While pursuing a Certificate in Geography students will understand map types and uses, and apply geographical concepts to current events in the past, present, and future and appreciate the natural factors that influence weather and climate, as well as the terms that define them, in the context of the earth’s makeup of biomes, primary spheres, and geomorphic processes.  They will also explain spatial patterns and variations in human population, internal and international immigration, and how geography impacts conflict and cooperation in the world while classifying geographic regions by human or physical characteristics, and know the major regions of the world. They will engage in discussion on environmental influences on geography, including how human activities and decisions modify the physical environment; how the human and physical system of geography interact; and the roles that climate change and global warming play in our world today, including the importance of renewable resources. Student will be able to recognize, describe and synthesize the essential narratives of peoples and civilizations around the world, particularly in terms of  chronology and geography and demonstrate knowledge and cultural understanding of European, American and non-Western civilizations and to compare those cultures across time.

Student Learning Outcomes for the Geography Certificate

Students will:

• Understand map types and uses, and apply geographical concepts to current events in the past, present, and future;
• Appreciate the natural factors that influence weather and climate, as well as the terms that define them, in the context of the earth’s makeup of biomes, primary spheres, and geomorphic processes;
• Explain spatial patterns and variations in human population, internal and international immigration, and how geography impacts conflict and cooperation in the world;
• Classify geographic regions by human or physical characteristics, and know the major regions of the world; 
• Engage in discussion regarding environmental influences on geography (including how human activities and decisions modify the physical environment; how the human and physical system of  geography interact; and what roles that climate change and global warming play in our world today, including the importance of renewable resources);
• Recognize, describe and synthesize the essential narratives of peoples and civilizations around the world, particularly in terms of chronology and geography;
• Demonstrate knowledge and cultural understanding of European, American, and non-Western civilizations and the ability to compare those cultures across time.

Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
Students should take at least one course from each of the three disciplinary areas listed below		12
Social Sciences
GEOG 220	Cultural Geography
SOC 255	Urban Society
or HIST 325	The City & American Culture
Global History/Human Societies
HIST 210	History of Food
HIST 163	Non-Western World
HIST 240	Ancient Civilizations
HIST 255	Empires: East & West
Science
ENV 160	Introductory GIS
BIO 156	Environmental Science
SCI 195	Meteorology
SCI 235	Earth Science
Total Hours		12