GEOG 1020 Intro to Human Geography

An introductory course in human (cultural) geography for students who may not have previously taken a college-level geography course. The main purpose of the course is to introduce students to the study of geography as a social science by emphasizing the relevance of geographic concepts to human problems. We try to answer two basic questions: Where are people located on the earth's surface, and why are they located in particular places? (3 lect.) SOC

Credits

3 credits

Transfer Status

Equivalent to UW

Major Topics

• Introduction to the subject of human geography
• The interactions between people and their physical environment
• The broad social patterns that shape our lives—providing a worldwide perspective including examination of case studies within the perspective of globalization
• The differences between one place and another in terms of customs, mores and institutions that create and maintain human society
• Causes, effects of, and responses to changing social, political, economic, and natural environments

Outcomes

In order to successfully complete this course, the student will:

1. Compare the basic concepts and theories of human and cultural geography; explore the topical approach to geography, and the methods and techniques used to study the cultural landscape. Course topics will provide the student with the opportunity to become familiar with the study of geography as a social science; explain the relevance of geographic concepts to human problems; and identify the divisions within geography

2. Discover the range of information collected by human and cultural geographers and assess how this information explains and predicts trends in human populations. Course topics will provide the student with the opportunity to explore the ways human geographers think about the world

3. Analyze and become familiar with the topical areas of human geographers research, such as; Population, Migration, Folk and Popular Culture, Language, Religion, Ethnicity, Political Geography, Development, Agriculture, Industry, Services, Urban Patterns and Resource Issues

4. Examine the variation and distribution of key topics (described above) among regions

5. Identify, examine and analyze contemporary issues in human and cultural geography and their application in the modern world

6. Explain future trends and issues

7. Demonstrate intercultural competency by analyzing the impact of culture and identity among diverse groups