GEOG 1041 - Minnesota Geography

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture None Lab None
Course Description: In this course students explore the characteristics of Minnesota from a geographic perspective. Study areas include Minnesota’s physical environment and natural features, population dynamics, migrations, settlement history and patterns, cultural, political, and economic characteristics, land use (e.g. agriculture and industry), and Minnesota’s regions.
MnTC Goals
5 History/Social/Behavioral Science, 7 Human Diversity

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: 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.

Major Content

1. BEING MINNESOTAN
2. ECONOMY, TRADE AND COMMERCE IN MINNESOTA
3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
4. INTRODUCTION TO MINNESOTA: PERCEPTIONS AND REGIONS
5. MINNESOTA REGIONS
   1. PRAIRIE PATH REGION AND AGRICULTURE
   2. SOUTHEAST HILLS REGION
   3. TWIN CITIES REGION
   4. ST. CROIX RIVER REGION AND RIVERS & WATERSHEDS
   5. NORTH SHORE / ARROWHEAD REGION AND RECREATION
   6. NORTHERN / GLACIAL LAKES REGION AND LAKES
6. PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF MINNESOTA
7. PHYSICAL SETTING: BIOMES AND ENVIRONMENTS OF MINNESOTA
8. PHYSICAL SETTING: LANDSCAPES OF MINNESOTA
9. RURAL TOWNS AND SETTLEMENT PATTERNS

1. compare and contrast the economies and features of Minnesotas principal regions
2. identify characteristics of Minnesotas physical environment, historical geography, economy, population and culture, and settlements
3. use Internet resources to gather and analyze geographic information about Minnesota
4. explain factors responsible for Minnesotas environmental, population, cultural, and economic spatial patterns
5. recognize Minnesotas physical, economic, and cultural regions

05. 03. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.

05. 04. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.
Competency 2 (7-10)
07. 01. Understand the development of and the changing meanings of group identities in the United States’ history and culture.

07. 04. Describe and discuss the experience and contributions (political, social, economic, etc.) of the many groups that shape American society and culture, in particular those groups that have suffered discrimination and exclusion.

07. 05. Demonstrate communication skills necessary for living and working effectively in a society with great population diversity.

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