Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for GEO 210 archive revision 201404

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Effective Term:
Fall 2014 through Summer 2017

Course Number:
GEO 210
Course Title:
The Natural Environment
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Focuses on natural processes that create physical diversity on the earth. Includes weather and climate, vegetation, soils, landforms, ecosystems, their distribution and significance. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

The course is valuable for students seeking to understand the varied and complex physical environments of the Earth.
 

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion of Geography 210 students will be able to:

  • Use climate graphs, diagrams and maps to understand the interrelationships between atmospheric temperature, pressure, wind, precipitation, air masses, fronts and disturbances to explain how these climates change.
  • Identify diverse landforms on the surface of the earth by examining the processes of landform evolution
  • Create communities that are more environmentally aware based on an understanding of the science behind how humans may be contributing to atmospheric and environmental change.

Social Inquiry and Analysis

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to apply methods of inquiry and analysis to examine social contexts and the diversity of human thought and experience.

Course Activities and Design

Course activities and design will include some or all of the following: quizzes, essays, small and large group discussions, in class activities, and case studies. 

Outcome Assessment Strategies


Students will be expected to demonstrate mastery of themes, concepts, issues, competencies and skills by any combination of the following:

  1. In-class discussions and written assignments
  2. Various exam formats (multiple choice, short answer, essay)

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes, concepts, Issues:

WEATHER AND CLIMATE PROCESSES

  • Introduction to Weather and Climate
  • Heat Balance of the Earth
  • Temperature
  • Pressure and Wind
  • Evaporation and Condensation
  • Air Masses, Fronts and Storms
  • Precipitation
  • World Distribution of Climates 
  • Human's role as a modifier of climate processes
  • Climate Change


LANDFORM PROCESSES

  • Introduction to Landforms
  • The Internal Processes
  • Weathering and Mass Wasting
  • The Fluvial Process
  • Topographic Development in Arid Lands
  • Costal Processes and Terrain
  • Glacial Modification of Terrain
  • Terrestrial Flora and Fauna
  • Soils