Course Description
This course will provide an examination of an important present-day issue, trend, or concept in the discipline of geography. Topics will vary by offering, but will focus on a subject of significance to human geography, physical geography, or geographical techniques.
Course Content
The course content will vary with the specific theme. An example is provided below.
The Geography of Wine
1. Introduction
a) Approaches to the study of Geography
b) Definition of wine
c) Species and varieties of wine
2. The Physical Setting of Viticulture
a) Location
b) Geology and landforms
c) Climate
d) Hydrology
e) Soils
3. Global Wine Regions
a) Origin and diffusion
b) Regional variations
c) Culture traits
4. Evolution of Viticulture in Europe to the 20th Centruy
a) Importance of monasteries
b) Changes in technology
5. Rise of the Modern Wine Industry (Post 1945)
a) Wine and class
b) Branding
c) Toursim
d) Diffusion
6. Wine Regions of North America, Latin American, Asia and Australia
7. Environment
a) Environmental Issues
8. Social Issues
a) Alcoholism
b) Migrant workers
9. Conclusion
a) Regional issues
b) The future
Learning Activities
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: lectures, small group discussions, practical in-class exercises, multimedia presentations, individual or team projects, field assignments, guest speakers and/or online instruction. Where the course is offered in a hybrid format, students will complete over 50% of the course material online and outside of the classroom in a self-directed manner.
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 |
20% |
| Project |
25% |
| Participation |
10% |
| Midterm-exam |
20% |
| Final Exam |
25% |
| Total |
100% |
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
1. Collect geographical data and display it visually in maps, graphs or other formats.
2. Analyze the spatial distributions of geographic phenomena.
3. Describe the subject matter's place within and relevance to Geography
4. Analyze geographic issues using appropriate written, oral and graphical communication skills.
5. Demonstrate basic analytical reasoning, quantitative interpretation and map comprehension skills.
6. Demonstrate field and library research techniques within the specific topic.
7. Evaluate the relevant issues and needs confronting different groups within a given society, as appropriate to the specific topic.
Textbook Materials
A textbook or course pack appropriate to the topic will be selected by the instructor. The following are examples of possible texts:
Sommers, Brian J. (2008). The Geography of Wine: How Landscapes, Cultures, Terroir, and the Weather Make a Good Drop. Penguin.
Unwin, Tim (2017), The Geography of Wine. Oxford.
Chainey, S. and J. Ratcliffe. (2013). GIS and Crime Mapping. Wiley.
Masselink, G., M. Hughes, and J. Knight. (2014). Introduction to Coastal Processes and Geomorphology. Routledge.
Kitchen, D. E. (2024). Global Climate Change: Turning Knowledge into Action 2nd. ed.. Routledge.