Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for GEO 212 archive revision 202104

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Effective Term:
Fall 2021 through Winter 2025

Course Number:
GEO 212
Course Title:
Geography of Global Issues
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Examines human and environment interaction as they relate to current issues of cultural, economic, and political globalization. Includes issues on global spatial patterns of agricultural production and hunger, economic development and poverty, population and migration, conflict and security, human rights, climate change and environmental justice. Illustrates geographic concepts using local, regional, and global examples. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  • Examine current global issues in the context of historic sociocultural, political, and economic systems
  • Analyze current global issues, their extent and impact on local, regional, and global scales.
  • Examine global issues from a geographic perspective using maps and other geospatial tools.

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.

General education philosophy statement

Human Geography examines the spatial and temporal relationships between people, places and the environment. By examining this relationship, students gain an understanding of the development of human societies, including their culture, economy and politics, and how that intersects with the physical environment. Core geographic concepts such as location, regions, place, scale, and patterns, are analyzed on multiple scales (global, regional, and local) and through a multicultural lens. Students gain a deeper understanding of cultures and places that are different from their own, providing a foundation for breaking down prejudices and making more informed decisions. This creates more socially aware and responsible global citizens.

Aspirational Goals

Use knowledge of global issues to be an informed citizen and consumer.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

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

  • In-class discussions

  • Exams and quizzes

  • Class assignments and exercises

  • Literature review and library research

  • Field observation exercises and projects

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes, Concepts, Issues:

  • Agricultural production and land use

  • Population and migration

  • Conflict and security 

  • Human rights 

  • Climate change

  • Environmental justice

  • Health and hunger

  • Development and sustainability

  • Globalization

Competencies and Skills:

  • Communicate the extent and impact of global issues       

  • Use maps and other geographic tools to understand how geography affects global issues

  • Critically examine various sources of information

  • Understand your role in local and global society