Geography 417

California Geography and History

Syllabus- Spring 2004

Instructor: Steve Graves Office Hours: MW 10-11:00 or by appt.

Email: steve.graves@csun.edu www.csun.edu/~sg4002/Index.htm

Office Phone: 677-3517 Department Phone: 677-3532

Meeting Times/Room:

Wednesday 4:00pm-6:50pm Sierra Hall 108

Course Description:

Prerequisite: Available to members of Blended Single Subject Credential Program only. An examination of California, focusing on its political, social, and economic growth, its settlement, its population patterns, resource exploitation, and human-environment interaction. The spatial and temporal variation of these factors is emphasized. (Cross-listed with HIST 417.)

Required Materials:

Phillip Fradkin. The Seven States of California. University of California Press, 1997.

(other editions available). ISBN: 0520209427

Classroom Activities:

Classroom time will be devoted to lecture and discussion. If students are prepared to discuss and debate course content, then there will be less lecture and more discussion. We may also watch videos, welcome guest lecturers, engage in on-line, GIS or other computer-oriented exercises. Students are also encouraged to suggest learning tools, strategies, or exercises. I really welcome student input.

Attendance:

Attendance is a key component of good grades. I expect students to attend every class. You owe it to yourself, whoever is paying for your education and the taxpayers who support your education. Students with poor attendance habits should not take this course. If you have medical or personal issue that demands your absence, please contact Dr. Graves before or immediately after the course you miss. In certain circumstances, a student must miss an extended period of time, you should arrange to drop the course or make special arrangements with Dr. Graves.

Assessment: There is a required un-graded assessment test that includes a course contract. This test is the first assignment of the course and is mandatory.

Evaluation:

Students will be evaluated by a variety of evaluation tools, including multiple choice exams, writing assignments, map quizzes, on-line exercises, etc. Students should be able to demonstrate basic knowledge/comprehension of the subject matter as well as the ability to apply critical thinking skills to the subject matter, by evaluating issues, applying knowledge acquired in novel situations, synthesizing multiple points, issues and knowledges.

Intended Outcomes:

In accordance with best teaching practices, intended outcomes for this course are transparent to students at the beginning of the semester. These outcomes represent the knowledge and skill set that students are expected to demonstrate their competence with during the semester. Assessment and evaluation tools used during the quarter are designed to determine your success in acquiring and demonstrating these knowledge and skill sets.

Goal A: Building a Knowledge Base: Students in this course will identify and define key terms and concepts central to California’s History and Geography.

Students will be able to define and explain key terms such as culture, region, landscape, diffusion, ecology and environmental perception.