SOSC 101-01S -- SPATIAL CONCEPTS -- Summer 1, 1998

Time and place: 8:00-11:45, MTWTh, from 1 June through 18 June, Butte Hall 503

Instructor: Dr. Christine M. Rodrigue

E-Mail........... lapaloma@ecst.csuchico.edu

Home Page.... http://www.csuchico.edu/~lapaloma/

Telephone.......(530) 898-4953 or -5285

Office.............Butte Hall 539

Hours.............by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Prerequisites: none

Spatial Concepts: Geographical Patterns and Processes

Focus on the use of basic tools of geographical analysis, including atlases, globes, and maps, to study physical and cultural global patterns and processes. Required for Liberal Studies majors.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. to introduce the core traditions of geography: society and nature interrelationships, regional synthesis, spatial analysis, and physical geography
2. to introduce the five themes of geography: human-environment interconnections, region, place, space, and movement
3. to develop a basic sense of global features and place names through use of atlases
4. to develop familiarity with a particular major region of the earth through a short research paper and a book report
5. to master key principles governing spatial patterns and processes through lab exercises
6. to become familiar with human-environment interactions, including those in which Nature impacts society, society impacts Nature, and social structures and processes create differential vulnerability to natural events
7. to develop an understanding of the scientific method
8. to become familiar with a variety of geographic and scientific tools and methods (e.g., spatial data, maps, computerized mapping, geographical information systems, and field methods)
9. to become very conversant with Internet tools of relevance to the study of and teaching of geography

COURSE MATERIALS:

GRADING:

Grading will be on the basis of a midterm, a final, a book report, a short report on an assigned region of the world, map quizzes, labs, a series of essays on converting class concepts into curriculum materials for pre-collegiate or non-collegiate audiences, and class participation (in- cluding attendance, which is critical in a three week summer course).

The allocation of grade points is as follows:

15%= midterm

15% = final (not comprehensive)

15% = book report

15% = world regional report

15% = map quizzes

15% = labs and essays on curriculum development

10% = Internet assignments and class participation (including attendance)

COURSE LINKS:

For the schedule of due dates:

https://home.csulb.edu/~rodrigue/csuc/sosc101/soscschedule.html .

For book report guidelines and list of appropriate books:

https://home.csulb.edu/~rodrigue/csuc/sosc101/books.html .

For regional report guidelines:

https://home.csulb.edu/~rodrigue/csuc/sosc101/regionrpt.html .

For guidelines for the two curriculum development essays:

https://home.csulb.edu/~rodrigue/csuc/sosc101/curriculum.html .

For some of the class lectures:

https://home.csulb.edu/~rodrigue/csuc/sosc101/lectures.html .