Geography Courses

The Las Positas College geography department offers a number of introductory geography courses.

Geography 1 - INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Earth’s natural environments, with emphasis on spatial characteristics, change over time, interactions between environmental components, and human-environment interactions. Physical processes, techniques, and tools by which Earth’s climates, soils, vegetation, water resources, and land forms are linked into integrated global patterns. Effect of natural environments on human activities and how humans modify environments. Field trips may be included. 3 hours.

Geography 1L - INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY LABORATORY

Application of the concepts, techniques, tools, and materials of physical geography. Practical exercises, experiments, observations, data analyses, and computer applications/simulations which augment understanding of geographic processes, interrelationships, spatial patterns and distributions. Use of maps, remotely-sensed imagery, and geographic information systems. Includes locational reference systems, time-space relationships, weather, climate, soils, vegetation, and landforms. Field trips/field projects may be included. Prerequisite: Geography 1 (may be taken concurrently).
3 hours laboratory.

Geography 2 - CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY

Spatial analysis of human populations, their cultural traits, and activities. Emphasis on how diverse peoples, through their interactions and through their perceptions and use of the physical environment, create distinctive cultural landscapes. Social, political, and economic elements of geography which contribute to the evolution of these global and regional cultural patterns. Field trips may be included.
3 hours.

Geography 3 - ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

An introduction to the world’s major economic systems; their spatial distribution and characteristics; their relative contributions to regional development and global change; and related movements of people, goods, and ideas. Techniques and tools of spatial analysis applied to human-environment interactions, with emphasis on ecological problems associated with specific economic activities. Field trips may be included. 3 hours.

Geography 5 - WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY

Regions of the world and the way humans live within those regions. Includes physical and cultural characteristics of world regions, how they are similar and how they are different, economic patterns, agriculture, industrial development and population dynamics. Emphasis on contemporary major issues and their geographic impact. 3 hours.

Geography 8 - INTRODUCTION TO WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Introduction to weather and climate and their impact on and modification by human activities. Emphasis on weather elements, events, and processes; climate controls; and the techniques, tools, and instruments of atmospheric science. Includes atmospheric optics, weather prediction, severe storms, air pollution, global/regional warming/cooling, ozone depletion, acid rain, El Niño, deforestation, desertification, and other topics related to everyday experience and global climate change. Field trips and observational activities may be included. 3 hours.

Geography 11 - GEOGRAPHY OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Natural geography of the San Francisco Bay Area in relation to the historical, cultural and environmental development of the Bay region. Highlights past and present geographical, historical and ecological issues. Field trips may be included. 3 hours.

Geography 12 - GEOGRAPHY OF CALIFORNIA

California’s physical, cultural, and regional elements. The physical geographic base includes: location; geological evolution; geomorphic provinces, natural hazards, and resources; climate, water resources, vegetation, and soils. Historically developed cultural themes include: Native American and Hispanic origins; migration patterns and settlements; population growth and ethnic diversity; land use and economic activities; and Pacific Rim connections. Human-environment interactions and issues are considered throughout. Field trips may be included. 3 hours.

Geography 15 - INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)

GIS is a geographically-based, computer assisted information technology that captures, organizes, queries, and analyzes spatial relationships between locations and attributes of Earth’s physical, cultural, and economic features. GIS facilitates visualization of spatial relationships and decision-making by interactively linking maps, databases, images, and charts. GIS is both a tool for learning across the curriculum and an integrated system and science for solving real-world spatial problems within and across every economic sector. This course introduces entry-level GIS theory, principles, concepts, applications, and operations through a combination of lectures, demonstration, interactive web sessions and tutorials, and active learning strategies. Students will acquire basic hands-on GIS experience with current industry-standard software. Field trips may be required. 3 hours.