Introduction to Geography
GEOG-200

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a spatial perspective of the world, utilizing a Christian worldview. The integration of human and physical characteristics of the world are reviewed in present day and historical contexts. The student equipped with a geographic perspective will be better prepared to fulfill the Great Commission in his/her vocational pursuits.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Relate communication and information literacy to participation in Gods redemptive work.
2. Identify the major themes and investigative concepts of geographical study.
3. Demonstrate basic factual knowledge of locational and theoretical concepts.
4. Explain the interaction between human and physical geography.
5. Evaluate the trends of globalization.
6. Analyze the impact of geospatial technologies in the study of geography and its subsets.

Foundational Skills Learning Outcomes (FSLO): Communication and Information Literacy Outcomes (CIL)

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

CIL 1: Discover and evaluate information to accomplish a specific purpose.

CIL 2: Communicate information effectively in the English language, orally and/or through writing, for a variety of purposes, using technology when appropriate.

CIL 3: Analyze and assess various forms of information and expression to determine their meaning, employing technology when relevant.

CIL 4: Demonstrate a basic understanding of the role of research and scholarship in order to apply it to various contexts.

Foundational Skills Learning Outcomes (FSLO): Communication and Information Literacy Outcomes (CIL)

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

CIL 1: Discover and evaluate information to accomplish a specific purpose.

CIL 2: Communicate information effectively in the English language, orally and/or through writing, for a variety of purposes, using technology when appropriate.

CIL 3: Analyze and assess various forms of information and expression to determine their meaning, employing technology when relevant.

CIL 4: Demonstrate a basic understanding of the role of research and scholarship in order to apply it to various contexts.

Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are registered: Liberty University Online Bookstore

Additional Materials for Learning

1. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
2. Broadband Internet access
3. Canvas recommended browsers
4. Microsoft Word
5. APA formatting information: https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=http%3A%2F%2FAPAStyleCENTRAL.apa.org

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Threads:

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will participate in 2 Discussions by posting a thread in response to the provided prompt. Each thread must be at least 300 words, and the assertions in the thread must be supported with at least 1 citation in current APA format from .edu or .gov sources, journals, or books (CLO: A, B, C, D, F: CIL 1, 2, 4).

Replies:

In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates' threads. Each reply must be at least 150 words.

The student will prepare a mission statement and develop a research-based strategy to accomplish a service project using the 5 main themes of geography as a guide. The student will develop this strategy into a 1,000–1,250-word service plan and must include a map and at least 5 scholarly sources (primary sources must come from .edu or .gov sources, journals, or books) (CLO: A, B, C, D, F: CIL 1, 2, 4).

There will be 13 quizzes that allow the student to demonstrate an understanding of the readings and video lectures that accompany each module. The quizzes will be open-book/open-notes, and contain approximately 25 multiple-choice, true-false, and mapping questions, and have a 1-hour time limit (CLO: A, B, C, D, E: CIL 3).

There will be 13 Read and Interact activities that allow the student to practice quiz and review materials, in preparation for actual quizzes that accompany each textbook chapter. The student progresses through the activity at his/her own pace. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E: CIL 3).

Course Assignments, including discussions, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
4. Group projects, including group discussion threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due date outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at [email protected] for accommodations.  Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition.   For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/. Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at [email protected].  Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory.

Liberty University comprises a network of students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.liberty.edu/students/honor-code/.