Geography Syllabus

Geography Course

Course Title	[COURSE TITLE]
Course Code	[COURSE CODE]
Instructor Name	[YOUR NAME]
Email	[YOUR EMAIL]
Office Hours	[OFFICE HOURS]
Class Location	[CLASS LOCATION]
Class Time	[CLASS TIME]

1. Course Description

This course provides a foundational understanding of the Earth's physical processes and features. Through lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities, students will explore key concepts in physical geography, including landforms, climate systems, ecosystems, and natural hazards. Emphasis will be placed on developing spatial awareness, critical thinking skills, and an appreciation for the complexity and interconnectedness of Earth's physical environment.

2. Instructor information

Instructor: [YOUR NAME]

Contact Info: [YOUR EMAIL]

Organization: [YOUR COMPANY NAME]

3. Learning Objectives

Understand the fundamental principles of physical geography
Identify different geographic features and phenomena
Understand the influences of physical topography on human activity
Master the use of geographic instruments and software
Apply geographical skills effectively in a variety of contexts

4. Course Schedule

Week	Topic	Activities	Resources
1	Introduction to Physical Geography	Introduction to the course, group discussions	Chapter 1 & 2 of Textbook; online resources
2	Earth's Structure and Composition	Lecture on Earth's layers, hands-on activity on rock types	Chapter 3 of Textbook; online interactive modules
3	Plate Tectonics and Landforms	Video presentation on plate boundaries, group activity on landform identification	Chapter 4 of Textbook; educational videos online
4	Weathering, Erosion, and Mass Movement	Field trip to observe erosion features, lab experiment on weathering processes	Chapter 5 of Textbook; geological maps and diagrams
5	Climate Systems and Global Circulation	Discussion on climate zones, analysis of global climate data	Chapter 6 of Textbook; climate charts and graphs
6	Weather Patterns and Atmospheric Circulation	Weather map analysis, simulation of atmospheric circulation patterns	Chapter 7 of Textbook; online weather resources

5.Required Readings and Materials

Main Textbook: Introduction to Physical Geography (latest edition)
Atlas of the World (latest edition)
Scientific Calculator
Access to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software
Stationery for note-taking and assessments

6. Recommended Readings

"Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts" by Harm J. de Blij and Peter O. Muller
"The Earth System" by Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, and Robert G. Crane

7. Assignments and Assessments

Weekly quizzes to assess understanding of lecture material
Group projects involving GIS software
Midterm and final exams covering material from lectures and required readings
Individual presentations on assigned topical issues
Final report assessing an area of choice using the skills learned in the course

8. Course Policy

Regular attendance is mandatory. Absences will be excused only in exceptional circumstances if the instructor is notified beforehand.
All assignments are to be submitted on the due dates. Late submissions will be penalized unless due to exceptional circumstances and with prior notification.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any evidence of academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade.
Students are expected to participate actively in class discussions.
Use of electronic devices during lectures is strictly prohibited, except for note-taking purposes.

9. Grading Policy

Category	Percentage
weekly quizzes	15%
Group projects	20%
midterm exam	25%
Final exam	25%
class participation	25%

10. Disclaimer

The syllabus acts as a guide for the course, providing an overview and structure for the course content and expectations. However, it is important to note that the instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus, although they will provide advance notice in such instances.