# Geography (GGR) courses

Palo Verde College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 4 courses

Source: https://catalog.paloverde.edu/index.php?catoid=2

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Spring 2027.

### GGR 101 — Physical Geography

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** 72 hours total, 4 hours lecture weekly
- **Advisory:** ENG 100 (now ENGL C1000), college level math and GGR 102
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections listed as GGR-101 (/c/palo-verde-college/schedule/fall-2026/ggr.md); Spring 2027, 1 section listed as GGR-101 (/c/palo-verde-college/schedule/spring-2027/ggr.md)
- Student Learning Outcomes: Explain the origins of Earth's patterns, the relationships among these patterns, and the role of man as part of the physical environment. Analyze the controls and distribution of weather and climate. Illustrate processes that shape the landscape. Use the scientific method to explain the distribution and interactions of organisms and their environments.
- General Education: CalGETC: Transfer General Education Requirements ( 5- Physical and Biological Sciences- 5A: Physical Science )
- Course Duration (Weeks): 18

This course is a spatial study of the Earth's dynamic physical systems and processes. Topics include: map and image analysis, Earth-sun geometry, weather, climate, landform development, erosion, water, glacial processes, desert processes, fluvial processes, coastal processes, soils, and the biosphere. Emphasis is on the interrelationships among environmental and human systems and processes and their resulting patterns and distributions. Tools of geographic inquiry are also briefly covered; this may include maps, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The course may include extra credit field trips to areas of interest or alternative assignments as noted in syllabus.

### GGR 102 — Physical Geography Laboratory

- **Units:** 1
- **Hours:** 54 hours total, 3 hours lab weekly
- **Corequisite:** GGR 101
- **Advisory:** ENG 100 (now ENGL C1000), college level
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections listed as GGR-102 (/c/palo-verde-college/schedule/fall-2026/ggr.md); Spring 2027, 1 section listed as GGR-102 (/c/palo-verde-college/schedule/spring-2027/ggr.md)
- Student Learning Outcomes: Describe the characteristics, controls and distribution of regional climates. Analyze and interpret a weather map. Examine and identify landform features on a topographic map.
- General Education: CalGETC: Transfer General Education Requirements ( 5- Physical and Biological Sciences- 5C: Laboratory )
- Course Duration (Weeks): 18

This course is designed to provide supplemental exercises in topics covered in Physical Geography lecture. Lab experience will include map analysis and interpretation, weather prognostication, landform processes and evolution, tectonics, biogeography, and habitat analysis. The course may include field trips (video, online, or in-person) during class time.

### GGR 103 — World Geography

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours total, 3 hours lecture weekly
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section listed as GGR-103 (/c/palo-verde-college/schedule/spring-2027/ggr.md)
- Student Learning Outcomes: Compare and contrast the political, social and economic traits that characterize developed and technologically less developed regions of the world. Outline the impact of humankind on our physical environment, indicating the long-term implications. Compare and contrast the basic elements of urbanism in First, Second, and Third World countries of the world.
- General Education: CalGETC: Transfer General Education Requirements ( 4- Social and Behavioral Sciences )
- Course Duration (Weeks): 18

World Geography provides a systematic study of the major geographic regions of the world. Specific countries within various regions are investigated in terms of their physiographic features, climatic conditions, natural resources, cultural heritage, population characteristics, agricultural practices, transportation systems, economic development, and future prospects.

### GGR 120 — Introduction to Human Geography

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours total, 3 hours lecture weekly
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section listed as GGR-120 (/c/palo-verde-college/schedule/spring-2027/ggr.md)
- Student Learning Outcomes: Explain the distribution of the human population and the processes (both historical and contemporary) that shape this distribution. Demonstrate an understanding of the origins, diversity, and distribution of basic cultural patterns, with particular attention given to: language, religion, urbanization, political and economic patterns, and human-environment interactions. Describe basic concepts used in the geographic study of human patterns including: diffusion, cultural landscapes, cultural ecology, and cultural regions
- General Education: CalGETC: Transfer General Education Requirements ( 4- Social and Behavioral Sciences )
- Course Duration (Weeks): 18

This is an introductory course of diverse human populations, their cultural origins, diffusion and contemporary spatial expressions. Topics include: demography, languages and religions, urbanization and landscape modification, political units and nationalism, and economic systems and development.