Field Experiences
THE WORLD IS OUR CLASSROOM
Field study has enjoyed an enduring tradition within the academic discipline of geography. Many geographers recognize field work as an essential skill in their trade. Valpo geography is pleased to embrace this tradition through its many exciting field study opportunities. In addition to the numerous field trips conducted as a part of courses like Geomorphology and the Regional Geography of the United States, the department offers a number of individual field courses under the GEO 385/585 listing and actively encourages students to engage in individualized research with field components.
Current Field Courses
Peaks and Pueblos: Past field courses have visited the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona (including Saguaro and Chiricahua National Monuments), the Grand Canyon (and other national park sites in Arizona, including Canyon de Chelly and Petrified Forest), the major American Indian mound sites of the South (including Cahokia, Russel Cave National Monument, and Etowah), and the volcanoes and lava flows of the Big Island of Hawaii. More distant courses have toured the glacier of Alaska and the eastern half of the historic Oregon Trail, following its course into Wyoming, and visiting Yellowstone National Park and Devils Tower National Monument before returning east via the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota.
Field Experiences in Regular Semester Courses
Several regular semester courses involve short overnight field experiences, including a visit to Mammoth Cave National Park and Red River Gorge National Geological Area (GEO304). Urban geography and urban planning encompass day trips to Chicago, and courses in geomorphology, hydrology, and soils incorporate Saturday field excursions to regional locations including Indiana Dunes, the Kankakee River, and other wetlands, waterways, and ecological areas.
Field Experiences in Student Research
Students are encouraged to develop and participate in small group research projects in coordination with an advising professor. These projects are in addition to their normal coursework and provide excellent opportunities for students to learn additional, specialized field and laboratory procedures. Students have done work on local soils and waterways, former wetlands drained in the region, and elsewhere. Students have presented their work both at local and national conferences.
