Physical Geography and Geoecology

List of courses for Master study programme
Code	Course	Level	Semester	Contents	Lecturer/-s	ECTS	
PriF.KFGG/N-mZFG-102/15	Lithogeography and geomorphology research methods	Master	W	Sources of geomorphological and lithogeographical information. Methods of relative and numerical dating. Geomorphometry and land surface segmentation. Geomorphological information system and comprehensive geomorphological maps. Field research. Models in geomorphology. Methods of Quaternary research. Methods of engineering geology. Engineering geology maps. Laboratory analyses of physical and technical properties of rocks and soils. Evaluation of selected geohazars.	Jozef Minár, Tatiana Durmeková & Juraj Holec	8	
PriF.KFGG/N-mZFG-104/15	Pedogeography and biogeography research methods	Master	S	Consists of two blocks. 1. Pedogeography block is focused on theory and practice of soil survey methods. Development of skills aimed in identifying signs of soil processes and classifying soils for the needs of geographical project. Interpretation of analytical data. Using of existing regional (including KPP, BPEJ) and European soil databases. Mapping soil at a scale of a pedon, soil catena and simple soil map. 2. Biogeography block introduces to methods used in phytosociology research by phytosociology schools (Zurich-Montpellier and A. Zlatník tradition). Practice in the field aims primarily to visual determination of plants and their communities in field. Taking a phytosociological relevées, craetion of simple vegetation maps (= both actual and potential natural vegetation).	Peter Pišút & Ivan Ružek 	7	
PriF.KFGG/N-mZFG-106/15	Fieldworks in litogeography and geomorphology	Master	S	Six days continual field research (during second half of May or first half of June) is focused on investigation of actual scientific problem depending on running scientific projects (e.g. investigation of historical soil erosion, river terracess, planation surfacess, paleoecological records in peatbogs...). Production of purpose-made geomorphological information system (its part) and text report are required outputs of the fieldwork.  	Jozef Minár & Juraj Holec	4	
PriF.KFGG/N-mZFG-107/15	Fieldworks in pedogeography, biogeography and geoecology	Master	S	Field practice is aimed to deepen theoretical knowledge and develop practical skills in pedogeography, biogeography and geoecology research and mapping. It aims to standardised data collection: practical recognition of selected floral and faunal species, plant communities and habitats. Synthetical geoecology research at tessera scale includes description of soil profiles, verifying of geotope borders, updating and revision of complex geoecological database. Field practice is realised during nine days in May or June. 	Vladimír Falťan, Marián Jenčo, Igor Matečný, Peter Pišút  & Ivan Ružek 	6	
PriF.KFGG//N-mZFG-108-15	GIS as a tool in geoecology and landscape planning 1	Master	W	The subject is aimed on achieving of advanced knowledge about analytics tools used for spatial analysis and construction of complex tools. In general a subject can be divided into three parts. The first one is aimed on basic knowledge about Python 2.x scripting language. During the second part a student is using Python language for construction of tools in ArcGIS 10.x using Arc Toolbox. The last one part is proposing a review of wide range of open-source libraries suing for spatial analysis in general. The main used platform is ESRI ArcGIS 10.x product with extensions, Python 2.x with libraries.	Libor Burian	3	
PriF.KFGG/N-mZFG-116/15	Physico-geographical excursion
	Master	S	The seven days lasting bus excursion (usually in June) is aimed to visit geoscientifically interesting and important sites to learn main regional physico-geographical phenomena of Slovakia and/or other European countries. Students practice during small field trips techniques in recognizing rocks, landforms, geomorphological processes, and hydrological, soil and biosphere phenomena. Also environmental problems related to man’s activities are observed and commented. 	Ivan Ružek	2	
PriF.KFGG//N-mZFG-123-15	Regional geoecology of the Earth	Master	S	Students will receive theoretical and practical competence in the application of complex physico-geographical regions of the world from choric to planetary dimensions. They will be able to apply a synergistic effect when describing sites of regional dimension.  They will be able to critically review the maps and text background data and create geoecological characteristics of selected terrestrial, respectively aquatic area with emphasis on the region of Eurasia.	Vladimír Falťan	4	
PriF.KFGG/N-mZFG-125/15	Mathematical statistics for geographers	Master	W	Design of geographical research from statistical point of view. Principles of writing report about measurements, data, statistical analysis and interpretation of results in geography. Principles of a data analysis. Introduction to R computing environment. Probabilistic and statistical model. Characteristics of location and variability. Statistical graphics. Introduction to statistical inference – testing statistical hypotheses and confidence sets. Statistical inference – goodness-of-fit approach for probabilistic models. Statistical inference for one, two or more parameters – means, variances, correlation coefficients, skewness and kurtosis, probabilities (frequencies). Linear statistical models – analysis of variance, linear regression model, analysis of covariance, logistic regression model.	Stanislav Katina	4