GEOG 101I-01 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Spring 2013
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Guy King, Butte 517, 898-4858, Email: use Blackboard Learn class email.
Office Hours: Wednesday 9-11 AM, Friday 9-12 Noon.
LECTURE: Monday and Wednesday 1-1:50 PM, Butte 101.
LABORATORY:
GEOG 101I – 02 Monday 2-3:50 PM, Butte 503 or
GEOG 101I – 03 Wednesday 2-3:50 AM, Butte 503.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Physical geography is a survey of the basic processes that determine energy flows through
the atmosphere, and examines the subsequent matter interactions among water, rock, soil, vegetation, and landforms
that create and modify the Earth’s surface. The learning objective of this course is to understand the fundamentals of
matter and energy through recognition of landscape patterns, and the physical, chemical and biological principles and
functions that create those patterns. Put another way, the course objective is to understand the natural environment,
and the role of humans affected by and affecting that environment.
Physical geography integrates information from other fields such as geology, biology, physics, and chemistry to
present a pattern and process paradigm to understanding natural landscapes. The following are the specific course
goals:
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Use and think about maps and spatial data of physical environmental phenomena.
Understand and interpret the implications of associations among physical phenomena in places.
Recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among physical patterns and processes.
Become familiarized with the tools used to view, interpret processes, and recognize change occurring in our
physical geographic environment.
Develop an understanding of earth’s physical landforms, and the processes controlling variations in weather
and climate, soils, and plant communities around the world.
Provide a foundation upon which to build a better understanding of the human interrelationships with the
physical environment.
This is an approved General Education course for Physical Science credit. GEOG 101 addresses the following GE
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO):
1. Critical Thinking
2. Mathematical Reasoning
3. Active Inquiry
4. Sustainability
REQUIREMENTS: Students are responsible for all class materials and should be prepared for lectures by reading the
assigned textbook chapters before class. Effective writing, critical reading, thinking, and a broad familiarity with
physical processes operating locally, globally and universally are important learning goals of this course. Attendance is
expected at every class and laboratory meeting.
All GEOG 101 quizzes and exams are completed through the use of Blackboard Learn software. Students are advised
to start and complete assessments early. Make sure you have alternate access to the Internet (a second computer,
public library, etc.). Students are responsible for turning in all course assignments on time.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
William M. Marsh and Martin M. Kaufman (2013). Physical Geography. Cambridge University Press
(ISBN 978-0-521-76428-5)
GRADING: They are determined by scores on the three lecture examinations, the lecture final examination, 14
reading quizzes, and laboratory work as follows:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final Examination
Reading Quizzes (14 total, 10 pts each)
Lab Work
Total
50 points
50 points
50 points
100 points
140 points
220 points
600 points (10 points not counted)
GRADE CURVE:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
93-100%
90-92.99%
87-89.99%
83-86.99%
80-82.99%
77-79.99%,
73-76.99%
70-72.99%
65-69.99%
60-64.99%
<60%
Statement on Academic Honesty: Students are required to do their own work. Using work done by other students is
cheating which is a violation of CSU-Chico University Policy. For more information on academic honesty, see the
Student Judicial Affairs section of the University Catalog.
Disability Support Services: If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, contact the
Accessibility Resource Center (ARC).
MW - LECTURE SCHEDULE
Lecture topics
Dates
Jan
Text
chapters
28
30
Introduction to class
Physical geography, the scientific method, energy/matter
1
4
6
Geographic grid, time, geospatial data
Earth-Sun relationships, seasons
2
3
11
13
Atmosphere, solar radiation, energy balance, temperature patterns
Air pressure, wind systems, ocean currents
4
5
18
20
Atmospheric moisture and precipitation
Storm systems
6
6
25
27
Climates of the Earth
Environmental change
7
8
Feb
28-Mar 3
Online Exam 1 (Chapters 1-8)
Mar
4
6
Biosphere
World ecosystems
9
10
11
13
Soil science
Soil geography
12
13
18-22
SPRING BREAK (NO CLASSES)
25
27
Earth’s hydrosphere
Drainage basin hydrology
14
15
1
3
CESAR CHAVEZ DAY (NO CLASS)
Drainage basin hydrology, water resources
16
Apr
4-7
Online Exam 2 (Chapters 9-16)
Apr
8
10
Geothermal energy, earth materials
Plate tectonics
17
18
15
17
Earthquakes and volcanoes
Weathering and mass movement
19
20
22
24
Fluvial processes
Fluvial landforms
21
21
25-28
Online Exam 3 (Chapters 17-21)
Apr
29
1
Coastal processes
Coastal landforms
22
22
May
6
8
Glacial processes
Glacial landforms
23
23
13
15
Desert processes
Desert landforms
24
24
16-20
Online Comprehensive Final Exam (Chap. 22-24, include 1-23)
Feb
May