Course

The Geography of British Columbia

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Geography and the Environment
Course Code
GEOG 1160
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
35
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Hybrid
Typically Offered
Fall
Summer
Winter

Overview

Course Description
British Columbia is one of the most diverse and richly endowed provinces in Canada, but how much do you know about this province? Do you know that BC’s physical and human resources have always been part of a ‘Pacific Rim’ region? Why has the southwest corner of the province developed so differently than the rest of BC? Why are coastal BC winters so mild and wet while the interior is cold and dry? How have tectonic processes shaped the landscape and how do those processes put the region at risk of natural hazards like earthquakes? How did European resettlement impact BC's human geography and how are ongoing questions of sovereignty, Indigenous rights, and treaties reshaping the cultural and economic landscapes of the province? How has BC's resource-based economy been transformed by economic globalization and what are its long-term prospects? Learn more about the province in Geography 1160, an introduction to the regional geography of British Columbia. This course will include a general study of physical, environmental, and human geographies in BC, with a focus on issues such as historical resettlement, economic development, resource conservation, urbanization, social and demographic transformations, and life in rural and remote areas. BC’s present and future role in Canada’s development will also be considered.
Course Content
  1. Introduction
  • Definition of area
  • Regional concepts as applied to British Columbia
  • Core-Periphery Model
  • Physical setting
    • Tectonic processes
    • Geomorphology and physiographic regions
    • Climate
    • Biogeography
  • Colonialism and resettlement
    • Indigenous experiences
    • European exploration
    • Settler colonialism and dispossession
    • Asian immigration and institutional racism
  • Resources and economic geographies
    • BC’s changing economy in the context of globalization
    • Resource development, management, and conservation
      • Forestry
      • Fishing
      • Mining
      • Agriculture
      • Energy
      • Water
    • Manufacturing
    • Tertiary and quaternary industries
    • Indigenous rights and title and treaty negotiations
    • Tourism and recreation
  • Urban and social issues
    • Urban development
    • Reconciliation
    • Rural settlement
    • Demographic studies
    • Cultural and ethnic diversity
    • Environmental challenges
  • British Columbia and Canada
  • Future issues
  • Learning Activities

    The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: lecture, labs, field work, DVDs/videos and animations, individual and/or team projects, small group discussions and map and air photo analysis.

    Means of Assessment

    Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific criteria during the first week of classes.

     

    An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

    Assignments  40%
    Class preparation and participation      10%
    Mid-term exam  25%
    Final exam  25%
    Total 100%

     

     

    Learning Outcomes

    At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

    1. Synthesize the concepts and techniques of regional geography.
    2. Communicate effectively orally, graphically, in writing, and using quantitative methods.
    3. Create, interpret, analyze and utilize maps.
    4. Evaluate and make informed decisions about contemporary British Columbia issues using the methodologies, concepts and techniques of regional geography.
    Textbook Materials

    An instructor’s Course Reader may be required. Textbooks will be updated periodically. Typical examples are:

    Geography Open Textbook Collective. (2014). British Columbia in a Global Context. Victoria, BC: BCcampus. Retrieved from http://opentextbc.ca/geography/.

    Hayes, D. (2012). British Columbia: a New Historical Atlas. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre. 

    McGillivray, B. (2010). Geography of British Columbia: People and Landscapes in Transition. Vancouver, BC: UBC Press.

     

    Requisites

    Prerequisites

    No prerequisite courses.

    Corequisites

    No corequisite courses.

    Equivalencies

    No equivalent courses.

    Course Guidelines

    Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

    Course Transfers

    These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

    Institution Transfer Details for GEOG 1160
    Athabasca University (AU) AU GEOG 2XX (3)
    Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO GEOG 105 (3)
    Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN GEOG 225 (3)
    College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR GEOG 210 (3)
    Columbia College (COLU) COLU GEOG 1st (3)
    Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU GEOG 1160 (3)
    Langara College (LANG) LANG GEOG 1150 (3)
    Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU GEOG 2XX (3)
    Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU GEOG 2230 (3)
    Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU GENV 1XX (3)
    University Canada West (UCW) UCW GEOG 1XX (3)
    University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO GEOG 217 (3)
    University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV GEOG 1st (3)
    University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC GEOG 200 (3)
    University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV GEOG 1XX (3)
    University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC GEOG 309 (1.5)
    Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU GEOG 1st (3)

    Course Offerings

    Fall 2023

    CRN
    Days
    Dates
    Start Date
    End Date
    Instructor
    Status
    CRN
    32831
    Tue
    Start Date
    -
    End Date
    Start Date
    End Date
    Instructor Last Name
    McPhee
    Instructor First Name
    Michael
    Course Status
    Open
    Section Notes

    GEOG 1160 001-This course can count toward an Associate of Arts Degree for Future Teachers.

    Max
    Enrolled
    Remaining
    Waitlist
    Max Seats Count
    35
    Actual Seats Count
    31
    4
    Actual Wait Count
    0
    Days
    Building
    Room
    Time
    Tue
    Building
    Coquitlam - Bldg. B
    Room
    B2210
    Start Time
    12:30
    -
    End Time
    15:20
    CRN
    Days
    Dates
    Start Date
    End Date
    Instructor
    Status
    CRN
    34441
    Thu
    Start Date
    -
    End Date
    Start Date
    End Date
    Instructor Last Name
    Noah
    Instructor First Name
    Earl
    Course Status
    Open
    Section Notes

    GEOG 1160 002-This course can count toward an Associate of Arts Degree for Future Teachers.

    Max
    Enrolled
    Remaining
    Waitlist
    Max Seats Count
    35
    Actual Seats Count
    27
    8
    Actual Wait Count
    0
    Days
    Building
    Room
    Time
    Thu
    Building
    New Westminster - North Bldg.
    Room
    N3460
    Start Time
    12:30
    -
    End Time
    15:20
    CRN
    Days
    Dates
    Start Date
    End Date
    Instructor
    Status
    CRN
    34592
    Fri
    Start Date
    -
    End Date
    Start Date
    End Date
    Instructor Last Name
    McPhee
    Instructor First Name
    Michael
    Course Status
    Open
    Section Notes

    This course can count towards an Associate of Arts Degree for Future Teachers.

    Max
    Enrolled
    Remaining
    Waitlist
    Max Seats Count
    35
    Actual Seats Count
    25
    10
    Actual Wait Count
    0
    Days
    Building
    Room
    Time
    Fri
    Building
    New Westminster - North Bldg.
    Room
    N3460
    Start Time
    9:30
    -
    End Time
    12:20