2.
3.
St. Cloud State University
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
1. Prepared by: Jeffrey Torguson
Phone: 8-0961
Requesting Unit: Geography
General Education Goal Area 5
History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Proposal Number:
Email: jstorguson@stcloudstate.edu
Department, Course Number, Title: GEOG 275. Geography of the United States
4.
5.
New Course Existing Course
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course? No
Already Designated as Diversity Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
6. Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area? No Yes
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
7. Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
How the cultural and physical elements of geography combine to impart regional identity. Regional. 3 Cr.
DEMAND.
8. Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain signatures from any affected departments.
Any undergraduate student in any major.
9. Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other departments by offering this course.
None
10. For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
This course has been approved before.
11. Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
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for which they are approved. Courses for which assessment is not included in the annual GE assessment report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
12. Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 5: History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Develop understanding of human societies and behaviors, and of the concepts, theories, and methods of history and the social sciences.
This course focuses on cultural, political, historical, environmental and economic geographies of the
United States as a whole and of the various sub-regions within the United States.
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 5, it must address at least 4 of the 5 student learning outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Describe or use the methods and data by which historians, social scientists, or behavioral scientists investigate human conditions.
2. Analyze human behavior, cultures, and social institutions and processes from the perspectives of history or the social and behavioral sciences.
3. Develop explanations for and explore solutions to historical or contemporary social problems.
4. Reflect upon themselves in relation to family, communities, society, culture, and/or their histories.
5. Apply and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories about human societies and behaviors.
14. Discuss how each Student Learning Outcome checked above is achieved in this course. (Note: Although descriptions of typical assignments or types of assignments may be part of this discussion, it is not appropriate to submit copies of actual assignments.)
1. Students will learn about and use thematic maps and imagery to explore spatial pattterns of population, urban patterns, variation in income, culture, agriculture, and many other topics.
2. Students will analyze each of the subregions of the United States in terms of cultural, political, historical, environmental and economic patterns.
3. Analysis of current spatial patterns of human activity and how these patterns developed, including how these activities impact and effect the landscape.
4. Students have the opportunity to compare their own cultural and economic situtaion with patterns seen in the midwest and other regions.
5. Spatial patterns are examined through ecomonic, cultural, and environmentnal lenses, which often have differing explanations to the patterns, processes, and solutions to problems.
15. List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
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to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need to be broken down further. Indicate in your course outline where the Student Learning Outcomes checked above are being met.
Student Learning Outcomes are applied in each of the sub sections described in the course outline.
Introduction to Geography (5%)
Map andImage reading and analysis (10%)
Overview of the United States: (45%):
…Landforms (7.5%)
…Weather and Climate (7.5%)
…Cultural Geography (7.5%)
…Political Geography (7.5%)
…Historical Geography (7.5%)
…Economic Geography (7.5%)
Regional Analysis (40%):
…Northeast U.S. (includes the Middle Atlantic and New England) (10%)
…Midwest (includes West and East North Central regions) (10%)
…The South (West South Central, East South Central and South Atlantic Regions) (10%)
… The West (includes Pacific and Mountain regions) (10%)
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Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Department: Geography
Proposal Number
Course or Course(s): GEOG 275: Geography of the United States
Department or Unit Chair Signature Date
Department forward to Academic Affairs for publication and electronically to Chair of General Education Committee, Chair of College Curriculum Committee, College Dean
Recommendation of General Education Committee:
Chairperson
Approve Disapprove
Committee
Signature Date
Remarks:
Recommendation of University Curriculum Committee:
Approve Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature Date
Recommendation of Faculty Association:
FA Senate
Approve Disapprove
Signature
Action of Academic Vice President:
Approve Disapprove
Date
Signature
Entered in Curriculum Data File
Date
Remarks:
Remarks:
Remarks:
12/11/2009