Geography

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Study Geography at Skyline College

Geography is the study of world cultures and their relation to the ever-changing physical environment. Skyline College's Geography courses help you explore the world and its diverse cultures through a geopolitical lens.

Professor Rachel Cunningham

Geography Professor Rachel Cunningham presents a Social Science Unwrapped lecture: Public Perceptions of Levees and Risk

Career Outlook

Skyline College offers an Associate Degree for Transfer that can help you create a clear path for transfer to a four-year institution.

The State of California Employment Development Department provides an online Occupational Guide that provides helpful job descriptions, job outlooks and wages, and qualification requirements for a wide variety of careers. Use this guide to find more information about a career that may interest you.

Looking for a list of classes offered this semester?

Check out the current class schedule.

All Courses

GEOG 100 Physical Geography (3 units)

An overview of the Earth’s physical environment and natural systems. The different natural processes that create the distribution of lifeforms, climate patterns, temperatures, and landforms on our planet. Includes studying the Earth-Sun relationship, global temperatures and circulation, water and humidity, ecosystems, plate tectonics, and other processes that shape landforms on the surface of the Earth. Also includes how humans are affecting these systems, and some of the tools geographers use to understand these relationships (like maps, and geospatial technologies).

GEOG 101 Physical Geography Lab (1 units)

Practical application of the basic concepts of Physical Geography. Students will use the tools of geography, such as maps and field observations, to enrich their understanding of the Earth’s physical processes. Topics include Earth-Sun relationships, weather, climate, landforms, water, ecosystems, and their spatial relationships.

GEOG 106 Weather and Climate (4 units)

Introduction to the study of Earth's atmosphere as a system, with an emphasis on the physical processes that change our atmosphere in the short term and throughout Earth's history. Topics include: atmospheric structure and composition, energy balances, seasonal changes, atmospheric moisture, storm systems, climate and climate change. Also listed as GEOL 106.

GEOG 110 Cultural Geography (3 units)

A survey of major world cultural patterns, resources, population, and the changing relationships of people and the physical environment.

GEOG 150 World Regional Geography (3 units)

A basic survey of geographic regions of the world. The location of physical and cultural regions such as mountain ranges, climatic regions, population centers, urban-economic concentrations, and political divisions. There will be an emphasis on historical influences and future trends in the changing world.

GEOG 300 Geographic Information Science (3 units)

An introduction to the rapidly expanding field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the broader discipline of Geographic Information Science. Includes both theory and software training, and provides a framework to understand how spatial data is gathered, integrated, interpreted, manipulated and analyzed.

Program Type Total Units
Geography for Transfer AA-T 60 Units

Upon completion of the program students will be able to:

  • Analyze, synthesize, and apply core geographic principles, concepts, models, and phenomena.
  • Identify examples of human-environmental interaction and assess their past, present, and future impact.
  • Evaluate and apply geographic methods and associated theories used to analyze and advance geographic concepts.
Office Information
Location: Building 1
Email: socialsci-creativearts@smccd.edu
Phone: (650) 738-4122
Summer 2024 Courses  |  Fall 2024 Courses

Type Status Title Days Time Instructor
Online Class OPEN GEOG 100 - 55109 - Physical Geography
div class="smc-catalog-course-title">GEOG 100 Physical Geography

An overview of the Earth?s physical environment and natural systems. The different natural processes that create the distribution of lifeforms, climate patterns, temperatures, and landforms on our planet. Includes studying the Earth-Sun relationship, global temperatures and circulation, water and humidity, ecosystems, plate tectonics, and other processes that shape landforms on the surface of the Earth. Also includes how humans are affecting these systems, and some of the tools geographers use to understand these relationships (like maps, and geospatial technologies).

Units: 3
Degree Credit
Grade Option (Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass)
  • Lecture hours/semester: 48-54
  • Homework hours/semester: 96-108
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
AA/AS Degree Requirements: Area 9B1
Transfer Credit: CSU (CSU GE Area B1), UC (IGETC Area 5A)
C-ID: GEOG 110
TBA Cunningham, R
Online Class OPEN GEOG 101 - 55108 - Physical Geography Lab
GEOG 101 Physical Geography Lab

Practical application of the basic concepts of Physical Geography. Students will use the tools of geography, such as maps and field observations, to enrich their understanding of the Earth?s physical processes. Topics include Earth-Sun relationships, weather, climate, landforms, water, ecosystems, and their spatial relationships.

Units: 1
Degree Credit
Grade Option (Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass)
  • Lab hours/semester: 48-54
Prerequisites: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in, GEOG 100
Corequisites: None
AA/AS Degree Requirements: Area 9B1
Transfer Credit: CSU (CSU GE Area B3), UC (IGETC Area 5C)
C-ID: GEOG 111
TBA Cunningham, R
Online Class OPEN GEOG 106 - 56342 - Weather and Climate

GEOG 106 WEATHER AND CLIMATE (4)
Hours/semester: 48-54 lecture/48-54 lab. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 846 or ESOL 400, or equivalent.
Introduction to the study of Earth's atmosphere as a system, with an emphasis on the physical processes that change our atmosphere in the short term and throughout Earth's history. Topics include atmospheric structure and composition, energy balances, seasonal changes, atmospheric moisture, storm systems, climate and climate change. Also listed as GEOL 106. Transfer credit: CSU.

TBA Gutierrez, A
Online Class OPEN GEOG 106 - 56342 - Weather and Climate

GEOG 106 WEATHER AND CLIMATE (4)
Hours/semester: 48-54 lecture/48-54 lab. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 846 or ESOL 400, or equivalent.
Introduction to the study of Earth's atmosphere as a system, with an emphasis on the physical processes that change our atmosphere in the short term and throughout Earth's history. Topics include atmospheric structure and composition, energy balances, seasonal changes, atmospheric moisture, storm systems, climate and climate change. Also listed as GEOL 106. Transfer credit: CSU.

TBA Gutierrez, A
Online Class OPEN GEOG 110 - 55107 - Cultural Geography
GEOG 110 CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY (3)
Hours/semester: 48-54 lecture. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ENGL 105, or equivalent.
Introduction to cultural geography with a survey of major world cultural patterns, resources, population, and the changing relationships of human groups and the physical environment. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (D3).

TBA Gutierrez, A
Online Class OPEN GEOG 150 - 56308 - World Regional Geography
GEOG 150 World Regional Geography

A basic survey of geographic regions of the world. The location of physical and cultural regions such as mountain ranges, climatic regions, population centers, urban-economic concentrations, and political divisions. There will be an emphasis on historical influences and future trends in the changing world.

Units: 3
Degree Credit
Grade Option (Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass)
  • Lecture hours/semester: 48-54
  • Homework hours/semester: 96-108
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
AA/AS Degree Requirements: Area 9D1
Transfer Credit: CSU (CSU GE Area D), UC
C-ID: GEOG 125
TBA Cunningham, R

American Geographical Society

American Geographical Society

Earth Institute at Columbia University

Earth Institute at Columbia University

Esri Geographic Information System

ESRI

National Association of Geoscience Teachers

National Association of Geoscience Teachers

Our World in Data

Our World in Data

Urban & Regional Information Systems Association

Urban and Regional Information Systems Association

Primary Contact

Social Science Creative Arts
Social Science Creative Arts (Account for Social Sci/Creative Arts)
Social Science|Creative Arts-Division Office
socialsci-creativearts@smccd.edu
More details »

Department Faculty

Rachel Cunningham
Rachel Cunningham (Geography Faculty)
Social Science|Creative Arts-Geography
cunninghamrachel@smccd.edu More details »
Christine Hansell
Christine Hansell (Instructor)
Social Science|Creative Arts-Geography
hansellc@smccd.edu
More details »

Division Contacts

Danni Redding Lapuz
Danni Redding Lapuz (Dean)
Social Science|Creative Arts-Division Office
reddinglapuzd@smccd.edu More details »
Angelica Mendoza
Angelica Mendoza (Executive Assistant)
Student Services-Vice President, Student Services
mendozaa@smccd.edu More details »