
comprehensive exam. Topical areas of focus include biogeography,
climatology, economic geography, geographic information science,
geomorphology, global change, human-environment interaction, Latin
America, population, Quaternary studies, transportation, and urban
geography. At the Master’s level, the MA in Geography includes
subfields within: (1) Physical Geography, (2) Human Geography, (3)
Human-Environment Interaction, or (4) Geographic Information
Science. The department also offers both an on-campus and on-line
MS degree program in geographic information science (MS-GISc).
Geospatial technology areas include: automated cartography;
geographic information systems; global positioning systems; image
processing; remote sensing; air photo interpretation; and spatial
analysis methods and modeling. In all cases, the Department prides
itself in the ability to tailor individual programs to complement the
student’s interests within a basic framework of practical requirements.
Because this is a relatively small department, the student has the
opportunity to work closely with his/her advisor. Admission requires
submission of appropriate academic transcripts, Graduate Record
Examination scores, three letters of recommendation, and applicant's
statement of interest. The Department has available a number of
graduate teaching and research assistantships. The assistantships carry
a stipend and full tuition scholarship plus health insurance coverage.
No out-of-state fees are charged to the student.
FACULTY:
E. Eric Boschmann, Ph.D., Ohio State University, 2008, Associate
Professor — urban, economic, commuting, mixed-methods, GIS
J. Michael Daniels, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 2002, Associate
Professor — geomorphology, environmental change, soils,
hydrology
Andrew R. Goetz, Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1987, Professor and
Chair — transportation, urban geography/planning, economic
geography
Hillary Hamann, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder, 2002,
Senior Lecturer — hydrology, watershed biogeochemistry,
physical geography, water resources, conservation
Helen Hazen, Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2006,
Lecturer — health and environment, environmental conservation
Steven R. Hick, MA, University of Missouri, 1983, Lecturer and
Director, MS-GISc Program — geographic information science,
project management, cartography, criminology
Michael J. Keables, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1986,
Associate Professor and Interim Dean, Daniel Felix Ritchie
School of Engineering and Computer Science — climatology,
water resources, climate variability
Michael W. Kerwin, Ph.D., University of Colorado, Associate
Professor and Director, Environmental Science Program —
Quaternary geology, dendroclimatology
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