GEOG 450 - Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UDB
Earth surface processes and the erosion, deposition and formation of landforms by gravity, wind, water, ice and waves. The physical geography of river, valley, glacier, mountain, slope, coast, desert and estuary environments.

Strongly Recommended Preparation: Upper division status (greater than 60 earned semester units) and completion of lower division Areas B1-B3.
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Areas A1, A2, A3 and B4 with grade C- (CR) or better; and GEOG 110.
Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-UDB- Upper Division Science Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning
Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

identify and explain the fundamental earth surface erosion, material deposition and transportation processes and mechanics.
describe and explain how these processes differ in different climate and geological/geomorphological environments and how they are influenced by human actions.
identify and describe the fundamental process drivers and the mechanisms that control them and explain how each shapes the landscape, especially extreme events.
describe and explain how different scales of time and space affect earth surface processes and outcomes.
describe and explain geomorphological methods used in earth surface process and landform analysis today.
identify landscape features from photographs, topographic maps, aerial and satellite images, and digital elevation models.
identify and describe illustrative examples of earth surface processes and their outcomes from river, valley, glacier, mountain, slope, coast, desert and estuary environments.

UD-B. Upper-division Science Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning Learning Outcomes

demonstrate advanced and/or focused science or quantitative content knowledge in a specific scientific field, using appropriate vocabulary and referencing appropriate concepts (such as models, uncertainties, hypotheses, theories, and technologies);
apply advanced quantitative skills (such as statistics, algebraic solutions, interpretation of graphical data) to scientific problems and evaluate scientific claims;
demonstrate understanding of the nature of science and scientific inquiry and the experimental and empirical methodologies used in science to investigate a scientific question or issue; and
apply science content knowledge to contemporary scientific issues (e.g., global warming) and technologies (e.g., cloning), where appropriate.