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GEO/180
Physical Geography

Course level: Undergraduate

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General Education

Online

Format

$1,194

Estimated Tuition

3 credits

Total credits

5 weeks

Course length

Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

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Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

This course introduces students to the principles of physical geography. Students examine the processes of Earth’s physical environment as well as the human-environment interaction. Topics include plate tectonics, the rock cycle, landscape building, water resources, the relationship between the Earth and Sun, the elements of weather and climate, vegetation and soils, types and uses of maps, and human interaction with the environment.

Prerequisites

None

Required materials

The materials required for this course are covered in your resource fees.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Earn these career-relevant skills in weeks, not years.

  • Apply basic geographic grids and mapping tools.
  • Analyze the relationship between the Earth and the sun.
  • Compare the properties of atmospheric layers.

  • Explain how atmospheric properties affect air pressure, air flow, seasonal change, and cloud formation.
  • Describe how weather patterns evolve.
  • Compare ancient and modern theories of climate change.

  • Describe the composition, formation, and uses of soils.
  • Describe the properties of the Earth’s core, mantle, and crust.
  • Explain the relationship between the rock cycle and plate tectonics.

  • Compare the effects of mechanical and chemical weathering on rocks.
  • Explain the hydrologic cycle.
  • Explain how human water use affects surface-water and groundwater processes.
  • Analyze how global climate change affects glacier morphology.

  • Analyze the surficial processes that affect arid landscapes.
  • Analyze the surficial processes that affect coastline formation.
  • Analyze the relationship between humans and physical geography.

Why take courses at University of Phoenix?

University of Phoenix serves busy adults

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Transfer-friendly courses

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept your transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can request your transcripts.

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

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University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.