Examines the rich diversity of human life in the following world regions: North America; Middle and South America; Europe; Russia and the post- Soviet states; and Oceania. We will examine the geography of these regions focusing on the following thematic concepts: Environment; Globalization and development; power and politics; urbanization; and population patterns. This course also serves as an introduction to geography.

A survey of natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami, floods drought, hurricanes and severe weather, and the human disasters they cause. The geography of community vulnerability to natural hazards and the factors that influence risk and recovery are also examined.

A survey of earth's major landforms and the geographic factors that influence their development, distribution, and morphology. Topics include mountain building, river systems, desert migration and expansion, glacial and periglacial environments, and shoreline evolution. Discusses interactions with human activities and climate change. Emphasizes how these processes interact to form surface features that are unique to their geographic environment.

Introduces Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to design digital maps, integrate diverse data sources, and conduct basic spatial analyses. Appropriate for students with or without computer technology background. Skills are highly employable in many careers where spatial data can be used, including social justice, public health, sustainability, town and urban planning, economic development, public safety, energy, transportation, construction, environmental hazards, political strategy, security and diplomacy, military intelligence, marketing, education, communications, real estate, and public humanities.