Geog 209 Weather and Climate 4 credits Examines the impact of weather and climate on the natural environment and human use of the earth's surface. Themes include global and regional patterns of temperature, moisture, pressure, and wind and factors controlling geographic variations in climate. Students achieve an understanding of the regional climates of the United States, especially those of the West Coast. A preparatory course for geography majors that applies techniques in reading, interpreting, and analyzing maps and map data commonly used in geographic study. Emphasizes understanding and development of skills in scale computation, use of coordinate systems, simple field mapping, contour reading, map projections and datums, interpretation of physical and cultural phenomena on maps, the nature of computerbased maps, and familiarity with sources of maps and maprelated information.
Participants design a simple map.
Upper Division Courses Geog 300 Geographic Research Methods 4 credits Required for majors. Presents research and writing skills essential to upper division geography courses, poses problems in geographic research design, and prepares students for upper division curriculum, including the capstone. Covers field observation, library and Internet research, interviewing, and off-campus data sources. Involves some spatial statistics, research design and presentation. Addresses issues at global, national, and northwest regional scales.