GEOG 1021 - Physical Geography

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab 0
Internship hours per week 0
Course Description: This course offers an introduction to the physical and environmental systems of the Earth, the dynamic processes that shape and characterize our planet, and the geography of the natural world.  Course topics include the processes of the Earth’s atmosphere (weather and climate), hydrosphere (water on Earth), biosphere (geography of ecological systems), and the lithosphere (materials and processes of the Earth’s crust) and the scientific terminology used to discuss those processes. This course also examines the powerful influences people and the environment have upon each other (e.g. storms and other natural disasters; human modification of the Earth).

 
MnTC Goals
3 Natural Science, 10 People/Environment

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. Introduction to Physical Geography and Earth Systems
2. Cartography and Technical Geography
3. Introduction to the Atmosphere
4. Energy and the Earth
5. Circulation of the Atmosphere
6. Atmospheric Moisture
7. Storms and Meteorology
8. World Climates and Climate Change
9. The Hydrosphere and Oceans
10. Soils, Rocks, and Minerals
11. Introduction to the Lithosphere and Earth History
12. Earth’s Interior and Plate Tectonics
13. Gradational Processes and Landforms
14. Rivers and Coastlines
15. Glaciation

1. describe, using scientific vocabulary and theories, the characteristics and geography of the physical Earth.
2. describe features and characteristics of the physical Earth and their spatial patterns.
3. explain the dynamic processes that drive the Earth’s physical systems.
4. demonstrate an understanding of the Earth in which we live as a dynamic, inter-dependent global system comprised of inter-connected sub-systems. 
5. use geographic perspectives (e.g. spatial, Earth and ecological science, people-environment) and scientific methodologies (e.g. data collection, organization, analysis, and summarization) to illustrate theories and perspectives related to human alteration of environmental systems.
6. use geographic perspectives to demonstrate how the physical environment and processes thereof influence human activities and occupation of the Earth.

03. 02. Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments in at least two of the natural science disciplines. One of these experimental components should develop, in greater depth, students’ laboratory experience in the collection of data, its statistical and graphical analysis, and an appreciation of its sources of error and uncertainty.

03. 03. Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
10. 01. Explain the basic structure and function of various natural ecosystems and of human adaptive strategies within those systems.

10. 04. Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions.

10. 05. Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems.

10. 06. Articulate and defend the actions they would take on various environmental issues.

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