Geography 106

Geographic Perspectives on the Environment

Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-5:50 PMReference 4316 Section 01

Professor Lisa Schmidt

Important Information

Required Text

• Required Text:• Environmental

Geography: Science, Land Use, and Earth Systems, 3rd Edition

• William Marsh and John Grossa

• ISBN-13:  978-0471482802

Materials Required

• Pens• Pencils• Paper• Internet Access

• Recommended:– Colored Pens/Pencils

Course Description

There may be no more crucial subject of study today than the study of Earth’s environmental problems. This course is an introduction to some of those problems. When you finish this course, you will be able to think and speak effectively about the environmental challenges we face today, particularly those related to population growth, economic growth, the declines of traditional cultures, poverty, energy use, climate change and their impacts. You will be able to answer the question “what can we do to avoid a crisis in the global environment?” Geography as a discipline is an ideal vehicle for understanding problems and finding solutions in the global environment. Geography’s great strength as a science is its holistic perspective, integrating understanding of people with understanding of the natural environment. Using geographic perspectives, in this class we will ask not “how can we best protect nature?” but “how can we best protect nature while enduring an adequate standard of living for the world’s people?” You will gain a global perspective on our environment through geography. You will use the geographical approach to understand the biosphere, environmental principles, economics and environment, human impact, extinction and biodiversity, food/population crises, the social environment, global tampering, and contemporary values in global environmental issues.

Course Description

Course Objectives

Course Objectives• Distinguish between scientific and non-scientific questions and apply that• distinction to global environment issues.• Demonstrate an understanding of environmental processes (energetics,

succession,• biogeochemistry) in relationship to global issues.• Define the essential issue/problem in an environmental problem.• Differentiate between a biological issue from a social environmental issue.• Characterize environmental hazards in relationship to cultural traditions

globally.• Distinguish between the various environmental problems as to which pose

real• threat to the global environment and which are social, political, or aesthetic.• Recognize the implications of biodiversity/extinction and climatological• modification to world survival.• Recognize the social and resource implications of the population crisis.

Assignments

Grading Scale

Chapter Quizzes

• There will be 18 chapter quizzes. – These will be given using Blackboard. – You will have one week to complete quizzes.– Quizzes will close at 3:30 PM on their due

dates. • Quizzes will be multiple choice, true and

false, matching, and/or short paragraphs.

Exams

• There will be 4 exams.– Exams will be based on chapter quizzes but

will also contain some new material.• Tests will be given using Blackboard.

– You will have one week to complete exams.– They will close at 3:30 PM on their due dates.– A study guide will be available for each exam.

Presentation Project

• For this class, you are required to complete a research project and give a presentation.

• The project will be based on topic discussed during this class.

• You will pick a problem and solve it.• The problem will happen in stages

through the course – see the schedule in the syllabus.

• Details will be posted on the class web page.

• You may work in group IF you choose.

• You may make a video as an alternative to presenting in class.

Participation Points

• At any time during this course I might give a surprise assignment. If you are not here, you will not receive those points. Participation points will also be used for parts of your project – topic, sources, and research questions.

Changes

Class Schedule

At this time, please take a look at the schedule in your syllabus….

Late Work and Missed Exams

• Late work will not be accepted. • Do not ask for quizzes or exams to be

reopened if you miss them, unless you have a documented emergency.

Absences and Tardiness• I reserve the right to drop students who miss

class twice. • If you have to miss class, you should stay in

contact with me if you do not wish to be dropped. • I also reserve the right to drop students for

excessive tardiness. • Excessive tardiness is being late more than three

times. • If you are going to be late, come in quietly and

take a seat WITHOUT interrupting lecture.

Dropping

• If you are in attendance today, or you add the class today, you are enrolled and at this point it becomes your responsibility to drop the class should you decide you to not wish to be in it any longer.

• If you stop attending and you do not drop, you will likely receive an F.

Extra Credit

• Some extra credit may be offered through the semester.

• You should be here to that you hear when things like this are happening.

• Attendance is important for a number of reasons…

Academic Honesty

• Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. • Any incidences of cheating or plagiarism

will be reported to the dean’s office. – Please refer to San Bernardino Valley

College’s policy on academic honesty

Cell Phones and Texting

• Use of cell phones for talking or texting during class is inappropriate.

• You may be asked to leave the classroom if you are talking or texting on your phone during lecture. Phones should be set to silent mode when in class.

• Use of cell phones for learning and especially for geography is AWESOME! And that is encouraged : )

Disabilities• If you need accommodations, please let

me know.• If you think you might need help, contact

the DPS Office at 384-4443

Blackboard

• Blackboard will be used during this course.

• You must access Blackboard to take your quizzes and exams.

• If you need help, please stay after we are done and I will show you where to log in.

Contacting Me

• You can text me or leave a voice mail at 760 440 8977

• Email me at ProfessorLisas@gmail.com

E-mailing Assignments/My

Mailbox• Please do not e-mail assignments

to me.• If you cannot make it to class when

something is due, please contact me.

• I do have a mailbox downstairs where you can leave things if you need to.

Class Web Page

• http://schmidtenvgeog.wikispaces.com• This web page has been created for this

class.• Power Points and other resources will be

available on this web page as well as instructions for your projects.

What is Geography?

• The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.

Fields of Geography

• Human or Cultural Geography– Deals with social,

economic, and behavioral processes

• Physical Geography– Examines the natural

processes occurring at Earth’s surface that provide the physical setting for human activities

Branches of Physical Geography

• Biogeography• Climatology• Coastal Geography• Environmental Geography• Geomorphology• Glaciology• Hydrology• Oceanography• Paleogeography

Branches of Human Geography• Cultural Geography• Developmental Geography• Economic Geography• Medical Geography• Historical Geography• Political Geography• Population Geography• Demography• Transportation Geography• Urban Geography

Tools Geographers Use

• Maps– Paper representations of space showing point, line, or

area data• Or more simply put, locations, connections, and

regions• Remote Sensing

– Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of earth’s surface• GIS or Geographic Information Systems

– Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data bases

• Mathematical Modeling and Statistics– Used to understand natural and human phenomenon

State of the World

• Biosphere: Geography of the Biosphere

• Human Impact vs. Natural Catastrophe

• Problems with Natural Resources• Problems of Global Contamination• Problems of Global Tampering• Problems of Human Activity Levels• Human Considerations

Biosphere: Geography of the Biosphere

• Energy• Succession• Biogeochemistry• Ecosystems

Human Impact vs. Natural Catastrophe

• What is natural and unnatural.

Problems with Natural Resources

• Agriculture and Food Production

• Air and Water• Energy Resources• Land, Wildlife, and

Biodiversity• Recycling the Natural

Environment

Problems of Global

Contamination

• Toxic Waste• Radiation• Ozone Depletion• Climate Change

Problems of Global Tampering

• Climate Modification• Loss of Biodiversity• Desertification• Loss of Rainforests

Problems of Human Activity

Levels

• Overpopulation• Food Crisis• Urbanization• Agriculture and Land

Abuse• Urban Waste Disposal

Human Considerations

• What is a sustainable global society?

• Contemporary values in Western society toward the natural world

• Non-Western views towards nature

• Ethics for the future