Geography
Geography
Program Purpose: Students who complete Geography courses will examine the spatial organization of physical features and human activities at a variety of scales, from local to global. Students will be able to locate features on the surface of the Earth, explain the physical processes that formed them, and describe how they interact with humanity. Students will also examine how physical and cultural landscapes change through time, influencing geopolitics. Students completing physical geography courses will be able to describe the processes that drive earth’s climate, create landforms, and govern the distribution of plants and animals. Students completing human geography will analyze and describe cultural phenomenon such as population, development, agriculture, language and religion.
Geography is a dynamic discipline that it is concerned with where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, and how places are similar and/or different. Geographers further examine our interactions with the environment and how physical and cultural landscapes change through time. There are two main branches of geography:
- physical geography, which focuses on the processes that drive earth’s climate, create landforms, and govern the distribution of plants and animals; and
- human geography, which focuses on cultural phenomenon such as population, development, agriculture, language and religion.
Geography students are trained to examine the spatial organization of physical features and human activities at a variety of spatial scales from local to global. A background in geography is a necessity for careers involving business, economics, planning, education, history, international relations, cartography, conservation, GIS, demography, transportation, tourism and others.
Transfer Information
Students planning to transfer need to consult with a counselor, prepare a Student Education Plan, and take advantage of the support services available in the University Transfer Center located in Fountain Hall, (805) 378-1536.
Surveys several branches of the natural sciences to provide students with an understanding of the processes responsible for the physical patterns of climate, water, soils, vegetation, and landforms found over the earth. Emphasizes understanding of human-induced agents of change within the physical world and human/environmental relationships. Includes tools of geographic inquiry such as: maps, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
Introduces students to the physical processes that shape the earth's surface and the tools used to study these processes. Provides hands-on practice in landscape description, measurement and analysis.
Introduces the significance and distribution of various cultural elements and the impact of human activities on the natural environment. Takes an issue-based, or topical approach to understanding and explaining spatial patterns of the key components of culture such as population, migration, settlement, development, ethnicity, gender, agriculture, geopolitics, land-use, globalization, language and religion. Emphasizes the analysis of current world events.
Introduces the world’s major regions. Emphasizes physical and cultural characteristics that distinguish the major areas of the world including population, resources, language, ethnicity and religion, economic development, climate and topography. Addresses key issues, current events and global problems. Facilitates students' understanding of world events, living styles and conditions, environments, and conflicts.
Introduces the world’s major regions. Emphasizes physical and cultural characteristics that distinguish the major areas of the world including population, resources, language, ethnicity and religion, economic development, climate and topography. Addresses key issues, current events and global problems. Facilitates students' understanding of world events, living styles and conditions, environments, and conflicts. Honors work challenges students to be more analytical and creative through expanded assignments, real-world applications, and enrichment opportunities.
Introduces meteorological phenomena, including atmospheric circulation and behavior, clouds, precipitation, wind systems, storms, and air pollution. Focuses on interrelationships between land, ocean, and atmosphere as well as weather instruments and their roles in reporting general and aviation weather conditions.
Introduces physical and human geography of California. Examines climate, geology, natural vegetation, water resources, indigenous history, settlement patterns, agriculture, and technological expansion. Includes a study of physiographic regions and the state's critical role in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus for sustainable development. Examines California's numerous and evolving connections between peoples, places, and environments.
Provides on-the-job learning to develop effective work habits, attitudes, and career awareness in paid or unpaid internships that are related to the discipline. Involves the development and documentation of learning objectives and the completion of an internship paper, presentation, or project. Includes both workplace supervisor and faculty adviser feedback and/or written evaluations. Course Credit Limitation: To take this course, contact the Career Transfer Center. Requires orientation session. Students receive one unit of credit for each 60 hours unpaid or 75 hours paid work. May enroll in up to 4 units a semester with a maximum of 16 total units of any type of work experience.
Allows independent study for students who wish to extend their knowledge of a particular area of geography through research and study. Utilizes an approved independent project. Includes one-on-one work with instructor. Interested students should contact a geography instructor for assistance in developing a contract for learning about a specific topic.