Course goals and learning outcomes support the Foundational Component Areas defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Course goals are linked to the respective Core Curriculum Competencies: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, and Social Responsibility. Specific competencies are identified in designated course goals and learning outcomes.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

Define and explain the geographic concept of “region.”
Locate significant geographic features of regions of the world and describe their cultural, economic, political, and physical characteristics.
Demonstrate knowledge of each region’s role in a globalizing world.
Apply geographic concepts to understanding current events, conflicts, and issues in a regional context.
Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of geography as an academic field and world geography as the geographic subfield that explores the human and physical dimensions of major world regions and the spatial relationships between them by
1. explaining how geographers work;
2. explaining the unique spatial perspective that geographers apply to gather, analyze, and interpret data and to formulate conclusions using that data;
3. explaining basic map components;
4. identifying the names and locations of the regions, political units, and major cities of the world;
5. describing the prominent physical and human characteristics of major world regions;
6. explaining the relationship between human settlement patterns and natural resources in major world regions.
Demonstrate an understanding of the geographic realm of Europe by
1. identifying the regions, political units, and major cities of Europe;
2. identifying the major physical regions and characteristics of Europe;
3. describing the population characteristics and settlement patterns of Europe;
4. explaining the relationship between Europe’s settlement patterns and natural resources;
5. describing the characteristics, components, and distribution of Europe’s cultural geographic features;
6. explaining the characteristics and components of Europe’s political geography and modern geopolitical issues;
7. explaining the characteristics and components of Europe’s economic geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of the geographic realm of North America by
1. identifying the regions, political units, and major cities of North America;
2. identifying the major physical regions and characteristics of North America;
3. describing the population characteristics and settlement patterns of North America;
4. explaining the relationship between North America’s settlement patterns and natural resources;
5. describing the characteristics, components, and distribution of North America’s cultural geographic features;
6. explaining the characteristics and components of North America’s political geography and modern geopolitical issues;
7. explaining the characteristics and components of North America’s economic geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of the geographic realm of Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union by
1. identifying the regions, political units, and major cities of Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union;
2. identifying the major physical regions and characteristics of Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union;
3. describing the population characteristics and settlement patterns of Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union;
4. explaining the relationship between Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union’s settlement patterns and natural resources;
5. describing the characteristics, components, and distribution of Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union’s cultural geographic features;
6. explaining the characteristics and components of Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union’s political geography and modern geopolitical issues;
7. explaining the characteristics and components of Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union’s economic geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of the geographic realm of Australia and New Zealand by
1. identifying the regions, political units, and major cities of Australia and New Zealand;
2. identifying the major physical regions and characteristics of Australia and New Zealand;
3. describing the population characteristics and settlement patterns of Australia and New Zealand;
4. explaining the relationship between Australia and New Zealand’s settlement patterns and natural resources;
5. describing the characteristics, components, and distribution of Australia and New Zealand’s cultural geographic features;
6. explaining the characteristics and components of Australia and New Zealand’s political geography and modern geopolitical issues;
7. explaining the characteristics and components of Australia and New Zealand’s economic geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of the geographic realm of Latin America by
1. identifying the regions, political units, and major cities of Latin America;
2. identifying the major physical regions and characteristics of Latin America;
3. describing the population characteristics and settlement patterns of Latin America;
4. explaining the relationship between Latin America’s settlement patterns and natural resources;
5. describing the characteristics, components, and distribution of Latin America’s cultural geographic features;
6. explaining the characteristics and components of Latin America’s political geography and modern geopolitical issues;
7. explaining the characteristics and components of Latin America’s economic geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of the geographic realm of North Africa/Southwest Asia by
1. identifying the regions, political units, and major cities of North Africa/Southwest Asia;
2. identifying the major physical regions and characteristics of North Africa/Southwest Asia;
3. describing the population characteristics and settlement patterns of North Africa/Southwest Asia;
4. explaining the relationship between North Africa/Southwest Asia’s settlement patterns and natural resources;
5. describing the characteristics, components, and distribution of North Africa/Southwest Asia’s cultural geographic features;
6. explaining the characteristics and components of North Africa/Southwest Asia’s political geography and modern geopolitical issues;
7. explaining the characteristics and components of North Africa/Southwest Asia’s economic geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of the geographic realm of Subsaharan Africa by
1. identifying the regions, political units, and major cities of Subsaharan Africa;
2. identifying the major physical regions and characteristics of Subsaharan Africa;
3. describing the population characteristics and settlement patterns of Subsaharan Africa;
4. explaining the relationship between Subsaharan Africa’s settlement patterns and natural resources;
5. describing the characteristics, components, and distribution of Subsaharan Africa’s cultural geographic features;
6. explaining the characteristics and components of Subsaharan Africa’s political geography and modern geopolitical issues;
7. explaining the characteristics and components of Subsaharan Africa’s economic geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of the geographic realm of Asia by
1. identifying the regions, political units, and major cities of Asia;
2. identifying the major physical regions and characteristics of Asia;
3. describing the population characteristics and settlement patterns of Asia;
4. explaining the relationship between Asia’s settlement patterns and natural resources;
5. describing the characteristics, components, and distribution of Asia’s cultural geographic features;
6. explaining the characteristics and components of Asia’s political geography and modern geopolitical issues;
7. explaining the characteristics and components of Asia’s economic geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of how world geography is related to other disciplines by
1. explaining how the study of world geography intersects with demography, history, anthropology, political science, and economics;
2. explaining how the study of world geography intersects with meteorology, climatology, and geomorphology.
Communication Skills: Communicate effectively the results of scientific investigations and demonstrate an understanding of selected environmental science terminology and development of effective written, oral, and visual communication focused on environmental systems by
1. identifying specific terms relating to geography;
2. identifying tools used in geography investigations;
3. identifying techniques used in geography investigations;
4. assessing skills through written essays, oral presentations, and group activities.
Critical Thinking Skills: Use critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions in lecture and laboratory courses by
1. demonstrating the ability to research, analyze, and evaluate earth science systems;
2. quantifying and analyzing geography impacts;
3. categorizing pertinent and relevant topics in the news related to geography systems;
4. summarizing contributions made by individuals that helped to shape geography;
5. categorizing evolutionary trends that have led to geography;
6. assessing through multiple choice tests, critical response essays, and group activities.
Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Use empirical and quantitative skills in the collection, analysis, and reporting of data by
1. hypothesizing a question using the collection of data in a geography experiment setting;
2. analyzing the correlation of data involved in a geography experiment;
3. constructing a report of the results of the data relating to a geography experiment.
Social Responsibility: Include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal by
1. presenting viable solutions to problems placed before the group;
2. practicing appropriate social skills in group discussion;
3. recognizing and supporting other leadership styles that may not be one’s own;
4. demonstrating the ability to contribute positively to the group when asked regardless of one’s personal views.

GEOG 1303

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GEOG 1303 - World Regional Geography