An overview examining the spatial distribution of people and places around the world, with emphasis on the cultural, political, social, and economic aspects of regions. Topics are explored by examining ways that humans interact with the environment and one another. Emphasis is placed on the spatial variation of human activities at all scales from local to global.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- Overview of Geography and Geographic Perspective
- Spatial Analysis and Global Perspective
- Perception of People and Place
- Population Distribution and Settlement Patterns
- Regional Approach: overview of human geography including cultural, political, social, economic and historical geography in numerous world regions
- Spatial Distribution of Culture
- Global Patterns of Development
- Colonialism and the Uneven Spatial Distribution of Wealth
- Human Use of the Environment
- Population Growth, Immigration, and Migration
- Global Current Events from a Geographic Perspective
- Explain spatial analysis and describe the geographic approach and perspective.
- Explain the spatial organization of people and places on the earth’s surface.
- Describe the human and physical characteristics of places.
- Explain how to use maps to interpret the past, understand the present, and plan for the future
- Explain how culture and experience influence people’s perceptions of places, regions, and peoples.
- Discuss the spatial distribution, characteristics, and complexity of cultural landscapes on the earth’s surface.
- Discuss ethnocentrism from a spatial perspective at local, regional, national and global scales.
- Contrast characteristics of more developed countries with characteristics of less developed countries.
- Describe the processes determining the uneven spatial distribution of wealth at local, national, and global scales.
- Explain several global issues (cultural, political, social, economic, environmental) from a geographic perspective.
- *Analyze a global issue or challenge from a geographic perspective by describing the nature of the challenge, assessing the present and long term impacts on people and the environment, and determining the best possible decisions and actions needed to solve or mitigate the challenge.
Assessment and Requirements
Each instructor will identify and implement appropriate methods to assess the achievement of the learning objectives for the course.