MCCCD Program Description

World Geography: People, Places, and Culture

Course: GCU121WG

First Term: 2025 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S- Standard

Description: Description and analysis of spatial variations in culture, social, economic, and political phenomena in major world regions. Emphasis on the major cultural realms of Europe, Asia, North Africa / Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, Latin America and Anglo America.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Construct the major geographic principles and models used by geographers. (I) 2. Identify the major physical and cultural realms and regions of the world. (II) 3. Describe the climate and climatic regions and their impact upon regional settlement and cultural developmental patterns. (III) 4. Discuss various geologic and climatic hazards with their implication on regional cultures of the world. (IV) 5. Explain population growth with regard to regional and global patterns and the international implications on the culture of the region. (V) 6. Evaluate the impact of racial, religious and linguistic groups to the overall culture and related socio-economic interaction of the nations within their respective realms. (VI) 7. Examine regional mineral, energy, agricultural and manufacturing resources with local cultures` participation within the global marketplace. (VII) 8. Elaborate on the geography of development for the patterns of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services for the major realms of the Earth. (VIII) 9. Contrast the different geopolitical systems and the relationships that have developed in today`s culture of global interdependence. (IX) 10. Interpret the globalization shift in the spatial interdependence within the economic, political and cultural realms. (X) 11. Summarize current events as they unfold during the time frame of the course, focusing on the regional cultural and historical contexts of those events. (X) 12. Discuss the future of human society and its evolving coexistence with sustainable development within the various realms of the Earth. (X)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Introduction to geography A. Geography principles 1. Location 2. Culture, place, and setting 3. Patterns in the world 4. Cause and effect of patterns B. Tools in geography 1. Maps 2. Remote sensing 3. Geographic information systems 4. Global positioning system II. Major realms of the world A. Cultural realms 1. Europe 2. Asia 3. North Africa / Middle East 4. Sub-Saharan Africa 5. Oceania 6. Latin America 7. Anglo America B. Physical realms 1. Coastal areas 2. Mountain areas 3. Aggradational landforms 4. River basins III. Weather and climate A. Weather B. Climate C. Climate classification D. Climate realms E. Climate realms and population / culture IV. Environmental hazards A. Geologic 1. Plate tectonics 2. Volcanoes and earthquakes 3. Weathering and mass wasting 4. Degradation 5. Hazards and culture / population B. Climate hazards 1. Severe weather 2. Climate change 3. Hazards and culture / population V. Population distribution and growth A. Past, present, and future B. Cultural impact C. Social impact D. Environmental impact VI. Spatial patterns of cultures of the world A. Racial groups B. Language groups C. Religious groups D. Living conditions 1. Standards of living 2. Educational standards and methods 3. Occupational structure VII. Economies of the world A. Agricultural resources 1. Locations 2. Cultural impact 3. Social impact 4. Economic impact B. Mineral and energy resources 1. Locations 2. Cultural impact 3. Social impact 4. Economic impact C. Manufacturing and trade 1. Locations 2. Cultural impact 3. Social impact 4. Economic impact VIII. Geography of development regional patterns A. Production B. Distribution C. Consumption IX. Regional politics and society A. World states B. Subdivisions of states C. Politics of the state, realms and regions X. Globalization A. Changing geographic scales B. Sustainable development C. Economic, political, and cultural change 1. Prehistoric 2. Middle Ages 3. Modern 4. Future

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: December 10, 2024

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.