Degree and Course Information > Geography > Courses

Introduction to Geography introduces the student to the basic principles, concepts, and methods used in geography. The course introduces students to the principles and practices of the science of geography. Students will study the basic concepts of the following sub-fields of geography. The Earth Science Tradition: cartography, physical geography, and the geography of natural resources. Culture-Environment Tradition: population geography, cultural geography, and geography of spatial behavior. The Locational Tradition: economic geography, urban geography, and the human impact on the environment.

An introduction to the rich variety of peoples, traditions, and landscapes in the geographic realms of Europe, Russia, North America, Middle America, South America, Australia, and the South Pacific. Emphasis on cultural evolution of these regions, as well as their interactions with the world and their environments.

An introduction to the rich variety of peoples, traditions, and landscapes in the geographic realms of Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa South West Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and South East Asia. Emphasis is on the origins and evolution of the diverse cultural heritages of these regions, their interactions with the world as a whole, and on present interaction between these peoples and their environments.

Introduces basic concepts in human geography relating to economic activities, landscapes, languages, migrations, nations, regions, and religions. Serves as the basis for further course work in geography.

Physical geography will introduce you to climatology, the study of earth's weather systems and weather patterns; geomorphology, the study of landforms their formation and change over time and biogeography, the study of natural vegetation types.

The changing locations and spatial patterns of economic activity, including: production in agriculture, manufacturing, and services; spatial economic principles of trade, transportation, communications, and corporate organization; regional economic development, and the diffusion of technological innovation. Topics include international trade, colonialism, industrial capitalism, advanced capitalism, and the globalization of labor markets.

The student will learn about the processes that produce natural physical landscapes and weather phenomena. The course should result in an enhanced appreciation of the landscapes of the world. Physical geography will introduce you to climatology, the science that deals with the study of earth's weather systems and weather patterns, geomorphology, the science that deals with the study of landforms, their formation and change over time and biogeography, natural vegetation types and their distribution, as well as soils. Fulfills laboratory science credit at Pierce College.

This course broadly introduces students to the geography of cities. We will first explore how cities emerged into dense, highly networked environments of urban life. There will then be an emphasis on seeing cities through a variety of approaches – economic, social, political and cultural lenses – in order to develop a greater appreciation for the diverse factors that shape urban life. A field trip will be required.

This course broadly introduces students to the field of cartography – the production, interpretation and use of maps – and practical use of Geography Information Systems (GIS) applications. There are two emphases in the course: First, students will explore elements of map design, cartographic concepts like projections and scale, and how maps are used (and misused) in society. A second emphasis involves a basic introduction into relevant Geography Information Systems applications being used today, particularly ESRI's ArcGIS software. Basic computer literacy skills are strongly recommended.