Catalog Description

Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1A
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: An introduction to California's diversified geography including climate, landforms, natural vegetation, and water resources, the cultural landscapes of ethnic diversity, our Native American past, urban and agricultural regions, and the economic challenges of the future. Emphasis on cultural diversity, human alteration of the landscape, contemporary problems and resource competition. (C-ID GEOG 140) (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Identify California's major landforms and distribution.
  • CSLO #2: Assess California's varied water projects, their distribution, their ownership, the history, challenges and solutions based on land-use such as urban or agricultural.
  • CSLO #3: Locate California's climatic regions and describe fundamental characteristics, such as temperature and rainfall, and their causes.
  • CSLO #4: Examine California's agricultural regions, top crop production, their farming or ranching practices, and economic and environmental challenges.
  • CSLO #5: Describe immigration to California based on an era, such as gold mining days or subsequent farming days, which ethnic group, where they moved, what they primarily did and challenges they faced.
  • CSLO #6: Evaluate current or proposed urban growth plans through the State and their impacts to the environment.

Effective Term

Fall 2021

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

1. Identify and memorize what makes California unique, such as its mediterranean climate, the great physical diversity, the large and old trees, the vast storehouse of natural resources and great population diversity and wealth.
2. Locate and label California's regions through the creation of maps. In addition, summarize, organize and outline environmental data based upon the 8 to 13 geomorphic regions of California.
3. Locate California climatic regions and analyze the fundamental location factors determining these climates.
4. Comprehensively understand the idea of surplus and deficit as related to California's water supply, with both natural and human-man wwater systems.
5. Compare and contrast the varied history of California from its Native American past to early statehood.
6. Integrate the geographic and geologic processes that help shape California's American settlement patterns related to the discovery of gold and other natural resources.
7. Examine agricultural regions in California, and correlate their location with environmental conditions (soil, sun, temperature) and cultural factors (costs, market demands, transportation).
8. Synthesize regional economic activity in California based on location, resources, and current industries.
9. Research the current ethnic patterns through the State regions compared to the history of migrants coming into various industries throughout the state.
10. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of California's modern water system, usings examples of federal, state and local water projects.
11. Current California issues, such as proposed new dams & water systems, are identified and examined for impacts to the State's benefit (financial, social, political, etc.) or detriment.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Behavioral Sciences
    • AA/AS - Multicultural Studies
    • AA/AS - Social Sciences
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - D5 Geography
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
      • IGETC - 4E Geography

    Articulation Information

    • CSU Transferable
    • UC Transferable

    Methods of Evaluation

    • Classroom Discussions
      • Example: Instructor lead discussion on California's facts & figures of where and why migrants move to parts of California, student discuss some of the pros and cons of immigrations.
    • Objective Examinations
      • Example: Students match the geomorphic province with the correct & unique characteristics of that region. Example: Klamath Mountains are matched to serpentine soils and the associated unique soils and plants. Example: California farmers use nearly ___________ percent of all water in California: a) 40 b) 50 c) 70 d) 80 Answer: 80 percent
    • Reports
      • Example: After looking as current issues specific to California, students assemble a group of several news articles related to their interest, such as water supply, then use these articles to write a term paper on that issues. The articles are used as the bibliography and sources. Students present a short overview of their issue to their classroom peers.

    Repeatable

    No

    Methods of Instruction

    • Lecture/Discussion
    • Distance Learning

    Lecture:

    1. Instructor lecture and overview of the 8 to 13 geomorphic provinces and what makes them different from each other. Followed by instructor and student discussion which includes mapping and listing the unique features of a region, for example, the Klamath Mountains geologic development, unique serpentine soils, its refugio plant communities, and historic legacy of mining and resource extraction.
    2. Instructor lecture on current California issues related to ground water and agriculture. Students are to actively participate in the lecture and discussion. The instructor then provides instructions and examples of a term paper (called a portfolio) with at least 3 annotated bibliography summaries (as the student's sources), 3 to 5 pages that synthesize these sources into a comprehensive report of a California current issues, such as ground water regulation and agriculture.

    Typical Out of Class Assignments

    Reading Assignments

    1. Read a recent news article on the California Aqueduct system and its varied challenges, and come prepared to discuss your reading with other students as it pertains to our state water system. 2. Read "A Dangerous Place," one of several books to purchase about California's history from native Americans to current earthquakes. Students have chapter quizzes to review material, also used in lectures, such as how earthquakes impact the S.F. Bay Area.

    Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

    1. Research papers on relevant topics such as California's changing economy, diverse ethnicity, climate change challenges, and current issues. 2. Matching exam to identify unique geomorphic regions in California, such as the Great Central Valley or Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, and their unique characteristics.

    Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

    1. A portfolio of maps is created by each student to include California regions, history, rivers and lakes, climate, agriculture, population and landforms.

    Required Materials

    • California GEOG Course Pack
      • Author: S Booth
      • Publisher: 2016
      • Publication Date: 2nd
      • Text Edition:
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • A Dangerous Place
      • Author: Marc Reisner
      • Publisher: Penquin
      • Publication Date: 2003
      • Text Edition:
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Ishi - Last of His Tribe
      • Author: Theodora Kroeber
      • Publisher: Bantam Books
      • Publication Date: 1973
      • Text Edition:
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Rediscovering the Golden State: California Geography
      • Author: William Selby
      • Publisher: Wiley
      • Publication Date: 2019
      • Text Edition: 4th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:

    Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.

    Map packet provided