GEOG A185: Cultural Geography
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 10/07/2020 |
| Top Code | 220600 - Geography |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S) |
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Global and Multicultural Requirement (OGM) | Yes |
| California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) |
|
| Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
A study of the basic cultural elements of geography and their correlation with the physical elements. Particular emphasis is given to population distribution, land use patterns, and trade. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: GEOG 120.C-ID: GEOG 120.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Student will identify, analyze and interpret spatial information for the earth’s cultural features.
- Student will understand the spatial distributions, processes and controls of the earth’s cultural features for from the global to local scale.
Course Objectives
- 1. Identify location of various countries, major rivers, major mountain ranges, and international sea lanes.
- 2. Describe functional and formal regions.
- 3. Compare and contrast the areas of conflict and contact.
- 4. Analyze the importance and differences of languages, religions, ethnicity, and nationalism.
- 5. From a geopolitical point of view explain thematic maps.
- 6. Compare developed and undeveloped countries in terms of population growth, consumption of resources, types of governments, and standard of living.
- 7. Evaluate resurgence of ethnonationalism, the collapse of empire, the outbreak of humanitarian crises, and growing pressures on weakened states.
- 8. Analyze the new geopolitical world order.
- 9. Identify and discuss the significance of devolution.
- 10. Compare and contrast land uses, landlines, and land ownership.
Lecture Content
Introduction to the study of cultural geography The study of maps and toponymy Linguistic heritage, conflict, and devolution of empires Transition zones of human settlements: The modern city; the megalopolis Towns, villages and hamlets Defining Sub-groups to be studied: Europe, Africa, Asia, The Americas, Pacific Rim Regions, regional concepts, and sub-regions Defining regional boundaries and their significance in relation to: resources populations conflicts and cooperation Natural stages and their cultural impact Rain forests Decertification Continental drift Environmental change and human impact Significance of regional water management The seas: e.g., Caspian, Mediterranean The importance of rivers, lakes, and wetlands Regions and the growth of cultures Diversity in cultural landscapes Culture, ethnicity, and ethnonationalism Nationalities Centripetal forces - cohesive factors Centrifugal forces - devolution factors The impact of regional groups on neighboring countries Leading population clusters Impact on trade Staples vs. cash crops Patterns of consumption Industry and the standard of living Non-industry and the standard of living Urbanization as a force of change Developed countries Undeveloped countries Industrialization The Impact of population movements Emigration Immigration Relationship of cultures to regional systemic geography Functional vs. formal regions Climate and its impact on people, plant , and animal life Land uses, landlines, and land ownership The emergence of a new geopolitical world order Outbreak of humanitarian crises Growing pressures on weakened states Zones where cultures meet: diffusion, collision, evolution, and devolution
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
1. Lectures and explanation of issues and concepts, both physical and cultural. 2. Feedback from students through questions, discussion. 3. Enhancement of lectures with chalkboard and overheads. 4. Students will critique each other by the participation in the oral presentations. 5. Instructor will divide students into small groups and monitor their discussion and map completion. 6. Instructor will provide both written and oral feedback. 7. Videos will be shown in class and instructor will moderate the ensuing discussion. 8. Examinations will be a combination of objective and short answers, ideas and identifications. 9. Instructor will provide handouts on various geographical regions under current studies.
Reading Assignments
Assigned from textbooks and supplemental materials
Writing Assignments
Students will write 3-4 short papers and give an oral presentation relating to topics contained in the course outline. Papers will be typed, double-spaced and handed in with their oral presentation. The following are areas of study to be used for papers: 1. A profile of a country in transition. 2. An area in conflict and its impact on a neighboring country. 3. Zones of contact, conflict, and cultural diffusion. 4. Effects of regional systemic geography on cultural evolution and devolution. Each paper will include: 1. Introduction to topic 2. Findings 3. Cultural and geographic implications 4. Personal insights 5. Resources cited
Out-of-class Assignments
Students will write 3-4 short papers and give an oral presentation relating to topics contained in the course outline. Papers will be typed, double-spaced and handed in with their oral presentation. The following are areas of study to be used for papers: A profile of a country in transition. An area in conflict and its impact on a neighboring country. Zones of contact, conflict, and cultural diffusion. Effects of regional systemic geography on cultural evolution and devolution. Each paper will include: Introduction to topic Findings Cultural and geographic implications Personal insights Resources cited
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Oral presentation on various countries; use of resources in the library; written short papers; preparation of thematic maps; objective examination including identification and definition of places, problems, and issues.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Students will write 3-4 short papers and give an oral presentation relating to topics contained in the course outline. Papers will be typed, double-spaced and handed in with their oral presentation. The following are areas of study to be used for papers: 1. A profile of a country in transition. 2. An area in conflict and its impact on a neighboring country. 3. Zones of contact, conflict, and cultural diffusion. 4. Effects of regional systemic geography on cultural evolution and devolution. Each paper will include: 1. Introduction to topic 2. Findings 3. Cultural and geographic implications 4. Personal insights 5. Resources cited
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Jordan-Bychkov, T.G. et.al. . The Human Mosaic, ed. New York: W.H. Freeman, 2006 Rationale: - 2. Required Rubenstein, J.M. An Introduction to Human Geography: The Cultural Landscape, ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2007
Other Resources
1. Hammonds Comparative World Atlas. 2. Supplemental Readings from the Geographical Review, Annals of the American Association of Geographers, and other academic journals or books.