Department of Geography and Environment

The following list reflects the 2006/2007 faculty.

Chairman Mark Friedl

Faculty

Bruce Anderson Associate Chairman, Associate Professor of Geography and Environment. BS, University of California, Santa Barbara; PhD, Scripps Institute of Oceanography

William P. Anderson Professor of Geography and Environment. Associate Chairman, Department of Geography and Environment. BA, MA, PhD, Boston University

Lata Chatterjee Research Professor of Geography and Environment. BA, MA, PhD, Calcutta University (India); PhD, Johns Hopkins University

Cutler Cleveland Professor of Geography and Environment. BS, Cornell University; MA, Louisiana State University; PhD, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Mark Friedl Chairman, Department of Geography and Environment; Associate Professor of Geography and Environment. BS, McGill University; MA, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara

Thomas F. Glick Professor of Geography, Environment, and History. BA, Harvard College; MA, Columbia University; PhD, Harvard University

Sucharita Gopal Professor of Geography and Environment. MSc, MPhil, Madras University (India); PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara

Robert Kaufmann Professor of Geography and Environment; Director of Graduate Studies, Center for Energy and Environmental Relations. BS, Cornell University; MA, University of New Hampshire; PhD, University of Pennsylvania

Juri Knjazihhin Research Professor of Geography and Environment. MS, Tartu State University (Estonia); PhD, Georgian Academy of Sciences (Georgia)

T. R. Lakshmanan Executive Director, Center for Energy and Environmental Studies; Professor of Geography and Environment. Director, Center for Transportation Studies. BSc, MA, Madras University (India); PhD, Ohio State University

Xiaowen Li Research Professor of Geography and Environment, and Remote Sensing. BS, Chengdun Institute of Electrical Engineering (China); MA, MS, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara

Ranga Myneni Associate Professor of Geography and Environment. BSc, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University; MSc, Punjab Agricultural University (India); PhD, University of Antwerp (Belgium)

Nathan Phillips Associate Chairman, Associate Professor of Geography and Environment. BS, California State University; PhD, Duke University

Guido D. Salvucci Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment; Chairman, Department of Earth Sciences. BE, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Arts & Sciences; BS, New York University; MS, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Crystal Schaaf Research Associate Professor of Geography and Environment, and Remote Sensing. MLA, Harvard University; BS, MS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; PhD, Boston University

Alan Strahler Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Geography and Environment; Professor of Geography and Environment. BA, PhD, Johns Hopkins University

Ian Sue Wing Director of Undergraduate Studies; Assistant Professor of Geography and Environment, Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. BA, Dartmouth College; BE, Thayer School of Engineering; MS, Mansfield College, Oxford (England); PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Joan Walker Assistant Professor of Geography and Environment. BS, University of California, Berkeley; MS, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Curtis Woodcock Professor of Geography and Environment; Director of Geographic Applications, Center for Remote Sensing. BA, MA, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara

Affiliated Faculty

Syed. A. Hasnath Adjunct Assistant Professor of Geography and Environment. BA, MA, Rajshahi University (Bangladesh); MPP, Bangladesh University of Engineering; MSc, University of Wales; PhD, Boston University

Emeriti

Robert B. Batchelder Professor Emeritus of Geography and Environment. BA, University of Washington; MA, PhD, Northwestern University

George K. Lewis Professor Emeritus of Geography and Environment. BA, MA, PhD, Harvard University

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The Graduate Program

The Department of Geography and Environment offers a strong basic training that emphasizes traditional geographic theory, quantitative techniques, and environmental and policy studies. Analytical rigor combined with training in decision and policy analysis provides graduates with flexibility for choosing careers in government; environmental, economic, and resource-analysis areas; in remote sensing; and with research institutes, consulting firms, and international organizations. Special emphasis of graduate study in the department lies in four subfields within the discipline: (1) energy-environmental systems and policy; (2) economic and transportation geography; (3) remote sensing and geographic information systems; and (4) physical geography (biogeography, climatology, and hydrology). Opportunities exist in the department for graduate student participation in various applied research projects. Faculty are engaged in research sponsored by such agencies as the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of  Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the World Bank, and the United Nations.

Interdisciplinary opportunities are available at Boston University through department faculty participation in the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, the Center for  Transportation Studies, the African Studies Center, and the Center for Remote Sensing.

For further information, contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Geography and Environment, 675 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-2525.

Admission All applicants for admission are required to submit an official report of their test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). No exceptions will be made. Completed applications for admission and financial aid should reach the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Office no later than January 15 for admission for fall semester and no later than November 15 for spring semester admission. (Applications for fall semester are accepted through July 1 but chances for financial aid are greatly diminished after January 15.)

Skills Assessment At the beginning of the incoming student’s first term, the student will meet with the Director of Graduate Studies and/or other department faculty members to assess the student’s quantitative skills in math, statistics, and econometrics. If skills do not match the needs of coursework in the student’s field of interest, a study plan will be developed to remedy any deficiencies. This may involve independent study or coursework taken for credit or audit.

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MA in Geography and Environment

The department offers two programs leading to the Master of Arts degree — one requiring coursework, a research paper, and a written examination; the other, coursework and a thesis.

Coursework At least eight semester courses (32 credits) constitute the minimum requirement. Early in the program, students must enroll in GRS GE 539  The History of Geographic Thought, or its equivalent; two courses on analytical methods; and GRS GE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers, or its equivalent. During their course of study, students are also required to take at least one topical research seminar in the department and one graduate-level course in a cognate field outside the department. A maximum of three semester courses in directed study is allowed for the Master of Arts degree.

Master of Arts by Examination Each student pursuing the Master of Arts degree by examination must prepare a research paper of publishable length and quality. It will be evaluated by the student’s advisory committee.

At the beginning of the final semester of degree coursework, candidates must make a written request to the department to take the master’s examination. Such examinations are administered in October and March. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of their major field of interest and of the material covered in the core courses.

Colloquium Students in the master’s-by-examination program must, in addition, offer an oral presentation of independent research or seminar research to the departmental community before finishing the degree. This presentation, which is expected to demonstrate a professional approach in content, structure, and delivery, will be evaluated as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

Master of Arts with Thesis A viable thesis topic must be selected no later than the third semester. Up to 4 credits (or one full course within the eight-course total required) may be earned by thesis preparation under the designation of directed study, at the discretion of the student’s advisor. A three-member faculty advisory committee, chaired by the major advisor, is selected to help guide the thesis research.

Each candidate must prepare a written research proposal and defend it orally before the full advisory committee.

Colloquium At some point prior to completing the thesis, each thesis candidate must make at least one presentation of ongoing research to the departmental community.

Oral Examination When the thesis is completed, the advisory committee examines the candidate orally on matters broadly relevant to the thesis. Successful defense of the thesis in this oral examination constitutes the last major step toward the degree.

Thesis Specifications Regulations concerning preparation of the thesis are determined by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and by the student’s advisor. Guidelines for preparing illustrations are available from the department.

PhD in Geography and Environment

Prerequisites The post-master’s PhD student is expected to have an MA degree or the equivalent upon admission to the PhD program; the postbachelor’s student must have a BA or the equivalent and should have a superior record that warrants admission directly into the PhD program. (Note differences in requirements below.)

Interim Advisor Upon the student’s arrival on campus, the Director of Graduate Studies will act as an interim advisor. The primary function of the interim advisor is to counsel and guide the student until he or she chooses, with departmental approval, a final program advisor, who will supervise the program and dissertation. The permanent advisor is to be a mutual choice of student and faculty member.

Coursework The post-master’s student must complete at least eight semester courses (32 credits); the postbachelor’s student must complete at least 16 courses (64 credits). The actual number of courses required of a student is determined in consultation with the advisor. Unless the student has already taken very close equivalents, the core graduate program GRS GE 539 (or equivalent), two analytical methods courses, and GRS GE 516 (or equivalent) are required. At least one course must be taken outside the department, in a cognate field. Doctoral candidates are urged to take several research seminars during their program.

Permanent Advisory Committee Prior to the qualifying examination, the permanent advisory committee is formed. Normally consisting of three or four faculty members, the committee must be approved by the permanent advisor.

Field of Specialization The doctoral student must select, no later than the beginning of the third semester, a field of major specialization, which will help determine the faculty composition of the student’s permanent advisory committee. In consultation with this committee, the student plans his or her subsequent program of study and develops a suitable dissertation topic.

Research Paper and Presentation (Postbachelor’s Students) Postbachelor’s PhD students must prepare a substantial written research paper and give a departmental presentation on its content sometime after the completion of six courses and before completion of 16 courses. This paper and presentation are a separate requirement from the dissertation and colloquium requirements below. The purpose is to demonstrate the student’s potential for carrying out and communicating PhD-level research.

Qualifying Examination Students must pass a qualifying examination to be taken near the end of the last semester of coursework. The examination is administered by an examination committee approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. It is normally the same as the permanent advising committee. The examination consists of (1) a written examination in two broad fields of geography chosen by the student, e.g., geography of development, energy and environmental geography, remote sensing, and geographic information systems, or bioclimatology; and (2) an oral examination. The oral exam is administered following a review by the committee of all the student’s papers, reports, theses, and written qualifying examinations undertaken at Boston University, and other material the student may wish to submit to demonstrate competence in the field. All previously completed work must be submitted to the examination committee at least one week before the date of the written portion of the qualifying examination.

Residency Requirement See General Requirements for the PhD.

Dissertation Proposal (Prospectus) Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student prepares a written dissertation proposal to be presented to the members of the Dissertation Committee, consisting of the permanent advisor plus four other members. The Dissertation Committee is formed when the student consults with the permanent advisor and the advisor nominates the first, second, and third readers, as well as two additional readers, to be approved by the department. The third reader is normally from outside the department; one of the additional readers may be as well. Ideally, the proposal examination takes place in the first semester following the qualifying examination and while the student is in residence. Upon acceptance of the dissertation proposal, the student is advanced to candidacy for a PhD in Geography and Environment.

Dissertation The dissertation is then prepared and written under the primary direction of the candidate’s permanent advisor. Dissertation specifications are determined by the regulations of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and additionally by the student’s advisor.

Final Oral Examination The completed dissertation must be defended before the Dissertation Committee. Any changes made to the Dissertation Committee must be approved by the department prior to the examination. Individual copies of the dissertation must be given at least two weeks before the exam to all committee members. The oral examination is on matters relevant to the dissertation and its relation to the discipline of geography. Any University faculty member may attend and participate in the examination.

Colloquium During the course of the program, students are expected to give at least one colloquium presentation before the department to demonstrate progress in their research objectives.

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Courses

CAS GE 502 Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing

Prereq: CAS GE 302. Examines advanced concepts in radiative transfer and information extraction relevant to remote sensing. Emphasis on applications of digital image processing to remote sensing problems. Strahler. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 503 Micrometeorology: Energy and Mass Transfer at the Earth’s Surface

Prereq: CAS GE 310, CAS MA 121, and CAS PY 233 or graduate standing. Modern theories and techniques for measurement and analysis of physical processes occurring at the earth’s surface: radiation regimes; energy and mass exchange; agricultural and forest micrometeorology remote sensing, and modeling of land surface properties and processes. Friedl. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 504 Physical Climatology

Prereq: CAS GE 310 or consent of instructor. Physical factors and processes operating in the earth-atmosphere boundary zone. Solar radiation, expotranspiration, and water balance studies for various natural and cultural environments. Examples include bioclimates of vegetation, air-sea interaction, urban climate, physiologic climatic parameters, and climatic change. TBA. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS GE 505 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Prereq: CAS GE 365 and CAS MA 213. Provides a theoretical and practical introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Introduces the essentials in GIS, methods of data capture and sources of data, nature and characteristics of spatial data and objects, data structures, modeling surfaces, volumes and time, and data uncertainty. Emphasis is on applications. Laboratory exercises included. TBA. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 510 Physical Principles of the Environment

Prereq: CAS GE 304, CAS BI 306, or consent of instructor. Principles and concepts that underlie the physical and ecological forces that cause environmental change. Topics include soil erosion, acid rain, thermal pollution, greenhouse effect, stratospheric ozone depletion, and loss of biodiversity. TBA. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 511 Ecological Economics

Prereq: CAS GE 304 or CAS EC 303 and CAS GE 275. Interrelationships among population, economic growth, environment, energy, and natural resource supplies, particularly in developing countries. Focus on possibilities and limitations of technological solutions to pressures of population on resources and environment. Critical examination of selected large-scale economic/environmental models. TBA. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS GE 514 Dynamic Land Surface Hydrology

Prereq: CAS MA 121, MA 123, or MA 127, and CAS CH 101, CH 111, CH 131, CH 161, CH 171, CAS PY 105, PY 211, PY 233, or PY 251. Land surface hydrology with emphasis on the unsaturated zone. Development and applications of physics governing transport of water, vapor, and heat in soils and the near surface atmosphere. Effects of vegetation, topography, and water table runoff, evapotranspiration, and recharge. (Offered alternate years.) Salvucci. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers

Prereq: CAS MA 214 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Applications of multivariate techniques to problems in spatial context, emphasizing interpretation. Review of regression and analysis of variance. Introduction to topics including canonical correlation, factor analysis, discriminant and clustering analyses. Friedl. 4 cr, on demand

CAS GE 517 Models for Hydrologic Analysis

Prereq: consent of instructor. Principles and practices of modeling hydrologic systems. Classes and goals of hydrologic models. Methods of model selection and construction. Use of models in surface and groundwater hydrology studies and decision making. Emphasis on conceptual and stochastic hydrologic models. Salvucci. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS GE 518 Natural Resource Scarcity and Economic Growth

Prereq: CAS GE 304, CAS EC 303, and CAS GE 275 or consent of instructor. Perspectives on adequacy issues of natural resources. Comparison of different models of change in the quality and quantity of renewable and nonrenewable resources over time. Analysis of social and economic implications of resource depletion and degradation, and adequacy of technical change to overcome resource scarcity. Cleveland. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS GE 529 Modeling and Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystems Processes

Prereq: CAS GE 302; CAS BI 306 or 303 (or equivalents). Concepts and problems at the interface of ecosystem process modeling and satellite remote sensing; current methods and challenges in modeling terrestrial primary production at regional-to-global scales; capabilities, limitations, and prospects of satellite remote sensing as a tool for collecting biotic and abiotic data in ecosystem process studies. TBA. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 531 Political Geography of the International System

An examination of the national states and the international system, particularly in the areas of trade, cooperation and the economic order, geopolitics and strategy, natural resources, and environmental problems. TBA. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 539 History of Geographic Thought

Prereq: senior standing or consent of instructor. History of the field of geography from classical times. Major contributors to geographic theory and concepts. TBA. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

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CAS GE 541 The Economic Geography of Transport

Prereq: CAS GE 103 or consent of instructor. The role of transportation in national and regional economies. Topics include regulation, deregulation, and privatization of transport systems; logistical innovations and intelligent transport; economic impact of infrastructure; public transport in cities; and transport in developing countries. Lakshmanan. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

CAS GE 542 Models of Urban Transportation Systems

Prereq: CAS GE 365 or consent of instructor. Models for analyzing multi-modal transportation flows and congestion over urban road and transit networks. Applications are developed in a Geographical Information Systems environment. Models are extended to urban land use and air quality applications. Anderson, Walker. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 550 Modeling Environmental and Social Systems

Prereq: CAS GE 275, CAS EC 414, or consent of instructor. Stamped approval required. Techniques of organizing energy, environmental, or social systems into mathematical computer models. Includes the theory underlying different modeling techniques, programming skills, and a hands-on research project in which students develop their own models. Staff. 4 cr, 1st sem.

CAS GE 565 Environmental Analysis and Modeling Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Prereq: CAS BI 306, CAS GE 365, and CAS MA 121, or consent of instructor. Modeling and analysis of environmental systems using GIS. Environmental data and spatial data analysis; simulation modeling of geophysical and ecological systems; use of land information systems and spatial decision support systems in environmental planning and management. Friedl. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GRS GE 612 Global Climate and Environmental Impact

Prereq: CAS GE 101 or equivalent. Regimes of climates on continental and macroregional scales; classification, geographic distribution, and climatic thresholds of given environments. Impact of climatic fluctuations affecting activities of humankind. Modeling global climate to permit predicting change on regional and global scales is introduced. Myneni. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GRS GE 640 Digital Image Processing —Remote Sensing

Prereq: CAS GE 302 and CAS CS 111 or equivalents. Pursues both the algorithms involved in processing remotely sensed images and their application. Topics include spectral and spatial enhancement, image classification and clustering, spatial analysis, and linear transforms. Students write image-processing programs. (Offered alternate years.) Strahler, Woodcock. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GRS GE 645 Physical Models in Remote Sensing

Prereq: CAS GE 302 or equivalent. Devoted to understanding the physical processes involved in remote sensing. Emphasis based on topics of radiative transfer in the atmosphere, at the surface, and in sensors. Reflectance modeling, advanced sensor systems, and geometric effects. A short research paper is required. (Offered alternate years.) Myneni, Strahler, Woodcock. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GRS GE 646 Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere

Use of remote sensing to study vegetation. Topics addressed include resource inventory and evaluation for forests and agriculture; ecosystem processes like primary productivity and biogeochemical cycles; and spectral reflectance measurement and models. A research paper is required. (Offered alternate years.) Strahler, Woodcock. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GRS GE 648 Remote Sensing of Vegetation

Prereq: CAS GE 302 or equivalent. Examines the use of remote sensing to study vegetation. Topics addressed include resource inventory and evaluation for forests and agriculture; ecosystem processes like primary productivity and biogeochemical cycles; and spectral reflectance measurement and models. A research paper is required. (Offered alternate years.) TBA, Woodcock. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GRS GE 699 Teaching College Geography I

The goals, contents, and methods of instruction in geography. General teaching-learning issues. Required of all teaching fellows. TBA. 2 cr, 1st & 2nd sem.

GRS GE 683 Geodynamics II: Fluids and Fluid Transport

Prereq: CAS MA 124, MA 127, or MA 129, and CAS PY 211 and CAS ES 360 or consent of instructor. Large and small scale phenomena in oceanic, atmospheric, and landsurface fluids. Properties of gases and liquids; surface body forces; statics; flow analysis; continuity and momentum conservation. Darcy’s Law; potential, open channel and geostraphic flow; dimensional analysis; diffusion; turbulence. (Offered alternate years.) Salvucci. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GRS GE 712 Regional Energy Modeling

Prereq: consent of instructor. Regional energy modeling techniques and existing regional energy models. Current energy issues are discussed. Modeling procedures are introduced. Current regional and energy models are explored. Kaufmann. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GRS GE 714 Seminar: Energy and Environmental Issues

Prereq: consent of instructor. The interrelationships of economy, energy, and environment at the regional level. Topics include regional location and energy determinants; conflicts between energy extraction, use, and environmental quality; and regional effects of national energy and environmental policies. (Offered alternate years.) Staff. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GRS GE 723 Advanced Economic Geography

Prereq: CAS GE 103 or consent of instructor. Geography of retailing, wholesaling, and manufacturing; emphasis on location analysis, trading area patterns, and raw material bases. Field and library work. (Offered alternate years.) TBA. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GRS GE 741 Geographic Information Systems

This course explores the use of geographic information systems for a variety of uses ranging from land management and planning to scientific studies. Issues of geographic data capture, representation, and analysis are covered. The effects of uncertainty and errors are discussed. Gopal, Woodcock. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GRS GE 756 Geography of Third-World Development

Prereq: consent of instructor. Theory and experiences of Third-World development. Emphasis on issues of income distribution, geographical and regional inequality, importance of location and development planning, efficiency and equity considerations, and models of and strategies for regional development. TBA. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GRS GE 805 Spatial Analysis Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Prereq: CAS GE 505 or GE 565 and CAS MA 613 or MA 614. Covers advanced research topics in GIS dealing with the measurement, storage, retrieval, and analysis of spatial information. Topics include fuzzy sets, fractals, and spatial statistics. Completion of project is required. Gopal. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

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Physical Geography Seminar Series

One or two seminars will be offered each year in a flexible rotation.

Directed Study or Research

Hours are arranged. Variable credit. This is normally independent work under the direction of a faculty member.

Related Courses

A number of related courses in other departments (see list below) may be selected for graduate credit with prior approval of the advisor and the director of graduate studies.

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31 October 2007
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