Course Syllabus

GEOG 1300 Exploring World Geography

Course Description

This course surveys the geographical regions of the world, focusing specifically on political boundaries, characteristics of culture, and current events. It covers the human and cultural geography of each world region, emphasizing the study of countries, cultures, political divisions, economies, human interactions, and social affairs.

Justification

This course aligns with the GEOG 1300 courses at other USHE institutions and provides students with an introduction to cultural and human geography based on world regions.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. The primary focus of this course is to introduce students to human cultures in all regions of the world.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Students in this course will engage with a variety of resources to learn about the world today. In addition, they will conduct research about specific countries and current events around the world.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. This course incorporates the study of cultures as well as political systems, economics, history, and a variety of issues relevant to current world affairs.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Students will be asked to think critically about similarities and differences across cultures and present creative solutions to world problems.
5. A student who completes the GE curriculum can communicate effectively through writing and speaking. Students will work in small groups and as a class to discuss current events and present their own research.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. Students will examine the cultures and current affairs of human activity throughout the regions of the world.  Students will examine the cultures and current affairs of human activity throughout the regions of the world.
2. ANALYZE: Identify diverse perspectives to explore and examine social and behavioral phenomena. Students will analyze cultural differences around the world as well as various perspectives on issues and challenges in the modern world.
3. APPLY: Apply discipline-relevant and scientific theories and methods to make inferences about or applications to social and behavioral phenomena at personal, institutional, or cultural levels.  Students will apply social science theories and methods to determine their role in the world today as students, in their future careers, and in their personal lives as global citizens.

Course Content

This course provides an introductory-level overview of the major regions of the world including continents, oceans, countries, and cultures. Students will work closely with maps, learning the nations of the world as well as current political divisions. The course includes introduction to the basics of world governments and historical conflict in the context of current events. Students will learn about the various traits of culture and how they are manifested throughout the world. Regions include but are not limited to North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia and Oceania.