Geography

The prime purpose of the Advanced GIS course is to widen your knowledge and skills in the practical – foremost analytical – application of Geographical Information Systems using raster models and spatial network models. As a consequence, a substantial part of the course consists of practical assignments in which participants train their skills in GIS analysis. At the same time, start your own analytical GIS project on planning a new road in Friesland. The practical assignments are partly integrated with the project. Work together with one or two fellow students, directly applying your new skills in the project. The project is concluded with two reports on progress and outcomes (maps, charts, etc.).

Hydrological systems such as river catchments represent a fundamental component of our landscapes. The environmental and hydrological processes which operate in river catchments influence important ecosystem services such as water supply, the provision of high water quality, and high (flood) and low flow regulation. The effective management of these systems is dependent on our scientific understanding of these processes and their dynamics. This course covers the key principles of hydrology and catchment systems and introduces key principles for monitoring and managing catchment systems.

In this course, students will approach, from an interdisciplinary, critical, practical, and reflective perspective, territories that, possessing some degree of heritage identification, must coexist with tourism. It provides students with the analytical and assessment tools for studying heritage and touristic aspects. The course methodology and assessments seek that students working in teams formulate strategies of sustainable development of urban heritage territories that serve a touristic purpose.

The course analyzes the concepts and models of urban systems from the perspectives of geography, sociology, architecture, spatial economics, and location theory. It then delves into the current dynamics of urban problems and the potential solutions proposed for these processes. Furthermore, readings will be offered on the relationship between the city and the regional, global, and local contexts. The course concludes with the study of advanced contemporary topics such as territory and power, and the social construction of the city.

This course examines the development of contemporary physical and human geography, its disciplinary roots, substantive focus, analytical methods and practical applications. 

This is a special studies course involving an internship with a corporate, public, governmental, or private organization, arranged with the Study Center Director or Liaison Officer. Specific internships vary each term and are described on a special study project form for each student. A substantial paper or series of reports is required. Units vary depending on the contact hours and method of assessment. The internship may be taken during one or more terms but the units cannot exceed a total of 12.0 for the year.

Nearly all continental surface of the planet shows interactions between geomorphic processes and biota, called biogeomorphic interactions. These interactions are often so strong that patterns and landforms emerge that otherwise would not form (such as on planet Mars). This course covers key concepts from ecology and biogeomorphology that allow analysis of all environments from the mountains to the sea. This is not only useful for geomorphology and ecology, but also for application in societal settings where ‘nature’ can be restored to increase protection against floods, and debris flows, This course provides an overview on biogeomorphic interactions and analyze three typical environments from the mountains to the sea in depth, for example vegetated high mountain slopes, rivers and dunes or tidal flats. All systems are studied to determine the roles of physical boundary conditions and geomorphic processes, different plant species and their interactions with the landscapes, and applications with societal relevance in all these environments. The reading and lecture materials will be applied in practicals, small projects, and excursions. Key concepts to be explored include ecological concepts related to species and their functioning in a landscape (functional traits, trade-offs) and their potential to improve their own environment (ecosystem engineering), and the development of the entire living landscape (succession, geomorphic and ecologic pattern formation).