GEOG 100 3 Units
Map Interpretation and Geospatial Analysis
Have you ever wondered how the traffic map works on your phone? Do you enjoy exploring maps and satellite images online? This class is an introduction to maps, images and geospatial techniques and technologies. The technologies covered in this course include map and aerial photograph interpretation, tabular data, spatial statistics, cartography, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), automated and web-based mapping, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), all of which aid in data collection, analysis and presentation. Theories, methods, and ethics within GIS, GPS, remote sensing, cartography, and field work play a central role in this course. This course also highlights how GIS and geospatial analytical tools can address longstanding issues related to economic, environmental, political, racial, and social justice. (This course is also offered as GIS 100). GEOG 102 3 Units
Cultural Geography
Are you fascinated with the enormous diversity of culture, language, religion, economics, politics, urbanization, agriculture, and ethnicity around the world? Have you ever wondered how this developed? Are you concerned about human rights, social justice, climate change, and access to clean drinking water, healthcare, education, and resources? Using the tools of geography, this course will help you to understand how humans interact each other and how humans interact with the environment.
GEOG 106 3 Units
Geographic Perspectives on the Environment
Within the early decades of the 21st century, the enormous impact of humans on the natural environment is clear. This course provides an introductory study of the latest geographic perspectives of critical environmental issues occurring within and across local, regional, national, and global scales. It creates an awareness of the geography of human-environment relationships, in particular how nature and natural resources are defined, contested, distributed, and consumed. Emphasis is on social, political, cultural, psychological, and economic evaluation of natural resources and associated resource management.
GEOG 110 3 Units
Physical Geography
You may have noticed that Earth’s atmosphere, life forms, water resources, and landforms vary considerably from one place to another. This class helps you to understand how and why these variations occur, how the environment impacts us humans, and how we humans impact the environment. People from different backgrounds experience environmental impacts differently, so environmental justice is interwoven throughout this course. GEOG 111/GEOG 111H is strongly recommended for students who desire to transfer to CSU/UC. It is recommended that students complete GEOG 111/GEOG 111H within three years of completing GEOG 110. GEOG 111 1 Unit
Physical Geography Laboratory
In this laboratory companion for the GEOG 110 physical geography lecture course, you will use hands-on, in-class and field-based experiences to better understand and appreciate how and why Earth’s atmosphere, life forms, water resources, and landforms vary considerably from one place to another. Because we humans are part of the physical environment, it is important to understand how people from different backgrounds impact the environment and experience environmental impacts differently. This course is recommended for students concurrently enrolled in GEOG 110 or who have successfully completed the course within the last three years. Students should be prepared to participate in one or more off-campus field exercises. GEOG 111H 1 Unit
Physical Geography Laboratory - Honors
In this laboratory companion for the GEOG 110 physical geography lecture course, you will use hands-on, in-class and field-based experiences to better understand and appreciate how and why Earth’s atmosphere, life forms, water resources, and landforms vary considerably from one place to another. Because we humans are part of the physical environment, it is important to understand how people from different backgrounds impact the environment and experience environmental impacts differently. This course is recommended for students concurrently enrolled in GEOG 110 or who have successfully completed the course within the last three years. Students should be prepared to participate in one or more off-campus field exercises. This course is intended for students in the Honors Program but is open to all students who desire more challenging coursework. GEOG 114 4 Units
Weather and Climate
Do you monitor the daily weather? Are you intrigued by severe weather events like tornadoes, tropical cyclones, blizzards, and flooding rain? This course covers Earth's atmospheric phenomena, with special reference to causes and regional distribution of weather and climate, both past and present. Topics include atmospheric structure and composition, solar radiation and energy balances, temperature, seasonal changes, atmospheric moisture, clouds and fog, precipitation, air pressure, winds, air masses and fronts, cyclones, weather forecasting, climate, and climate change. Emphasis will be given to current environmental topics, including natural and anthropogenic global climate change, air pollution, and environmental justice.
GEOG 118 3 Units
California Geography
California is an incredibly diverse state. Its cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, urban, and rural landscapes comprise an endlessly complex and fascinating tapestry. If it were an independent country, its economy would be the fifth-largest in the world. While the California Dream looms large, skyrocketing housing costs, socioeconomic and racial injustice, pervasive drought, and a year-round fire season are making this dream unattainable for many. This course provides a thematic approach to the state’s issues, processes, and topics relevant to geography including climate, landforms, natural vegetation, water resources, cultural landscape, ethnic diversity, urban and agricultural regions, and the economy. This course explores the physical, and human landscapes that have evolved as a result of the human-environment interface.
GEOG 120 3 Units
World Regional Geography
Every day, we learn about new and ongoing migration, refugee, environmental, economic, health, and geopolitical crises and conflicts happening somewhere in the world. Therefore, it is important to understand the complex and fascinating spatial interrelationships among our world regions. This course provides an introduction to world regional geography, emphasizing the nature of major cultural regions of the world. Through a comprehensive regional analysis, students will learn social structures, religions, languages, political systems, economics, environmental relationships, transportation networks, population dynamics, and urban development across the globe.
GEOG 130 3 Units
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
How do corporations know where to locate retail stores and restaurants? How do epidemiologists know how to confront epidemics, pandemics, and related disease outbreaks? How does your utility provider know the location of power outages and water leaks? How do demographers create maps based on ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, gender, religious affiliation, and other population characteristics? The answers to these questions and more are found within Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including the history of automated mapping. It includes a brief introduction to basic cartographic principles, including map scales, coordinate systems and map projections. GIS hardware and software are implemented, as are various applications of GIS technology used in environmental science, business and government. Using automatic mapping software like ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, and Story Maps, you will create maps that address a variety of local to global issues. (This course is also offered as GIS 130) GEOG 222 1-3 Units
Independent Study in Geography
Students with previous course work in Geography may do assigned projects involving research and analysis of selected topics. This independent study is for students who are interested in furthering their knowledge of Geography. Prior to registration, a written contract must be prepared jointly by the instructor and the student.
