Discipline: Geography Degree Credit  [ ]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Geography 2


COURSE DESCRIPTION
2 Human Geography Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite: None.
 
The geographic analysis of the human imprint on the planet. A study of diverse human populations, their cultural origins, diffusion and contemporary spatial expressions emphasizing demography, languages, religions, urbanization, landscape modification, political units and nationalism, economic systems and development. Emphasis is given to interrelationships between human activities and the biophysical environment. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
The geographic analysis of the human imprint on the planet. Topics include population, food, language, religion, economic activity, physical environment, and political geography.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
  1. Identify and explain basic facts, rules, principles and mechanisms of the human world with reference to people, their cultures and their physical environment;
  2. Recognize the formation of regions from one or more variables;
  3. Explain using spatial analysis why things are located where they are;
  4. Communicate geographic and scientific information correctly including the ability to articulate multiple perspectives on human spatial activities;
  5. Utilize geographic tools appropriately, such as maps, scale, graphs, data, and images to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills;
  6. Apply geographic methods to analyze, evaluate, and explain spatial issues and problems in ways that demonstrate critical thinking.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1.   Population
    1. density
    2.  natural increase
    3.  doubling time
    4.  demographic transition model
  2.  Migration
    1.  push and pull
    2.  refugees
    3.  internal vs. external
  3.  Language
    1.  classification
    2.  unifier vs. divider
    3.  diffusion
  4.  Religion
    1.  universalizing vs. non-universalizing
    2.  diffusion
    3.  conflict
  5.  Economic Development
    1.  models
    2.  disparities
  6.  Agriculture and food
    1.  hearths and domestication
    2. diffusion, exchange
    3.  subsistence vs. industrialized
  7.  Pre-Industrial, Industrial, Post-industrial societies
    1.  Industrial Revolution
    2.  manufacturing regions
    3.  deindustrialization and the service sector
  8.  Cities
    1.  civilization and urbanization
    2.  location
    3.  models of internal structure
  9.  Political geography
    1.  nation-state
    2.  territory
    3. . state organization
    4. . supranationalism
  10.  Social Geography
    1.  nutrition
    2.  spatial patterns of health and disease
  11.  Geography of inequality
    1.  ethnicity
    2.  gender
  12.  Human impact on the natural environment
    1.  human-induced environmental change

Students are also assigned reading, writing and other outside assignments equivalent to two hours per one hour lecture.
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in order to develop an understanding of terminology and basic processes and to develop critical thinking skills;
  • Handouts and in-class assignments in order to enhance understanding of geographic processes and concepts;
  • In-class and take home writing assignments in order to develop an understanding of interrelationships between different spheres and foster the ability to articulate multiple perspectives on physical processes;
  • Screening of selected videos/slides/power point/computer-based media to reinforce course content and to provide additional examples in addition to the textbook;
  • Conferences in order to provide personal assessments of individual students’ strengths and weaknesses;
  • Guest lecturers in order to provide expert and personal insights into Earth processes.
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Written in-class quizzes, tests, and examinations designed to demonstrate understanding of textbook and lecture material;
  • Class discussions of course content which gauge individual student’s grasp of terminology and concepts;
  • Individual and group oral presentations which demonstrate understanding of basic human geography processes and interrelationships;
  • Writing assignments in which students demonstrate the demonstrate knowledge of terminology and concepts.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Daniels, Bradshaw, Shaw, Sidaway. An Introduction to Human Geography: issues for the 21st century. 2 ed. any: Prentice-Hall, 2005.
  • De Blij, H.J., Murphy, Foubeg. Human Geography: People, Place & Culture. 8 ed. any: Wiley, 2006.
  • Haggett, Peter. Geography: A Global Synthesis. any: Prentice-Hall, 2001.
  • Norton, William. Human Geography. 5 ed. Canada: Oxford University Press , 2004.
  • Rubenstein, James M.. The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. 9 ed. any: Prentice-Hall, 2008.
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