

This program builds upon the foundations of physical geography as an integrating science that examines the origins, contemporary development, and processes of Earth’s natural and human-modified surfaces. All participating faculty place strong emphasis on the theoretical underpinning of their research and teaching.
The program is designed to provide students with a set of skills they can use to help solve societal problems and to achieve solutions to important scientific problems in physical geography that relate to the dynamics of rivers, watersheds, and landscapes. Research opportunities for new students can be found here.
Faculty in this program also have strong cross-campus connections with other water-related research programs in Geology, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, and with scientists in the Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Natural History Survey and the Illinois Water Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey, all of which are located on campus.
Master of Science (MS) Degree Requirements
Doctoral (PhD) Degree Requirements
Core Courses - River, Watershed, and Landscape Dynamics
GGIS 401: Watershed Hydrology
GGIS 405: Geography Field Course
GGIS 406: Fluvial Geomorphology
GGIS 408: Humans and River Systems
GGIS 459: Ecohydraulics
GGIS 460: Aerial Photo Analysis
GGIS 476: Environmental Applications of GIS
GGIS 477: Intro to Remote Sensing
GGIS 478: Techniques of Remote Sensing
Related Courses in Other Departments
CEE 432: Stream Ecology
CEE 450: Surface Hydrology
CEE 453: Urban Hydrology and Hydraulics
CEE 551: Open Channel Hydraulics
CEE 559: Sediment Transport
GEOL 440: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
NRES 403: Watersheds and Water Quality
NRES 490: Surface Water System Chemistry
UP 405: Watershed Ecology and Planning