Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for GEO 202 archive revision 202201

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Effective Term:
Winter 2022 through Winter 2025

Course Number:
GEO 202
Course Title:
Geography of Europe
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces the physical and human characteristics of Europe, including the natural environment, population distribution and settlement, cultural coherence and diversity, geopolitical framework, and economic and social development. Analyzes the ways in which humans have arranged politically throughout Europe and the conflicts that take place in this region. Examines the geographical basis of the European economic and political integration. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  • Define geographic concepts related to the physical and human geography of Europe.
  • Analyze the distribution of regional features using maps, graphs, and visuals. 
  • Describe various ethnic conflicts, boundary disputes, social and environmental problems in Europe through the geographic framework.
  • Explain the role of Europe in the global current events, including trends in globalization and multiculturalism.

Social Inquiry and Analysis

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to apply methods of inquiry and analysis to examine social contexts and the diversity of human thought and experience.

General education philosophy statement

Regional geography courses examine the relationships of cultural and environmental phenomena within different areas of the world. Students study characteristics of the region including ethnic groups, religions, languages, physical landscapes, politics, and economies. Students are asked to examine their own place in the global community and their relationships with other regions of the world, providing a foundation to recognize and appreciate cultural differences as they appear on the landscape. This includes considering connections between resource use and human rights issues, to increase awareness of the condition of women, minorities, and foreign workers in other parts of the world. This will lead students to become more informed and engaged consumers and global citizens.

Aspirational Goals

The main aspirational goals of the proposed course are the following:

  • Introduce the main changes of the economic and political systems in Europe with regard to their importance for the US - Europe relationship.  

  • Acquire geographic analytical skills that can be applied to a variety of professional tasks where the analysis of spatial information is required, ranging from the simple reckoning of locations to the understanding of the spatial structure and process that maps represent.

Course Activities and Design

Class will include lectures, films, student-led discussions, reading assignments, map activities, and research projects including students’ presentations.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students will be expected to demonstrate mastery of themes, concepts, issues, competencies and skills by any combination of the following:

  • In-class discussions

  • Exams and quizzes

  • Mapping activities

  • Class assignments and exercises

  • Conducting research

  • Presentations

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes:

  • Location

  • Place

  • Region 

  • Human-environment interaction

  • Movement

Concepts:

  • Physical and cultural landscapes

  • Political and economic systems

Issues:

  • The idea of Europe as a continent. The geographical position of Europe. Boundaries and major physiographic regions.

  • Natural environment: relief, climates, water bodies, biogeography. Modification of Europe’s environment. Europe’s landscapes.

  • Population: Population distribution. European demographics. European urban system. Cultural Aspects of the population. The peoples of Europe. Europe’s nations without states. 

  • Historical background: The historical evolution of Europe’s political map. Historical economic geography.

  • Economic Geography: Natural resources. Agriculture. Manufacturing. Services. International Trade. European economic and political integration. USA-Europe relationship.

Competencies and Skills:

  • Demonstrate how to use maps and other geographic representations to interpret the cultural landscapes in Europe.

  • Demonstrate how to analyze spatial organization and spatial interaction, and how to use those ideas in describing demographic, economic, and political phenomena across Europe.

  • Demonstrate how humans' actions modify the physical environment and how societies can devise solutions for environmental change in Europe.

  • Demonstrate how physical systems affect human systems, and how perceptions of natural hazards affect responses to them.