Request to Add GEOG 1301 Physical Geography to the Natural Science Component of the Core
Curriculum
The Social Science Task Force requests that GEOG 1301 Physical Geography be added to the
Natural Science Component of the 42-hour Core Curriculum for Austin Community College. This
course can be used to fulfill a Natural Science or a Social and Behavioral Science component
requirement, but it can not fulfill both with the same course.
The Coordinating Board in the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual states that the
core curriculum should contain courses that provide multiple perspectives about the individual and the
world in which he or she lives and to integrate the knowledge and understand the interrelationships of
the scholarly disciplines. The objective of core curriculum discipline studies is “to foster multiple
perspectives, as well as to inform and deliver content.” The courses offered in the core curriculum
may be translated directly into disciplinary or departmental terms, but it need not be restricted to the
areas of one or a few departments. A number of different class configurations can be used, including
multi-disciplinary courses.
Evaluation of courses in the core curriculum should include:
1. the extent to which it is consistent with the elements of the core curriculum
recommended by the Coordinating Board;
2. the extent to which the course is consistent with the Texas Common Course Numbering
System (TCCNS);
3. the extent to which the course is consistent with the elements of the core curriculum
component areas, intellectual competencies, and perspectives expressed by the
Coordinating Board in its Core Curriculum: Assumptions and Defining Characteristics.
Natural Sciences are those studies that investigate the physical world. The objective of the
natural science component of the core curriculum is “to enable the student to understand, construct,
and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences and to enable the student to understand the basis for
building and testing theories.”
GEOG 1301 Physical Geography is a broad survey course covering the physical processes the
shape the surface of the earth on which humans live. As an integrative survey course, Physical
Geography covers all aspects of the physical earth, including elements of Chemistry, Physics,
Geology, and Biology. It covers map concepts, the composition of the atmosphere, the distribution
and effect of insolation on the atmosphere and the resulting circulation patterns, the control factors
affecting weather and climate, the hydrological and biological systems, soils, and geomorphic
processes.
This course is consistent with the Texas Common Course Numbering System, as it listed in the
Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual.
It is also consistent with a number of the desired perspectives expressed by the Coordinating
Board. Specifically, it addresses the following perspectives:
1. Establish broad and multiple perspectives on the individual in relationship to the larger society
and world in which he or she lives, and to understand the responsibilities of living in a
culturally and ethnically diversified world;
2. Develop a capacity to use knowledge of how technology and science affect their lives;
3. Use logical reasoning in problem solving; and
4. Integrate knowledge and understand the interrelationships of the scholarly disciplines.
GEOG 1301 Physical Geography fulfils a number of the exemplary educational objectives of the
Natural Science Component. Specifically, it addresses the following exemplary objectives:
1. To understand and apply method and appropriate technology to the study of natural sciences.
2. To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and the differences between these approaches
and other methods of inquiry and to communicate findings, analyses, and interpretation both
orally and in writing.
3. To identify and recognize the differences among competing scientific theories.
4. To demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern science, including
issues that touch upon ethics, values, and public policies.
5. To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and their
influence on, and contribution to, modern culture.
Geography as a discipline examines humans from both a social and a natural science perspective.
As an introductory class, GEOG 1301 Physical Geography emphasizes this integrative approach, thus
providing an extremely broad and integrative course.
The following Texas institutions of higher education accept GEOG 1301 Physical Geography as
fulfilling part of their Natural Science Component:
1. University of Texas at Austin: Geography 301c
2. University of Texas at San Antonio: GRG 2613 Physical Geography
3. Northwest Vista College: GEOG 1301
The Texas Common Course Number Matrix lists 24 colleges and community colleges and 13
universities for this course.