Basics of Geography
Code: 106751 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Sciences | FB | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- David Saurí Pujol
- Email:
- david.sauri@uab.cat
Teachers
- Monika Wiktoria Maciejewska
- Jerònia Cubells Vadell
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
None
Objectives and Contextualisation
The basic objective of this subject is to provide students with adequate knowledge of the main tools and concepts formulated by Geography for the study of the relationships between human societies and their non-human environments. IGeography chooses to study these relationships at different territorial scales, from the global to the local, and seeks to highlight the mutual influences between nature and human society that produce the diversity of environments at all scales that we can find on the planet today.
Within this general framework presented in the first session of the course, we will be interested in three major topics that help explain the social but also natural dynamics dominant on the planet. First, the concept of geopolitics or the relationships between power (mainly political) and territory will be addressed to explain some of the most important territorial conflicts with environmental implications in today's world. Secondly, the main physical and social dimensions of the global world will be addressed, with special attention to globalization processes, related not only to economic or political matters but also to culture. Thirdly, development and growth in its different variants and its relationship with the environment, particularly in terms of limits, will be discussed. The second block of the subject focuses on a set of major topics addressed from a geographical perspective, such as human population, migration, agriculture and food production, energy and industry, and cities. Finally, the last block of the course will consist of assessing what geography can contribute to an informed knowledge of six major environmental challenges that are key to the future of life on Earth: water, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, natural disasters and pandemics.
Learning Outcomes
- CM07 (Competence) Work independently on the resolution of basic environmental problems and practical cases in the field of geography.
- CM08 (Competence) Transmit basic geographical information associated with an environmental problem to the general public appropriately.
- KM12 (Knowledge) Identify the basic connections between the principles and foundations of Geography and environmental processes.
- KM13 (Knowledge) Identify the main geographical dimensions of the global world.
- KM14 (Knowledge) Recognise the impact of activities and human behaviour on the medium, as well as geographic processes in the environment.
- KM15 (Knowledge) Identify the main demographic, agricultural, and industrial dynamics and urban characteristics at a global level.
- SM13 (Skill) Collect and analyse geographical data and observations related to agriculture, energy, industry and services.
- SM14 (Skill) Extract relevant geographical information from reports and projects related to environmental issues.
- SM15 (Skill) Use information and material from the field of geography related to the environment in the classroom and in the field both safely and efficiently.
- SM16 (Skill) Express yourself using language appropriate to fundamental geographical information.
Content
The program is structured in three parts :
1. Introduction to Geography as a discipline between the natural sciences and the social sciences: Geopolitics, Globalization and Development
2. Topics in Geography: Population, Agriculture and Food; Energy and Industry, Cities
3. A Geographical approaches to global environmental challenges from Geography: Water, Biodiversity, Pollution , Climate Change, Natural Disasters, and Pandemics
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Class exercises | 12 | 0.48 | |
| Lectures | 38 | 1.52 | |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorial sessions | 12 | 0.48 | |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Class exercises reports | 23 | 0.92 | |
| Study | 55 | 2.2 |
Lectures
The professor will carry out an exposition of the main concepts in each unit of study, whereby concrete cases that exemplify the different concepts studied will be explained and discussed. Insofar as possible, debates and discussions in class on the topics presnted will be encouraged.
Classroom exercises
Classroom practice will consist of a set of exercises in working groups intended to deepen in the issue raised in the lectures. These exercises include, among others, discussions about mandatory readings, viewing, commentary and debate on audiovisual materials, and the elaboration of graphic reports.
Tutorials
The learning process and the acquisition of skills will be supervised by the instructor through individual and/or group tutorials. The lecturers will be at the disposal of the students to resolve doubts and follow the evolution of the learning process and the acquisition of skills by the student
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class exercises reports | 20 percent | 6 | 0.24 | CM07, CM08, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM13, SM14, SM15, SM16 |
| Test 1 | 40 percent | 2 | 0.08 | CM07, CM08, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM13, SM14, SM15, SM16 |
| Test 2 | 40 percent | 2 | 0.08 | CM07, CM08, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM13, SM14, SM15, SM16 |
Continuous evaluation
Students must demonstrate their progress by carrying out various assessment activities. These activities are detailed at the end of this section of the Teaching Guide.
The final grade will be the weighted average of the parts that make up the evaluarion activities described at the end of this part of the Teaching Guide
Review
When delivering the final grade, the teacher will communicate in writing a date and time for the review. The review of the various assessment activities will be agreed between the teacher and the student.
Retake
Anyone who has taken activities whose weight is equivalent to 66.6% (two-thirds) or more of the final grade and who has obtained a weighted average grade of 3 or more will be able to access retake activities
When delivering the final grade,, the teacher will communicate in writing the retake procedure.
A retake activity can be proposed for each activity that was failed or not submitted. Several activities can be grouped into one but in no case can retake consist of a single final assessment activity equivalent to 100% of the grade.
Consideration of “non-evaluable"
A “non-evaluable” mark will be assigned when the assessment evidence provided by the student is equivalent to a maximum of a quarter of the total grade for the subject.
Irregularities in assessment activities
In the event of an irregularity (plagiarism, copying, identity theft, etc.) in an assessment activity, the grade for this assessment activity will be 0. In the event that irregularities occur in several assessment activities, the final grade for the subject will be 0. Assessment activities in which irregularities have occurred (such as plagiarism, copying, identity theft) are excluded from recovery.
Assessable activities
Two partial exams (40% of the final grade each)
Submission of group practice reports (20% of the final grade)
The weighted average will be calculated based on the previous percentages
Regarding the partial exams, a grade of "3" or more must be obtained in each one to determine the weighted average between the two
A weighted grade of 5 or more must be obtained in the partial exams in order to incorporate the practice grade into the final grade. In no case will the practice grade be averaged with the theory grade if the theory has not been approved
Single evaluation
This subject allows for a single evaluation in the terms established by the UAB academic regulations and the assessment criteria of the Faculty of Sciences. The student must submit the electronic application within the calendar established by the Faculty and send a copy to the person responsible for the subject so that he has a record of it.
The single assessment will be held ongle day in week 16 or 17 of the semester. Academic Management will publish the date and time on the Faculty website.
On the day of the evaluation, the teaching staff will request identification from the student, who must present a valid identity document with a recent photograph (student card, national ID card or passport).
Single evaluation activities
The final grade for the subject will be established according to the following percentages:
- First part exam (40% of the grade)
- Second part exam (40% of the grade)
- Multiple choice exam (20% of the grade)
The processes for reviewing grades and retaking options are the same as those applied to continuous assessment. See them above in this teaching guide.
Bibliography
DAVIS, M. (2007). Planeta de Ciudades Miseria. Madrid, Foca
DOODS,K. (2019). Geopolitics. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press
DORRELL, D. ; HENDERSON, J. ; LINDLEY, T.; AND CONNOR, G. (2019). Introduction to Human Geography (2nd Edition). Geological Sciences and Geography Open Textbooks. 2. https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/geo-textbooks/2 ( llibre en accés obert)
HARARI, Y.N. (2018). 21 lliçons per al segle XXI, Barcelona: Edicions 62.
HIERNAUX, D. y LINDON, A. (eds) (2006). Tratado de Geogafía Humana. Barcelona: Ed. Anthropos
KAPLAN,R.D. (2017). La Venganza de la Geografía. Barcelona: RBA
MARSHALL, T. (2021). Prisioneros de la Geografía. Madrid: Península
MOORE, J. (ED) (2016). Anthropocene or Capitalocene?. Oakland, Cal: PM Press
MURPHY, A. (2018). Geografía. Madrid: Alianza Editorial
NOGUÉ, J.; ROMERO, J. (eds). (2008). Las otras geografías, València, Tirant lo Blanch.
PAJARES, M. (2023). Bla-bla-bla. El Mito del Capitalismo Ecológico. Barcelona, El Rayo Verde
PATEL, R. (2008). Obesos y famélicos. El impacto de la globalización en el sistema alimentario mundial, Barcelona, Los libros del Lince.
ROBBINS, P., HINTZ, J.G. AND MOORE, S.A. (2022). Environment and Society. A Critical Introduction ( 3rd Ed). New York: Wiley.
ROMERO, J. (coord.) (2004). Geografía humana:procesos e incertidumbres en un mundo globalizado, Barcelona, Ariel.
ROSENFELD, C. AND BURTCH, N. (2023). Human Geography Open TextBook Library https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/1389 (llibre en accès obert)
SHORT, J.R. (2017). Human Geography. A Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press
SOLANA, m. (coord) (2016). Espacios globales y lugares próximos. Setenta conceptos para entender la organización territorial del capitalismo global, Barcelona, Icaria.
STIGLITZ, J.E. (2007, orig. Inglés 2002), El malestar en la globalización, Barcelona, Punto de Lectura.
TURNER, B.L.T. II (2023). The Anthropocene. 101 Questiosn and Answers for Understanding the Human Impact on the Global Environment. Newcastle, UK : Agenda Publishing
TAYLOR, P.J.; FLINT, C. (2002, 2ª edición). Geografía política. (Economía mundo, estado-nación y localidad), Madrid, Trama Editorial.
VVAA (2010). Diercke International Atlas. Brunswick, Germany: Westermann
VVAA (2006). Perthes World Atlas. Gotha, Germany: Klett.
ZÁRATE MARTÍN M.A. y RUBIO BENITO, M.T. (2018). Fundamentos de Geografía Humana. Madrid, Editorial Universitaria Ramon Areces.
Software
The necessary software for the course is the Microsoft Office package or similar
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 2 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |