| 10/31/2025 4:39:06 PM |
| Changed Course |
| CATALOG INFORMATION
|
| Discipline and Nbr:
GEOG 4 | Title:
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY |
|
| Full Title:
Physical Geography |
| Last Reviewed:3/8/2021 |
| Units | Course Hours per Week | | Nbr of Weeks | Course Hours Total |
| Maximum | 3.00 | Lecture Scheduled | 3.00 | 17.5 max. | Lecture Scheduled | 52.50 |
| Minimum | 3.00 | Lab Scheduled | 0 | 5 min. | Lab Scheduled | 0 |
| | Contact DHR | 0 | | Contact DHR | 0 |
| | Contact Total | 3.00 | | Contact Total | 52.50 |
| |
| | Non-contact DHR | 0 | | Non-contact DHR Total | 0 |
| | Total Out of Class Hours: 105.00 | Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 | |
Title 5 Category:
AA Degree Applicable
Grading:
Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:
00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As:
Formerly:
Catalog Description:
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Physical Geography is an introduction to the study of the Earth and the processes that form and shape its physical features and landforms. Topics include Earth dimensions and motions, map reading and map use, Earth-Sun relationships, weather and climate, and tectonic and surface processes. Emphasis is placed on recognizing, describing, and interpreting the spatial distribution of Earth features and the processes that shape these features.
Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100 or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
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Physical Geography is an introduction to the study of the Earth and the processes that form and shape its physical features and landforms. Topics include Earth dimensions and motions, map reading and map use, Earth-Sun relationships, weather and climate, and tectonic and surface processes. Emphasis is placed on recognizing, describing, and interpreting the spatial distribution of Earth features and the processes that shape these features.
(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100 or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
| Associate Degree: | Effective: | Fall 1981
| Inactive: | Fall 2025
|
| Area: | C
L5
C
| Natural Sciences
Physical and Biological Sciences
Natural Sciences
|
| |
| CSU GE: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | B1 | Physical Science | Fall 1981 | |
| |
| IGETC: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | 5A | Physical Sciences | Fall 1981 | |
| |
| CSU Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 1981 | Inactive: | |
| |
| UC Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 1981 | Inactive: | |
| |
| C-ID: |
| CID Descriptor: GEOG 110 | Introduction to Physical Geography | SRJC Equivalent Course(s): GEOG4 |
Certificate/Major Applicable:
Both Certificate and Major Applicable
COURSE CONTENT
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Describe fundamental geographic concepts and techniques.
2. Use, analyze and interpret maps.
3. Examine the dynamic relationship between the Earth and Sun and how this relationship affects the Earth system.
4. Identify Earth's physical features, explain the processes that shape them and interpret their spatial distribution.
Objectives:
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At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Define the nature of geography as a science.
2. Identify and describe fundamental geographical tools.
3. Find and describe locations on maps.
4. Identify and evaluate map features.
5. Draw and interpret isolines.
6. Explain Earth seasonality, variation in day lengths, and time zones.
7. Describe the mechanisms of heat transfer and apply this knowledge to the Earth's radiation
budget, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion and climate change.
8. Define and describe the major components of climate and weather and recognize and
interpret their global distribution.
9. Analyze climates using climate classification models.
10. Analyze the origin, structure, and spatial distribution of the Earth's physical features and the
processes that form them.
Topics and Scope
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Topics will include, but are not limited to:
I. Introduction to Science, the Scientific Method and Geography as a Science
II. Introduction to Earth
A. Environmental spheres
B. Geographic grid
C. Earth movements
D. Seasons and seasonality
E. Time
III. Geographic Techniques and Tools
A. Maps and mapmaking
1. Types
2. Scale
3. Projections
4. Isolines
B. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
C. Other
IV. Atmosphere
A. Composition
B. Vertical structure
V. Global Energy Systems
A. Electromagnetic spectrum
B. Mechanisms of heat transfer
C. Insolation
D. Energy budget
VI. Surface Temperatures
A. Controlling factors
B. Global and seasonal patterns
VII. Atmospheric Pressure
A. Pressure, density, and temperature
B. Mapping pressure
C. Cyclones and anticyclones
D. Global and seasonal patterns
VIII. Wind
A. Direction
B. Speed
C. Global, seasonal and local patterns
IX. Water and Atmospheric Moisture
A. Properties
B. Hydrologic cycle
C. Humidity
D. Adiabatic processes
E. Clouds and cloud formation
F. Fog and fog formation
G. Stability
H. Precipitation formation
I. Global precipitation patterns
X. Weather
A. Air masses
B. Midlatitude
C. Tropical and Severe
XI. Climate
A. Classification
B. Global distribution
C. Global climate change
XII. Earth Processes and Physical Features
A. Earth structure
B. Rock cycle
C. Plate tectonic theory
D. Folding, faulting and earthquakes
E. Volcanism
XIII. Weathering, Mass Wasting and Erosion
Optional topics may include:
XIV. Geomorphology
A. Fluvial
B. Coastal
C. Arid and aeolian
D. Glacial
E. Karst
XV. Biosphere
A. Biogeochemical cycles
B. Biomes
1. Controlling factors
2. Global distribution
XVI. Soils
A. Formation and factors
B. Characteristics and properties
C. Profiles and classification
D. Global distribution
Assignments:
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1. Textbook and other readings (10-20 pages per class meeting)
2. Homework assignments (written and problem solving) (5-15)
3. In-class and/or online activity(ies) (0-18)
4. Exams (3-6)
5. Map and/or other quiz(zes) (0-18)
6. Face-to-face and/or virtual field trip(s) (0-2)
Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
| Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing
0 - 10% |
| Homework assignments | |
| This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments are more appropriate for this course. |
|
| Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving
20 - 40% |
| Homework assignments, in-class and/or online activities | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
50 - 80% |
| Map and/or other quiz(zes) and exams | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 10% |
| Participation in class activities. Field trip attendance and participation (face-to-face and/or virtual) | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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McKnight's Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation. 13th ed. Hess, Darrel and Dennis G. Tasa, Illustrator. Prentice Hall. 2022
Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography. 10th ed. Christopherson, Robert and Ginger H. Birkleand. Prentice Hall. 2018
Elemental Geosystems. 9th edition. Christopherson, Robert and Ginger H. Birkleand. Prentice Hall. 2019
Discovering Physical Geography. 4th ed. Arbogast, Alan F. John Wiley & Sons. 2017
Living Physical Geography. 2nd ed. Gervais, Bruce. W.H. Freeman & Co. 2019
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