Course Description

Examines the influence of geography on political systems and nation states. Discusses historic and current events including campaigns, wars, trade, and treaties as functions of land, resources and energy requirements. Introduces students to types and uses of maps.

General Course Purpose

GEO 230 provides understanding and recognition of the role of geopolitics within the context of society and throughout history. The course enhances the knowledge and understanding of various political institutions with a focus on the geographical context of events. Students will identify major geopolitical policies and decisions while developing a deeper understanding of the international implications.

Course Objectives

Upon your completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Communication
• Effectively communicate geopolitical observations through written and/or oral communication
• Critical Thinking
• Identify and explain how various elements of geopolitical policies (politics, economics, trade, and precedence) contribute to state and international policies
• Evaluate geopolitical decisions by analyzing various components (political affiliations, personal biases, and education) that influenced viewpoints
• Cultural and Social Understanding
• Demonstrate knowledge of the role of geopolitics in society
• Recognize how politics influence individuals and/or society
• Describe how individual and societal factors influence policy creation
• Analyze and evaluate current event sources to promote critical analysis of political decisions and policies
• Demonstrate the development of receptivity to geopolitics from different cultural and historical perspectives
• Cultivate personal goals related to being an informed citizen and foster participation in both community and civic events
• States, Nations, and Nation States
• Identify key characteristics of various types of countries and states
• Analyze the effects and challenges imposed by the size and shape of countries on management plans
• Define different types of country and international borders
• Citizenship and Nationality
• Describe citizenship along with categories and classifications of tourists, guests, workers, and aliens
• Explain the impacts of government and international policies on migration
• Government, Institutions, and Representation
• Identify various types of governments
• Identify major political institutions and their impacts
• Recognize historical-social context of various types of representative governments
• Economics and International Trade
• Identify types of economies and note basic concepts of each
• Identify key components of international trade and applicable laws
• Identify the impacts of government policy on trade
• Safety and Security vs. Civil Rights and Personal Freedoms
• Recognize the impact of global terrorism on security policies, eg., September 11th attacks and the war on terror
• Evaluate competing visions of civil rights and physical security.