100-level

GEOG106
Global Environmental Change
Description
An exploration of major environmental changes happening at the global scale. With a particular focus on climate, ice, freshwater, and ocean processes, we investigate how geospatial monitoring and other tools are used to address global environmental challenges. We look at how human activities are interacting with Earth systems, and aim to empower people to improve environmental and societal resilience at a range of scales.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Restrictions
GEOG103
GEOG110
People, Places and Environments
Description
This course draws on the insights of human geography to deepen your understanding of how people make places and shape environments. We examine the economic, social and cultural processes that create contemporary places and also consider their possible futures. Through practical work, you will learn some of the key methods and techniques available for describing and analyzing how places change.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Restrictions
GEOG107

200-level

GEOG201
Environmental Processes: Principles and Applications
Description
The course explores the fundamental principles and applications of knowledge related to the surface of the earth in the sub-disciplines of geomorphology, climatology and hydrology. Systems studied include landforms, glaciers, climate, and rivers. The main objective of the course is to explain the spatial and temporal characteristics, and the interaction between these systems in an interdisciplinary manner by drawing extensively from New Zealand examples.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Any 30 points of 100-level Geography, or entry with approval of the Head of Department
Restrictions
GEOG201 prior to 2009.
GEOG205
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Science
Description
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide the tools for gathering, managing, analysing and presenting spatial information in an intuitive and graphical way. This course provides students with an introduction to the fundamental concepts, principles and techniques of GIS.
Occurrences
Summer Nov 2023
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
45 points at 100-level or above, from any degree schedule.
Restrictions
DIGI205 and GISC422
GEOG208
Remote sensing for geospatial analysis
Description
This course provides an introduction to remote sensing data for geospatial analysis. Students will develop skills for the acquisition of data from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellites. Practical work focuses on the preparation of data for use in a Geographic information system (GIS), while laboratory exercises will introduce a range of analytic software that can be used to prepare and examine remotely sensed data.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Any 30 points of 100-level Science, Engineering or Commerce
Restrictions
GEOG313
GEOG209
Environmental Science and Resource Management
Description
This course explores the debates and issues in environmental science and resource management around the core theme of agriculture and the environment. There is an emphasis on developing solutions to environmental issues. The course takes a quantitative approach to environmental issues, teaching students to make informed decisions that integrate biophysical data with policies and practices of management in New Zealand and global contexts. Students will learn to recognise patterns and processes in agricultural environments, and gain an understanding of how those patterns and processes influence and are influenced by resource management decisions. Students will develop an awareness of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand as it applies to environmental issues associated with agriculture, recognising that Maori values may be distinct to regulatory guidelines regarding environmental quality. Matauranga Maori aspects of agriculture and the environment will be covered.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
(GEOG110 and GEOG106) or (ENVR101 and GEOG106) and 15 points of CHEM, GEOL or BIOL. OR entry with approval of the Head of School.
Restrictions
GEOG206, ENVR201, ENVR209
GEOG211
Mountain Weather and Climates
Description
This course provides a field and practical based approach to understanding contemporary mountain climates. Investigating how mountains modify weather systems and impact the local climate is essential in forecasting how New Zealand will be impacted by climate change. The course is centered on lectures and a residential field trip to the Cass Basin, Arthurs Pass. The learning is mostly project oriented and includes the development of a project from the initial idea, through the development of the skills and techniques required to conduct the fieldwork and produce a written project report. Assessment is based on a combination of assessed practicals and the field work research project report.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
GEOG106 or ENVR101 or 15 points from CHEM, PHYS, GEOL, BIOL, ASTR, MATH at 100-level
GEOG213
The EU, Globalization and Migration
Description
This course addresses international migration as one of the most pressing and formative issues which shape both European integration, and the relationships of Europe with the rest of the world. It addresses the economic, social, political and policy aspects of international migration in the changing EU and global contexts. The course has particular resonance for students in New Zealand, a country whose society has substantially been shaped by migration to and from Europe and the rest of the world.
Occurrences
Summer Jan 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Any 30 points of 100-level Geography, or any 90 points approved by the Head of Department.
Restrictions
EURO223, EURA223
GEOG215
Environmental Hazards and Disasters
Description
This course provides an understanding of environmental hazards and disasters, with a particular focus on flooding and coastal hazards and the related impacts on human communities. Examples will be drawn from New Zealand, which will include a consideration of Maori experiences of and responses to disasters, and from overseas.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
30 points of Geography or Geological Sciences at 100 level; or 30 points from Science, Arts, Commerce, or Engineering.
Restrictions
GEOG305
GEOG217
Places for Wellbeing and Flourishing
Description
An examination of how places shape human wellbeing and flourishing, in both positive and less than positive ways. With a focus on settler colonial nations, we will examine the significant variations that exist between places in terms of the housing, work, education and support opportunities available within them. We consider the impact of these variations for local wellbeing and flourishing, noting the uneven experiences of particular social groups. We also examine place-based interventions that may support local wellbeing and flourishing, and selection of methods to evaluate these interventions. The course draws on the insights of human geography and engages with the contemporary lived experience of places in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Any 30 points at 100 level from any subject, normally including GEOG110 or GEOG106.
GEOG222
Transport, Urban Development and Wellbeing
Description
Nau mai ki GEOG222 - welcome to GEOG222. Transport fundamentally shapes our communities and affects our wellbeing. This course examines the role and influence of transport in shaping our towns and cities, and affecting our personal wellbeing. The course will have a particular focus on how transport and urban development can help face challenges like climate change. The course will also look at issues related to Maori, for example, how has urbanisation affected their wellbeing. As well as gaining increased understanding of transport, urban development and wellbeing through traditional learning approaches, students will also learn from transport, urban development and health professionals. They will develop a range of practical, applied and transferrable skills by addressing real world problems and present findings in both written and oral formats.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
45 pts of 100 level including GEOG110 or GEOG106

300-level

GEOG309
Research for Resilient Environments and Communities
Description
This course will develop your ability to undertake research that supports resilient environments and communities. Drawing on problem-based and service learning approaches, you will design and complete a research project in collaboration with a community partner. The training, practice and critical evaluation of the research will be carried out in groups, and you will communicate your research findings using spoken, numerical and written skills. The course begins with a short fieldtrip, and then progresses through occasional lectures and regular project group meetings, supported by web-based resources. It concludes with a public conference. The emphasis is on students working together to solve real world problems using skills that are transferable to the workplace.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
30 points
Prerequisites
30 points of GEOG at 200 level, or ENVR209/GEOG209 and ENVR210
Restrictions
GEOG204, GEOG303
GEOG310
Weather Systems
Description
This course examines the processes responsible for day to day weather variations, and the operational techniques used in their analysis and forecasting. This includes both research and operational approaches to the study of synoptic scale weather systems and their impact. The processes studied include those that have an influence on the generation and decay of weather systems, but also those that affect the weather experienced in a local area, such as Canterbury. The emphasis is on factors important in short term weather changes, including stability/instability and atmospheric motion. These factors are studied in relation to air mass changes, as well as the effects of topography. Links between the general and synoptic scale atmospheric circulation are also studied, along with the effects of longer term change, such as the ENSO cycles.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
GEOG211 and 15 points from Schedule S to the BSc
GEOG311
Coastal Studies
Description
This course explores the processes that form and change coastal environments in New Zealand, the Pacific and worldwide. Topics examined include a selection of: sea level change today and into the future, waves and currents, the role of sediments in how beaches work to protect land and interact with oceans, plus sessions focussed on the wonders and practical realities of wetlands, tropical reefs, and human interactions with coastal environments. You will gain an understanding of models of the coastal zone, as well as an experience of field methods and laboratory techniques used in coastal investigations. The course was developed based on direct industry feedback and involvement. There is also an optional one-day field-trip, where there is an opportunity to put your learnings into practice and measure waves, currents and beach profiles, and to collect sediment and ecological data for analysis in labs, all using up-to-date professional techniques.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
30 points of 200-level Geography, including GEOG201, or in special cases with approval of the Head of Department.
GEOG312
Snow, Ice and Climate
Description
This course examines the physical processes involved with the formation and evolution of mountain glaciers and seasonal snow, including processes such as surface mass balance, dynamics and hydrology. The course develops knowledge by drawing on key research, and encourages students to critically evaluate published work. The supporting lab programme will enable students to develop a range of transferable skills by working with real data and equipment, for example, ground penetrating radar (GPR), snowpit analysis, and simple glacier models.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
30 points of 200-level Geography and a further 15 pts at 200-level from any of GEOG, ENVR, GEOL, ANTA, WATR, BIOL, or in special cases with approval of the Head of School.
GEOG321
European Integration From Community to Union
Description
The course is designed to introduce students to the process of European integration that has transformed post-1945 Europe and seen the European Union emerge as a new global power. The course draws on an inter-disciplinary approach and is focused on policy analysis.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
30 points
Prerequisites
One of: (a) 15 points with a B average in any Arts subject; or (b) any 15 points in GEOG at 200 level; or (c) 15 points of EURO at 200-level with a B Pass: or (d) 30 points of EURO at 200-level; or (e) any 45 points from the Arts Schedule at 200-level.
Restrictions
EURO210, EURO310, EURA210, EURA310
GEOG323
Geospatial Analysis in the Social and Environmental Sciences
Description
This course provides an introduction to spatial analysis, an important tool for exploring, analysing, modelling and visualising geospatial data. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to investigate and understand spatial patterns resulting from social and physical processes operating on the surface of Earth, such as epidemics, crime and pollution. A variety of software packages will be introduced and used to explore different aspects of spatial analysis. A number of issues inherent to dealing with spatial data, such as the ecological fallacy and modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP), will also be highlighted.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
30 points of 200-level Geography, including GEOG205, or in special cases with approval of the Head of Department.
GEOG324
Web GIS and Geoinformatics
Description
This course builds on GEOG205 Introduction to GIS, delving deeper into the nuts and bolts of how GIS work and advancing students' knowledge and skills in geographic data management, geographic information systems design, geographic information visualisation, and human computer interaction from a geoinformatics perspective. GEOG324 is a technical, largely lab- and project-based course, where students will use a mix of proprietary and open source GIS software to gain advanced skills in GIS, focusing on Web GIS applications. Students will learn how databases are used to store geographic information, and gain practice in the creation of dynamic web maps and Internet-based spatial analysis. There is also a research component to the course in order to ensure students are aware of the research landscape in geographic information science (GIScience) and are able to critically analyse work undertaken in GIScience.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
30 points of 200-level Geography, including GEOG205, or in special cases with approval of the Head of Department. Recommended preparation: COSC121, or equivalent introductory programming course.
GEOG325
Health, Wellbeing and Environment
Description
Human health and wellbeing are profoundly shaped by the environments in which we live. This course examines the influence of the physical, built and social aspects of the environment on health and wellbeing. In addition to gaining increased understanding of health-environment interactions, students will develop skills in tracking environmental exposures and in presenting research findings in both written and oral formats.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
30 points of Geography at 200 level; or 30 points from Science, Arts or Health Sciences.
Restrictions
GEOG322
GEOG351
Rethinking Development
Description
This course explores the ways in which people across the globe are building community economies based on ethical concerns for more sustainable and equitable futures. It will provide students with a theoretical basis for rethinking economies and some practical skills in organising for community-based development interventions.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Any 30 points of 200 level Geography, or approval of the Head of Department.
Restrictions
GEOG212

Not Offered Courses in 2024

100-level

GEOG109
Physical Geography: Earth, Ocean, Atmosphere
Description
This course covers environmental process theory as well as the technical skills needed to monitor and model environmental change. We examine the forces that control Earth systems, with case studies of three main sub-systems: the atmosphere and climate, the oceans and their coastal fringes, and high-energy terrestrial landscapes such as mountains. The course will deepen understanding of these subsystems as a framework for building science-informed environmental approaches.
Occurrences
Not offered 2024, offered in 2017 , 2018 , 2019
For further information see GEOG109 course details
Points
15 points

300-level

GEOG340
Field Based Geomorphic Applications
Description
This course examines practical applications of geomorphology and environmental management, providing a basic understanding of regolith and soil genesis; relationships between soil erosion, fluvial processes and sedimentation; and the principles of landscape management and restoration. Field studies and practical examples include soil erosion and hydrology of forested and agricultural catchments, urban stream and wetland reconstruction, and the management of steepland environments.
Occurrences
Not offered 2024, offered in 2014
For further information see GEOG340 course details
Points
15 points
GEOG345
Special Topic
Occurrences
Not offered 2024, offered in 2013 , 2014 , 2018 , 2019 , 2021
For further information see GEOG345 course details
Points
15 points