Intro Environmental Geography

1. Geography 106
Geographic Perspectives on the
Environment
Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-5:50 PM
Reference 4316 Section 01
Professor Lisa Schmidt

2. Important
Information

3. Required Text
• Required Text:
• Environmental
Geography: Science,
Land Use, and Earth
Systems, 3rd Edition
• William Marsh and
John Grossa
• ISBN-13: 978-
0471482802

4. Materials Required
• Pens
• Pencils
• Paper
• Internet Access
• Recommended:
– Colored Pens/Pencils

5. Course
Description
There may be no more crucial subject of study today than the study of Earth’s
environmental problems. This course is an introduction to some of those problems.
When you finish this course, you will be able to think and speak effectively about
the environmental challenges we face today, particularly those related to population
growth, economic growth, the declines of traditional cultures, poverty, energy use,
climate change and their impacts. You will be able to answer the question “what
can we do to avoid a crisis in the global environment?” Geography as a discipline
is an ideal vehicle for understanding problems and finding solutions in the global
environment. Geography’s great strength as a science is its holistic perspective,
integrating understanding of people with understanding of the natural environment.
Using geographic perspectives, in this class we will ask not “how can we best
protect nature?” but “how can we best protect nature while enduring an adequate
standard of living for the world’s people?” You will gain a global perspective on our
environment through geography. You will use the geographical approach to
understand the biosphere, environmental principles, economics and environment,
human impact, extinction and biodiversity, food/population crises, the social
environment, global tampering, and contemporary values in global environmental
issues.

6. Course Description

7. Course Objectives

8. Course Objectives
• Distinguish between scientific and non-scientific questions and apply that
• distinction to global environment issues.
• Demonstrate an understanding of environmental processes (energetics,
succession,
• biogeochemistry) in relationship to global issues.
• Define the essential issue/problem in an environmental problem.
• Differentiate between a biological issue from a social environmental issue.
• Characterize environmental hazards in relationship to cultural traditions
globally.
• Distinguish between the various environmental problems as to which pose
real
• threat to the global environment and which are social, political, or aesthetic.
• Recognize the implications of biodiversity/extinction and climatological
• modification to world survival.
• Recognize the social and resource implications of the population crisis.

9. Assignments

10. Grading Scale

11. Chapter Quizzes
• There will be 18 chapter quizzes.
– These will be given using Blackboard.
– You will have one week to complete quizzes.
– Quizzes will close at 3:30 PM on their due
dates.
• Quizzes will be multiple choice, true and
false, matching, and/or short paragraphs.

12. Exams
• There will be 4 exams.
– Exams will be based on chapter quizzes but
will also contain some new material.
• Tests will be given using Blackboard.
– You will have one week to complete exams.
– They will close at 3:30 PM on their due dates.
– A study guide will be available for each exam.

13. Presentation
Project
• For this class, you are required to
complete a research project and
give a presentation.
• The project will be based on topic
discussed during this class.
• You will pick a problem and solve it.
• The problem will happen in stages
through the course – see the
schedule in the syllabus.
• Details will be posted on the class
web page.
• You may work in group IF you
choose.
• You may make a video as an
alternative to presenting in class.

14. Participation
Points
• At any time during this course I might give a surprise
assignment. If you are not here, you will not receive
those points. Participation points will also be used for
parts of your project – topic, sources, and research
questions.

15. Changes

16. Class
Schedule
At this time, please take a look at the schedule in your syllabus….

17. Late Work and Missed Exams
• Late work will not be accepted.
• Do not ask for quizzes or exams to be
reopened if you miss them, unless you
have a documented emergency.

18. Absences and Tardiness
• I reserve the right to drop students who miss
class twice.
• If you have to miss class, you should stay in
contact with me if you do not wish to be
dropped.
• I also reserve the right to drop students for
excessive tardiness.
• Excessive tardiness is being late more than
three times.
• If you are going to be late, come in quietly and
take a seat WITHOUT interrupting lecture.

19. Dropping
• If you are in attendance today, or you add
the class today, you are enrolled and at
this point it becomes your responsibility to
drop the class should you decide you to
not wish to be in it any longer.
• If you stop attending and you do not drop,
you will likely receive an F.

20. Extra Credit
• Some extra credit may be offered through
the semester.
• You should be here to that you hear when
things like this are happening.
• Attendance is important for a number of
reasons…

21. Academic Honesty
• Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.
• Any incidences of cheating or plagiarism
will be reported to the dean’s office.
– Please refer to San Bernardino Valley
College’s policy on academic honesty

22. Cell Phones and Texting
• Use of cell phones for talking or texting during
class is inappropriate.
• You may be asked to leave the classroom if
you are talking or texting on your phone
during lecture. Phones should be set to silent
mode when in class.
• Use of cell phones for learning and especially
for geography is AWESOME! And that is
encouraged : )

23. Disabilities
• If you need accommodations, please let
me know.
• If you think you might need help, contact
the DPS Office at 384-4443

24. Blackboard
• Blackboard will be used during this
course.
• You must access Blackboard to take your
quizzes and exams.
• If you need help, please stay after we are
done and I will show you where to log in.

25. Contacting
Me
• You can text me or leave a
voice mail at 760 440 8977
• Email me at
ProfessorLisas@gmail.com

27. E-mailing
Assignments/My
Mailbox
• Please do not e-mail assignments
to me.
• If you cannot make it to class when
something is due, please contact
me.
• I do have a mailbox downstairs
where you can leave things if you
need to.

28. Class Web Page
• http://schmidtenvgeog.wikispaces.com
• This web page has been created for this
class.
• Power Points and other resources will be
available on this web page as well as
instructions for your projects.

29. What is Geography?
• The scientific study of the Earth's surface
and its various climates, countries,
peoples, and natural resources.

30. Fields of
Geography
• Human or Cultural
Geography
– Deals with social,
economic, and
behavioral processes
• Physical Geography
– Examines the natural
processes occurring at
Earth’s surface that
provide the physical
setting for human
activities

31. Branches of Physical Geography
• Biogeography
• Climatology
• Coastal Geography
• Environmental Geography
• Geomorphology
• Glaciology
• Hydrology
• Oceanography
• Paleogeography

32. Branches of Human Geography
• Cultural Geography
• Developmental Geography
• Economic Geography
• Medical Geography
• Historical Geography
• Political Geography
• Population Geography
• Demography
• Transportation Geography
• Urban Geography

33. Tools Geographers Use
• Maps
– Paper representations of space showing point, line, or
area data
• Or more simply put, locations, connections, and
regions
• Remote Sensing
– Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of earth’s surface
• GIS or Geographic Information Systems
– Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to
data bases
• Mathematical Modeling and Statistics
– Used to understand natural and human phenomenon

34. State of the
World
• Biosphere: Geography of the
Biosphere
• Human Impact vs. Natural
Catastrophe
• Problems with Natural Resources
• Problems of Global Contamination
• Problems of Global Tampering
• Problems of Human Activity Levels
• Human Considerations

35. Biosphere:
Geography of
the Biosphere
• Energy
• Succession
• Biogeochemistry
• Ecosystems

36. Human Impact vs.
Natural Catastrophe
• What is natural and unnatural.

37. Problems with Natural Resources
• Agriculture and Food
Production
• Air and Water
• Energy Resources
• Land, Wildlife, and
Biodiversity
• Recycling the Natural
Environment

38. Problems of
Global
Contamination
• Toxic Waste
• Radiation
• Ozone Depletion
• Climate Change

39. Problems of Global Tampering
• Climate Modification
• Loss of Biodiversity
• Desertification
• Loss of Rainforests

40. Problems of
Human Activity
Levels
• Overpopulation
• Food Crisis
• Urbanization
• Agriculture and Land
Abuse
• Urban Waste Disposal

41. Human
Considerations
• What is a sustainable global
society?
• Contemporary values in Western
society toward the natural world
• Non-Western views towards
nature
• Ethics for the future