Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
GEO D010.
Course Title (CB02)
World Regional Geography
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
An introduction to the major distinctive regions of the world; their natural environment, people, resources, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, cities and the problems relating to contemporary society in each of the regions. Understanding the increasing interdependencies among and between regions.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is an introductory course in Geography focusing on the regional similarities and differences. It is a required course for Geography majors, it fulfills °®¶¹´«Ã½ G.E., CSUGE and IGETC requirements and is CSU and UC transferable.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
Yes
Foothill Course ID
GEOG F010.

Course Philosophy

Course Philosophy
This course seeks to explore the world's regions by examining the interaction of the earth's physical or natural environment with its cultural environment. As students discover the unique characteristics of people and places in different geographic realms, they also develop an understanding and appreciation of the similarities between people and places.

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
2GES°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE - Environment Sustainability and Global CitizenshipApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
GEOGGeographyApprovedC-ID GEOG 125

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

  • EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.
  • Pre-algebra or equivalent (or higher), or appropriate placement beyond pre-algebra

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class essays

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Daily reading from a college level text.
  2. In-class exercises involving individual or group discussions and/or written analyses or oral presentations of concepts, readings, interpretation of data, infographics, and maps and analyses of particular examples.
  3. Take-home written assignments based on readings and class discussions where students are required to synthesize, interpret, analyze and apply relevant themes in different geographic realms.
  4. Research paper or project. The student has the option of working in a small group (or alone) on a guided term paper or project examining a relevant course topic related to a country or region. The topic needs to have a geographic focus (i.e. emphasizing space and place). The paper or project should be supplemented with relevant data tables, graphs and maps of the area.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Quizzes and examinations with objective, essay and map and/or diagram based questions, including a final examination, that require students to demonstrate the ability to synthesize, analyze and apply concepts introduced in the course.
  2. In-class group discussions of concepts and examples, with oral or written presentations demonstrating comprehension, analyses and application of the concepts.
  3. Take-home essay assignments in the form of papers and/or projects that require students to display their critical thinking skills through data collection, data interpretation, analyses of infographics, mapping and analyses of geographic issues.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • Wall maps

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Fouberg, Erin H. and William G. Moseley. "Understanding World Regional Geography." 1st ed. New York: Wiley, 2016.
Nijman, Jan; Peter O. Muller and Harm J. de Blij. " The World Today: Concepts and Regions in Geography." 7th ed. Wiley: 2016.
Pulsipher, Lydia Mihelic and Alex Pulsipher. " World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives." 7th ed. New York: W. H. Freeman, 2017.
Rowntree, Lester; Martin Lewis, Marie Price and William Wyckoff. "Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World." 5th ed. New York: Pearson, 2017.
White, George; Joseph Dymond, Elizabeth Chacko, Justin Scheidt and Michael Bradshaw. "Essentials of World Regional Geography." 3rd. ed. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2014.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Battersby, Paul. "To the Islands: White Australia and the Malay Archipelago since 1788." Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
Birdsall, Stephen S.; Jon C. Malinowski and Wiley C. Thompson. "Regional Landscapes of the US and Canada." 8th ed. New York: Wiley, 2017.
Blouet, Brian W. "The EU and Neighbors: A Geography of Europe in the Modern World." 3rd. ed. New York: Wiley, 2017.
Blouet, Brian W. and Olwyn M. Blouet. "Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic and Regional Survey." 7th ed. New York: Wiley, 2015.
Boyer, John. "The Plaid Avenger's World." 4th ed. Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2010.
Bradshaw, Michael; Joseph Dymond, George White and Elizabeth Chacko. "Contemporary World Regional Geography." 4th ed. Mc Graw Hill, 2012.
Collinwood, Dean. "Global Studies: Japan and the Pacific Rim." 11th ed. Mc Graw Hill, 2013.
Cupples, Julie. "Latin American Development." Routledge, 2013.
Diamond, Jared. "The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?" Viking, 2012.
Goode's World Atlas, 23rd. ed. Rand McNally, Pearson, 2017.
Hobbs, Joseph J. "Fundamentals of World Regional Geography." 4th ed. Cengage, 2017.
Jackiewicz, Edward L. and Fernando J. Bosco, eds. "Placing Latin America, Contemporary Themes in Geography." 3rd ed. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2016.
Johnson, Douglas L.; Viola Haarmann and Merrill L. Johnson. "World Regional Geography: A Development Approach." 11th ed. New York: Pearson, 2015.
Krabacher, Thomas; Ezekiel Kalipeni and Azzedine Layachi. "Global Studies: Africa." 14th ed. Mc Graw Hill, 2013.
Lew, Alan; Dallen Timothy and Colin Michael Hall. "World Regional Geography: Human Mobilities, Tourism Destinations, Sustainable Environments." 2nd ed. Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2015.
Marston, Sallie A.; Paul L. Knox, Diana M. Liverman, Vincent Del Casino, Jr. and Paul F. Robbins. "World Regions in Global Context: Peoples, Places, and Environments." 6th ed. New York: Pearson, 2017.
Matthijs, Koenraad; Karel Neels, Christiane Timmerman and Jacques Haers. "Population Change in Europe, the Middle-East and North Africa, Beyond the Demographic Divide." Routledge, 2015.
Murphy, Alexander B.; Terry G. Jordan-Bychkov and Bella Bychkova Jordan. "The European Culture Area: A Systematic Geography." 6th ed. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2014.
Nijman, Jan; Peter O. Muller and Harm J. de Blij. " Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts." 17th ed. New York: Wiley, 2017.
Ofori-Amoah, Benjamin. "Geography of Africa." 1st ed. New York: Wiley, 2017.
Prescott, Anne, ed. "East Asia in the World, An Introduction." Routledge, 2015.
Shane J. and Michael Weiner eds. "The Pacific Basin, An Introduction." Routledge, 2017.
Smith, Dan. "The Penguin State of the Middle East Atlas: Completely Revised and Updated." 3rd. ed. New York: Penguin Books; 2016.
Stewart, Dona J. "The Middle East Today, Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives." 2nd ed. Routledge, 2013.
Veeck, Gregory; Clifton W. Pannell, Christopher J. Smith and Youquin Huang. "China's Geograpahy: Globalization and the Dynamics of Political, Economic and Social Change." 3rd. ed. Rowman & Littlefield Publications, 2016.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Examine the basic themes and traditions in geography.
  • Explain the regional concept of geographic analysis and illustrate its use. Critically evaluate the concept of region.
  • Identify and explain the factors used to divide the world into major and minor cultural regions. The human landscape includes population growth and characteristics, language, religion, economic and political systems, and human interaction with the environment.
  • Examine the interaction of human beings with the physical environment in each region. The physical environment includes landforms, climate and natural vegetation.
  • Identify and differentiate the major cultural regions of the world and compare and contrast their spatial variations based on their physical and cultural environments. The cultural regions studied are listed below.
  • Examine the interaction of environmental, cultural political and economic systems in each region through the forces of globalization. Analyze the tensions resulting from the interplay of globalization and regional and local diversity.

CSLOs

  • Identify and apply geographic themes to describe the major geographic regions of the world.

  • Explain and analyze the interaction and interdependence of physical and human landscapes in major geographic realms.

  • Demonstrate understanding of the dynamics of population change, resource distribution, global economics and culture, and political conflicts in designated regions.

Outline

  1. Examine the basic themes and traditions in geography.
    1. Compare cultural/human geography with physical geography and the other social sciences such as anthropology, history, political science, sociology, and economics in terms of content and methodology.
    2. Identify the major contributors (women and men) to the field of cultural geography and evaluate their ideas as they are encountered throughout the quarter.
  2. Explain the regional concept of geographic analysis and illustrate its use. Critically evaluate the concept of region.
    1. Identify types of regions and establish the bases of differentiation.
    2. Study examples of different regions to ensure a complete understanding of the concept.
  3. Identify and explain the factors used to divide the world into major and minor cultural regions. The human landscape includes population growth and characteristics, language, religion, economic and political systems, and human interaction with the environment.
    1. Analyze cultural differences in terms of variables such as land use, language and religion.
    2. Use the process of innovation and diffusion to explain cultural change.
  4. Examine the interaction of human beings with the physical environment in each region. The physical environment includes landforms, climate and natural vegetation.
    1. Establish how nature and people (their culture and activities) are linked.
    2. Examine how the environment shapes and in turn is shaped by the region's inhabitants. Investigate the impact of global warming on habitat and livelihoods.
  5. Identify and differentiate the major cultural regions of the world and compare and contrast their spatial variations based on their physical and cultural environments. The cultural regions studied are listed below.
    1. North America
    2. Latin America
    3. The Caribbean
    4. Sub Saharan Africa and Southern Africa
    5. Southwest Asia and North Africa
    6. Europe: Northern, Western and Southern
    7. Russia and Eastern Europe
    8. Central Asia
    9. East Asia
    10. South Asia
    11. Southeast Asia
    12. Australia and Oceania
  6. Examine the interaction of environmental, cultural political and economic systems in each region through the forces of globalization. Analyze the tensions resulting from the interplay of globalization and regional and local diversity.
    1. Examine how regions are increasingly interconnected through migration, refugee flows, global trade, social media and the internet, economic and military treaties and alliances.
    2. Assess how the processes of globalization are reshaping the environmental, cultural, political and economic systems in each region.
    3. Examine how and why cultural differences among people and places persist despite the homogenizing effects of globalization.
Back to Top