GEOG 1301

Houston Community College

GEOG 1301 - Physical Geography Course Profile

 

Course Description

Geography is a dynamic spatial science that features a heritage of investigating the relationship between people and the natural environment through time and space. Physical Geography explores the spatial distribution of climate, topography, water, soils, ecosystems, and other natural phenomena on the Earth's surface, along with the functional interactions that exist between them and their relationships with humanity. This course features the physical environment through a spatial lens, focusing upon the basic forces that govern the distribution and flow of mass and energy over the Earth's surface and applying knowledge of these processes to better comprehend major environmental issues such as climate change, water scarcity, and desertification. The theoretical focus of this class is on the Earth as a set of interconnected systems guided by mass and energy exchanges. The course meets a non-lab Life and Physical Sciences Core requirement at Houston Community College.


Course-Level Student Learning Outcomes

Courses at HCC have objectives which are centered on "Student Learning Outcomes" (SLOs). These reflect what students will know, be able to do, or be able to demonstrate once they have taken a course. The objectives for this course are guided by measureable core competency and student learning outcome paradigms and are in accordance with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Academic Course Guide Manual. Students will be assessed on any number of these SLOs and core competencies throughout the course of a given semester. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of scientific investigation as they apply to Earth's physical systems and processes.
  • Describe and explain the processes of Earth's physical systems: weather and climate, ecosystems, geologic processes and landform development.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the interactions among the Earth's physical systems.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the modifications humans make to the environment through interactions with Earth's physical systems.
  • Define geography, physical geography, and the earth's four interrelated spheres: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
  • Describe and understand geography in terms of flows, maps, and place.

 

Core Competencies

Courses offered at HCC which are taken within "core" status meet a set of stringent guidelines which will help the student advance core skills in the foundational areas. Physical Geography meets a Life and Physical Sciences core requirement at HCC. Life and Physical Sciences core area courses "focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method" and "involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on human experiences." By taking a Life and Physical Sciences core offering, students will have the opportunity to further develop the following core competencies: critical thinking skills, communication skills, empirical and quantitative skills, and teamwork skills. Throughout the semester, assignments and assessments in the class will help measure the student's advancement in each of these core competencies.