Course & registration information
See information about our courses in the UVic Calendar or check the current course timetable.
You can talk with the Undergraduate Advisor to plan a program that works for you or plan your Geography Degree.
Departmental registration guidelines
The Department of Geography has departmental registration guidelines that govern the undergraduate registration process. These guidelines include rules about waitlists, registration in courses with labs and lab registration issues, prerequisite waiver requests, missing prerequisites, increasing the enrollment cap of a course, and auditing.
Directed Studies
In special cases, with the consent of the department and the individual instructor concerned, a student may be permitted to pursue a course of directed studies. This is an opportunity for students to perform an in-depth exploration of a specific area of research with their instructor. To register for a Directed Studies course, please bring the completed form to the Geography Office.
Special Topics in Geography Courses
Information about current and upcoming special topic courses is made available once provided by the instructor. If information about a particular special topics course you are interested in taking is not yet shown on this page, contact the instructor directly.
Spring 2019:
GEOG 388 A02 - Regional Studies: The Caribbean. Instructor: CindyAnn Rose-Redwood. Explore the historical and contemporary Caribbean Region.
GEOG 388 A03 - Regional Studies: Africa. Instructor: Sophia Carodenuto. Introduction to the social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental geographies of sub-Saharan Africa.
GEOG 391 A01 - Topics in Geography: Antarctica - The Fragile Continent. Instructor: Dan Smith. Develop an understanding of the bio-physical context and human history of Antarctica as it relates to this unique and fragile continent's conservation and sustainable use.
GEOG 391 A02 - Topics in Geography: Global Migration. Instructor: CindyAnn Rose-Redwood. Explore forced migration, the refugee crisis, border security, human trafficking, and the migrant justice movement.
GEOG 428 - Advanced Topics: Information Science. Instructor: Chris Bone. This course focuses on learning and implementing computer programming for performing a range of geospatial analysis on spatial data.
Course outline links are to the most recent offering from the instructor, and are updated as they are provided.
Please note: course listings and assigned instructors are subject to change.
Spring 2019
Fall 2018
Spring 2018
Summer 2018
Course Number | Outline | Professor |
---|---|---|
GEOG 100 | INTRO TO MAPS AND GIS | IAN O'CONNELL |
GEOG 315 | GEOCACHING | SHANNON FARGEY |
GEOG 315 A02 | GEOCACHING | MICHAEL GRILLIOT |
GEOG 325 | FIELD SURVEYING | IAN O'CONNELL |
GEOG 391 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: FOOD AND THE CITY | CAMERON OWENS |
GEOG 453 | FIELD STUDIES IN COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES | CHRIS DARIMONT |
GEOG 491 A01 | ADVANCED TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY (WHALE GEOGRAPHY) | DAVID DUFFUS |
Fall 2017
Summer 2017
Course Number | Outline | Instructor |
---|---|---|
GEOG 101B | INTRO TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY | TERESA DAWSON |
GEOG 222 | INTRO TO MAPS AND GIS | IAN O'CONNELL |
GEOG 315 (JULY) | GEOCACHING | SHANNON FARGEY |
GEOG 315 (AUGUST) | GEOCACHING | TBA |
GEOG 325 | FIELD SURVEYING | IAN O'CONNELL |
GEOG 388 | REGIONAL STUDIES: EUROPE (URBAN EUROPE FIELD SCHOOL) | CAMERON OWENS |
GEOG 391 A01 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES (URBAN EUROPE FIELD SCHOOL) | CAMERON OWENS |
GEOG 391 A02 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: COMMUNITY MAPPING | TERESA DAWSON |
GEOG 453 | FIELD STUDIES IN COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES (COASTAL FIELD SCHOOL) | SHANNON FARGEY |
GEOG 456 | WILDLIFE CONSERVATION (TOFINO FIELD SCHOOL) | CHRIS DARIMONT |
GEOG 474 | FIELD STUDIES IN BIOGEOGRAPHY (COASTAL FIELD SCHOOL) | DAVE DUFFUS |
GEOG 487 | ADVANCED LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY (TOFINO FIELD SCHOOL) | ANDY MACKINNON |
GEOG 491 | ADVANCED TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: WHALE GEOGRAPHY (COASTAL FIELD SCHOOL) | RIANNA BURNHAM |
Spring 2017
Course Number | Outline | Instructor |
---|---|---|
GEOG 101A | ENVIRONMENT, SOCIETY AND SUSTAINABILITY | JILL HARVEY |
GEOG 101B | INTRO TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY | TERESA DAWSON |
GEOG 103 | INTRO TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY | JOHANNES FEDDEMA |
GEOG 211 | POLITICAL & ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY | BERNARD HENIN |
GEOG 222 | INTRO TO MAPS AND GIS | SHANNON FARGEY |
GEOG 226 | INTRO TO QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN GEOGRAPHY | MARK FLAHERTY |
GEOG 228 | INTRO TO REMOTE SENSING | RANDALL SCHARIEN |
GEOG 274 | INTRO TO BIOGEOGRAPHY | DAVID DUFFUS |
GEOG 276 | INTRO TO GEOMORPHOLOGY | BRYAN MOOD |
GEOG 301 | ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT | JOHN THISTLE |
GEOG 306 | GEOGRAPHY OF CANADA | JEN MATEER |
GEOG 314 | GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT CHANGE AND HUMAN RESPONSE | JOHN THISTLE |
GEOG 319 | REMOTE SENSING OF THE ENVIRONMENT | MAYCIRA COSTA |
GEOG 322 | DIGITAL REMOTE SENSING | RANDALL SCHARIEN |
GEOG 323 | CARTOGRAPHY | SHANNON FARGEY |
GEOG 324 | DIRECTIONS IN GEOGRAPHY | JUTTA GUTBERLET |
GEOG 328 | GIS ANALYSIS | KRISTEN KILLISTOFF |
GEOG 329 | GIS APPLICATIONS AND TOOLS | ADAM WICKS |
GEOG 339 | DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE | EMILY DICKEN |
GEOG 353 | COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES | CHRIS DARIMONT |
GEOG 355 | COASTAL COMMUNITIES | MALEEA ACKER |
GEOG 358 | LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY | JILL HARVEY |
GEOG 370 | HYDROLOGY | SHANNON FARGEY |
GEOG 371 | WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT | BRANDI NEWTON |
GEOG 373 | APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY | DAVID ATKINSON |
GEOG 382 | GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA | SIMON SPRINGER |
GEOG 391 A01 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: PERSONAL SPACE - SEX, GENDER, IDENTITY | TERESA DAWSON |
GEOG 391 A02 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: GLOBAL WATER, SANITATION, HYGIENE FOR DEVELOPMENT | NAZIM UDDIN |
GEOG 406 | SUSTAINABLE CITIES | CRYSTAL TREMBLAY |
GEOG 407 | ACTIVISM AND COMMUNITY PLANNING | SIMON SPRINGER |
GEOG 420 | FIELD STUDIES IN COASTAL GEOMATICS | MAYCIRA COSTA |
GEOG 438 | AQUACULTURE IN BC | STEPHEN CROSS |
GEOG 448 | URBAN SOCIAL GEOGRAPHIES | JEN MATEER |
GEOG 450 | ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICE | JAMIE ALLEY |
GEOG 456 | WILDLIFE CONSERVATION | DENNIS JELINSKI |
GEOG 457 | MARINE PROTECTED AREAS: MANAGMENT CHALLENGES | CHARLES SHORT |
GEOG 476 | ADVANCED STUDIES IN GEOMORPHOLOGY | MIKE GRILLIOT |
GEOG 484 | ADVANCED STUDIES IN WEATHER AND CLIMATE | DAVID ATKINSON |
GEOG 491 A01 | ADVANCED TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: FOREST BIOGEOGRAPHY | JILL HARVEY |
GEOG 491 A02 | ADVANCED TOPICS IN GEOGRPAHY: BIKETORIA | RAY STRAATSMA |
Fall 2016
Summer 2016
Course Number | Outline | Professor |
---|---|---|
GEOG 101B | INTRO TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY | CINDYANN ROSE-REDWOOD |
GEOG 222 | INTRO TO MAPS AND GIS | IAN O'CONNELL |
GEOG 325 | FIELD SURVEYING | IAN O'CONNELL |
GEOG 388 (Field Course) | REGIONAL STUDIES: CASCADIA | CAMERON OWENS |
GEOG 391 A01 (Field Course) | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES | CAMERON OWENS |
GEOG 391 A02 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: GEOCACHING | JESSICA FITTERER |
GEOG 391 A03 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: GEOCACHING | ERIN LATHAM |
GEOG 453 (Field Course) | FIELD STUDIES IN COASTAL & MARINE RESOURCES | CHRIS DARIMONT |
GEOG 474 | FIELD STUDIES IN BIOGEOGRAPHY | RIANNA BURNHAM |
GEOG 491 A01 (Field Course) |
ADV. TOPICS: MICROCLIMATE TO CLIMATE CHANGE |
SHANNON FARGEY & JOHANNES FEDDEMA |
GEOG 491 A02 (Field Course) |
ADV. TOPICS: EXPLORING HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE |
SHANNON FARGEY & JOHANNES FEDDEMA |
Spring 2016
Fall 2015
Summer 2015
Course Number | Outline | Professor |
---|---|---|
GEOG 103 | INTRO TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY | SHANNON FARGEY |
GEOG 222 | INTRO TO MAPS AND GIS | IAN O'CONNELL |
GEOG 314 | GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT CHANGE AND HUMAN RESPONSE | SHANNON FARGEY |
GEOG 325 | FIELD SURVEYING | IAN O'CONNELL |
GEOG 391 A01 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: | CAMERON OWENS |
GEOG 391 A02 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: | CAMERON OWENS |
GEOG 391 A04 | TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY: GEOCACHING | CATHRYN BRANDON |
GEOG 424 | FIELD STUDIES IN COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY | JAMES GARDNER |
GEOG 456 | WILDLIFE CONSERVATION | CHRIS DARIMONT |
GEOG 457 | MARINE PROTECTED AREAS | CHARLES SHORT |
GEOG 474 | FIELD STUDIES IN BIOGEOGRAPHY | DAVE DUFFUS |
Spring 2015
Fall 2014
We have a range of degree options. You can take a general degree that crosses the spectrum of geography or concentrate on one (or more) subdiscipline:
The biophysical stream offers a wide range of programs and interests designed to provide students with exposure to processes operating, currently and historically, to shape our physical environment.
Our main strengths lie in the areas of:
- Biogeography (holocene and quaternary landscape ecology, marine biogeography)
- Coastal processes
- Geomorphology
- Hydrology
- Climatology
In addition, we provide strong linkages to geomatics (remote sensing and GI sciences), resources management, tourism, and climate change, which complement many biophysical interests.
The Environment and Sustainability stream offers students an opportunity to specialize in natural resource management, environmental science and policy, and sustainable development.
Students are exposed to basic principles of natural resource management, biophysical processes, and socio-economic systems and from there are able to focus on coastal processes, global environmental change, or specific resource sectors (water, energy, protected areas, or aquaculture).
There is a close link between the Environment and Sustainability stream and the other specialties in the department. Many of the faculty teaching in this area are involved in international work, with projects in Brazil, Mozambique, Thailand, Cambodia, Tanzania, Ghana, and Iraq. These experiences provide an international context for teaching Environment and Sustainability, and students can become involved as research assistants on these projects.
Class work might focus on community initiatives, Canadian resource issues, or global processes, and students in this stream – as in all of Geography – are very involved in community sustainability initiatives and green initiatives on campus, in Victoria, and throughout Canada.
Geomatics is one of the world's fastest growing information technology sectors. This exciting field brings together many related disciplines, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (satellite imaging), surveying (including global positioning systems – GPS), cartography, and spatial analysis.
Geomatics is the discipline of gathering, storing, processing, and delivering geographic information. This broad term applies both to science and technology and integrates the following more specific disciplines and technologies:
- Geodesy
- Surveying
- Mapping
- Positioning
- Navigation
- Cartography
- Remote sensing
- Photogrammetry
- Geographic information systems
- Global positioning systems
UVic offers two Geomatics program options:
- Major in Geography (BA and BSc) (Geomatics concentration)
- Combined Program in Geography and Computer Science (Geomatics)
The Human stream in Geography can provide significant contributions to addressing pressing crosscutting socio-cultural and economic topics of the increasingly complex world. This stream is situated between the humanities and social sciences.
The research and teaching in Human Geography is highly variable and focuses on topics ranging from urban development and planning to community-based livelihood studies, co-management and solidarity economy, or the gendering of spaces.
The department offers courses and specialization in health, urban, social and development geography, tourism, resource management, and regional studies, among others. The research conducted out of the department happens locally, but also in different regions and continents.
The wide range of methodological possibilities attests the trans-disciplinary character of human geography, engaging in qualitative and quantitative multi-methods.
We teach research tools such as community mapping, participatory surveys, focus groups, interviewing, video documenting, photo voice, and secondary data analysis. Our courses often include laboratory sessions to provide the opportunity for direct learning experiences.