GEOG 103 Physical Geography

This course provides a fundamental understanding of the physical environment. Students will develop a broad understanding of the principles and processes underlying the natural environment. Students will also gain an understanding of various environmental issues facing the world today, and how those issues are affected by human activities. Topics include Earth planetary motions, earth materials, climate, landforms, soils, and vegetation.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3

Course Objectives

1. Gain a fundamental understanding of the elements of the physical environment.
2. Understand the factors that cause differences in physical features such as landforms, soils, vegetation, climate, and other elements of the environment.
3. Describe environmental issues including global warming, water pollution, land degradation, air pollution, and loss of biodiversity that the world faces today.
4. Discuss the biophysical processes and how these processes shape human activities.
5. Analyze the natural and human-induced environmental processes through geospatial analysis.
6. Select the appropriate technological tool to analyze natural and human-induced environmental processes.
7. Effectively use the appropriate technological tool to analyze natural and human-induced environmental processes.
8. Use the selected technological tool to effectively communicate and collaborate with peers.
9. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant, and properly attributed content that demonstrates one's understanding of physical geography.

Course Objectives

1. Gain a fundamental understanding of the elements of the physical environment.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • course assignment rubric
2. Understand the factors that cause differences in physical features such as landforms, soils, vegetation, climate, and other elements of the environment.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • course assignment rubric
3. Describe environmental issues including global warming, water pollution, land degradation, air pollution, and loss of biodiversity that the world faces today.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Global Competency Rubric

   Global Competency

   • GC1
4. Discuss the biophysical processes and how these processes shape human activities.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Global Competency Rubric

   Global Competency

   • GC2
5. Analyze the natural and human-induced environmental processes through geospatial analysis.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Global Competency Rubric

   Global Competency

   • GC3
6. Select the appropriate technological tool to analyze natural and human-induced environmental processes.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Technological Literacy Rubric
7. Effectively use the appropriate technological tool to analyze natural and human-induced environmental processes.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Technological Literacy Rubric
8. Use the selected technological tool to effectively communicate and collaborate with peers.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Technological Literacy Rubric
9. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant, and properly attributed content that demonstrates one's understanding of physical geography.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • course assignment rubric