Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Environmental Geography (Face-to-Face)

GEOG 3400-01

Course: GEOG 3400-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: GEOS
CRN: 11023

Course Description

A study of human interactions with physical phenomena. Environmental principles, problems, and solutions; water, soil, air, mineral, biotic, energy, and scenic resources; preservation and conservation of earth's resources; roles of modem technology and human populations. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a Geosciences major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other course. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

An Introduction to Human-Environment Geography by Moseley, Laris, Paramond, and Hapke

Learning Outcomes

8.0 Inquiry & Analysis: Inquiry: Students systematically explore issues, objects, or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments. Analysis: Students break complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
8.1. Topic Selection: Fluency is the identification of a creative, focused, and manageable topic that addresses potentially significant yet previously less-explored aspects of the topic.
8.2. Existing Knowledge, Research, and/ or Views: Fluency is the synthesis of in-depth information from relevant sources representing various points of view/ approaches.
8.5. Conclusions: Fluency is stating a conclusion that is a logical extrapolation from the inquiry findings.
8.6. Limitations & Implications: Fluency would demonstrate an insightful detailed discussion using relevant and supported limitations and implications.
11.0. Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World: Students demonstrate knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world.
11.5. Social and Behavioral Sciences Students will be able to: (1)  Demonstrate understanding of relevant social and behavioral science methodologies and how they are used to understand or explain human relations or interactions; (2) Identify general principles of behavioral and social functioning; (3)  Connect those questions and issues to the students’ own experiences; and (4)  Demonstrate a critically reasoned understanding of social patterns and individual variation congruent with and divergent from those patterns.
13.0 Problem Solving: Students will design, evaluate, and implement strategies to answer open-ended questions or achieve a desired goal.
13.1. Define Problem: Fluency demonstrates the ability to construct a clear and insightful problem statement with evidence of all relevant contextual factors.
13.2. Identify Strategies: Fluent students can identify multiple approaches for solving the problem that apply within a specific context.
13.3. Propose Solutions/Hypotheses: Fluent students propose one or more solutions/hypotheses that indicates a deep comprehension of the problem. Solution/hypotheses are sensitive to contextual factors as well as the ethical, logical, and cultural dimensions of the problem.
13.4. Evaluate Potential Solutions: Fluent students demonstrate deep and elegant evaluation of solutions and thoroughly completes all of the following: considers history of problem, reviews logic/reasoning, examines feasibility of solution, and weighs impacts of solutions.

Course Requirements

Discussion questions and responses: Each week, we will read and engage with primary scientific literature on a topic in environmental geography. Each student will read the assigned paper for the week and submit three discussion questions on Canvas (due Wednesday at midnight). During Friday’s class, each student will be assigned to a group and given a selection of students’ discussion questions. Together, the group will create responses to the questions. Both questions and responses will be graded for demonstration of critical thinking and close reading of the material. Students may miss one of each assignment (questions and responses) without penalty. Late work will not be accepted for discussion questions and responses. If you are not in class for the discussion, you may not submit a response.
 
Environmental Geography book assignment: Read a non-fiction book of your choosing on an environmental geography topic. You may choose to do a presentation or a reflection essay on the contents of the book. See Canvas for potential books to read. Students may read a book that is not on the list with instructor approval. We will decide which books we will cover on the second week of class. 
 
Presentation: If you choose to do a presentation, you should create a short (8-minute) presentation in powerpoint summarizing the book and providing critical analysis of the main points. The presentation should have 5-6 slides: 
1) Introduction slide including the title and author. Why is the author qualified to speak on this issue? What perspectives might they bring to the topic because of their life experiences (if applicable)? 
2) What are 2-3 main points from the book? 
3-5) One slide for each point. Give a few details and context about each. 
6) Conclusion – This slide should wrap up the presentation and ask for questions from the class. There will be a few minutes for questions from the class after each presentation. Be prepared to answer questions about how the book made you think or feel about the topic.
 
Reflection essay: If you choose to do a reflection essay, write a 4-5 page essay on your book (double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, citations in Chicago format). Your essay should have a short introduction to the book and the author. Choose 2-3 main points from the book to write about in detail. Reflect on how the book made you think or feel about the topic. 
 
Assessments: There will be assessments throughout the semester to gauge students’ understanding of the concepts and material covered in class. These assessments are composed of essay questions asking students to apply concepts.

Course Outline

Week 1 - What is environmental geography?
Week 2 - Research in environmental geography
Week 3 - The biophysical environment
Week 4 - Cultural and political ecology
Week 5 - Environmental histories
Week 6 - Hazards
Week 7 - Midterm assessments
Week 8 - Environmental justice
Week 9 - Food systems
Week 10 - Spring Break
Week 11 - Biodiversity
Week 12 - Restoration
Week 13 - Water resources
Week 14 - Climate adaptation
Week 15 - Final assessments
Week 16 - Presentations

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work are not accepted.

Attendance Policy

None

Course Fees

$40.50

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.