Geography

Graduate Coordinator: David Sauchyn, PhD

Faculty Listing

Department Description

MA and MSc degree programs and in special circumstances a PhD program are offered in selected areas of Geography. Research interests of the department include: cultural, historical, economic, rural and urban geography, cartography, resource management, remote sensing, geographical information systems (GIS), hydrology, geomorphology, and applied climatology. Particular emphasis is paid to geographical analysis of the problems of the Canadian prairies.

Department Facilities

The Map Library:
The University of Regina Map Library is home to the University’s collection of maps and atlases. A focal point within the Department for both research and social activity, the Map Library is a Full Depository Library under the Communication Canada Depository Services Program/Natural Resources Canada Agreement. As such, through this agreement, our Map Library, in conjunction with the University-wide library system, has access to: an impressive array of atlases, cartographic texts and terrain models, the complete National Topographic Data Base (1:50000 and 1:250,000), the Canadian Digital Elevation Data collection (1:50000 and 1:250,000), the entire Administrative Boundary database and the complete Updated Road Network database.

Laboratory Facilities:
Wet Physical Lab (Hardenbicker, Sauchyn)
This lab houses the Dendrochronology lab described below and is outfitted for a range of studies pertaining to the preliminary analysis and preparation of a wide range of materials including soils, sediments, vegetation and invertebrate biological samples. It is equipped with a full range of equipment for particle size analysis including sieves, sediments shakers and crushers and a Micrometrics sedigraph. There are a number of ovens and a muffle furnace for ashing, fume hood and balances for coarse measurements. Standard equipment includes magnetic stirrers, hot plates beakers, pipettes and pH meters. Surveying equipment including 2 Sokkia transit levels, theodolite, plane table, Abney levels, precision tape measures and Brunton compasses are also housed in this lab, along with a variety of terrestrial and marine sediment and biological samplers.

Dry Physical Lab (Hardenbicker, Sauchyn)
This lab is designed for more detailed and precise research involving microscopy and high precision weight measurements. The lab has numerous dissecting and compound microscopes, some equipped for photography, as well as two balances that weigh to 4 decimal places. The lab has three drop-sites for access to computing facilities.

Dendrochrononlogy Lab (Sauchyn).
This lab houses analytical equipment (Tree Ring Incremental Measurement System) to support current research on environmental and climate studies using proxy data from tree rings. The lab also provides storage and preparation of tree cores, and has its own computing equipment for analysis. This lab is located at the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC-UR), an affiliated research centre found in the research park at the University of Regina.

Computer Facilities (Piwowar, Siemer):
The Environmental Research and Response Applications (TERRA) Lab is a state of the art geomatics facility with GIS, remote sensing and advanced statistical and graphics capabilities supported by extensive digital, print/plotting and file storage infrastructure to address and model environmental, economic, and social responses to innovative advancements in environmental science. Students and researchers using this facility are addressing issues of climate change, greenhouse gas emission reductions through home renovations, wind power generation facility location, environmental stewardship in oil and gas exploration, and a variety of issues related to water management from the local to the international. With TERRA as an integral part of Geography's and the Faculty's infrastructure, graduate students and researchers are addressing issues around the University’s Strategic Research Themes where matters of environmental policy, industrial response and resource management are paramount.

Degree Requirements

Current students will be permitted to complete the program in which they were admitted to.

Those interested in pursuing a master's degree in Geography may do so on a special case basis and are encouraged to contact either the Department.

Courses

Course catalogue and current course offerings