Credit Hours - 3

Course Objectives

The advancement of digital technology has had a great influence on map production. Today, we have maps produced at cheaper and faster rates with greater flexibility with the computer than manual production. This course is designed to introduce students to the principles and methods of map making and equip them with the skills of producing quality and attractive maps with the aid of the computer. To achieve this, emphasis will be laid on cartographic information abstraction (i.e., generalisation processes) and map design/layouts. The course will include practical sessions, both manual and digital, on map making. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the impact of digital technology on map production, recognizing the advantages and flexibility of computer-aided map making over traditional manual methods.

2. Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing computer-aided design tools to produce high-quality, visually appealing maps, effectively applying cartographic information abstraction and layout design principles to create maps suited for various purposes.

3. Acquire practical skills in both manual and digital map making through hands-on sessions, enabling them to produce maps that meet industry standards and user requirements while understanding the generalization processes involved in map design.

4. Exhibit an understanding of the evolving landscape of map production, gaining the ability to adapt to technological advancements in map making and the capacity to produce maps that effectively communicate spatial information for diverse applications.

Course Content

The course will focus on the impact of digital technology on map production, highlighting the advantages of computer-aided map making over manual methods, and to provide an understanding of the principles and methods of map making in the digital age. Students will be equipped with the practical skills necessary to produce high-quality and visually appealing maps using computer-aided design tools, emphasizing cartographic information abstraction (generalization processes) and effective map design/layouts. It will also facilitate hands-on experience in both manual and digital map making, enabling students to develop proficiency in utilizing computer applications for map production while understanding the fundamental principles of cartography.

Mode of Delivery

Classes will combine lectures and individual student presentations. Students are expected to attend lectures prepared to discuss the reading/themes in an informed manner. There will also be practical sessions on data collection and map making.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Objectives

The course is designed to introduce students to the principles and methods of map interpretation/reading and equip them with the skills for interpreting features and extracting information from maps. To achieve this, emphasis will be laid on map interpretation and information extraction (i.e., making measurements) from the map. Thus, the course will include practical sessions on map interpretation and measurements. Students will acquire practical skills in map interpretation and measurements through hands-on sessions, enabling them to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios in construction, engineering, project management, business, transportation, tourism, and other relevant fields. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the principles and methods of map interpretation, recognizing the relevance of spatial data in the context of different industries and professional domains.

2. Interpret and extract information from maps, employing measurement techniques to analyse spatial data effectively for decision-making and planning.

3. Exhibit proficiency in extracting and utilizing information from maps for decision-making and problem-solving in professional settings

4. Develop a multidisciplinary perspective on the applications of maps and spatial information, understanding how these tools can be utilized in diverse industries and professional contexts to address complex challenges and facilitate informed decision-making.

Course Content

The course highlights the principles and techniques of map interpretation and spatial data analysis, with emphasis on extracting, analyzing, and applying geographic information from topographic maps. It introduces students to key concepts in map reading, including scale, symbols, contours, orientation, and spatial relationships, as well as measurement techniques such as distance, area, and direction. The course further explores the relevance of spatial data across multiple sectors, demonstrating how map interpretation supports planning, navigation, decision-making, and problem-solving. Major highlights include: principles of map design and interpretation; spatial measurement techniques; map symbolization and contour analysis; and the application of map reading skills in diverse fields such as construction, transportation, tourism, and environmental management.

Mode of Delivery

Classes will combine lectures and individual student presentations. Students are expected to attend lectures prepared to discuss the reading/themes in an informed manner. There will also be practical sessions on map work.

Credit Hours - 3

Course Objectives

This course examines the processes and patterns in the Earth’s atmospheric system. Weather and climate affect our daily activities: transportation, commerce, agriculture, and nearly every aspect of our lives. The course will also examine how people impact the climate with a major aim of fostering a general understanding of science and the world around us and the fundamental basis of weather and climate. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the fundamental processes and patterns within the Earth's atmospheric system, emphasizing the impact of weather and climate on human activities and the environment.
2. Analyze the major components of atmospheric science, including radiation and energy transfer, atmospheric motion, and moisture, to comprehend their influence on weather and climate.
3. Discuss the global climate patterns and climate change, fostering an understanding of the interconnected nature of regional and global weather phenomena.
4. Apply knowledge of atmospheric science to comprehend the fundamental basis of weather, climate, and the impact of human activities on the environment, fostering a general understanding of science and its relevance to the world around us.
5. Foster a general understanding of science and the world around us, providing students with a fundamental basis for comprehending weather, climate, and the impact of human activities on the environment.

Course Content

The course highlights the major components of atmospheric science, including radiation and energy transfer, atmospheric motion, and moisture, to build a comprehensive understanding of weather and climate systems. It further examines global climate patterns, climate classification, and the dynamics of climate change, with attention to the human impact on atmospheric processes. Emphasis is placed on the spatial and temporal variability of weather and climate and their influence on human activities. Major highlights include: the energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system; atmospheric circulation and weather formation processes; global climate zones; and the science and implications of climate change.

Mode of Delivery

Classes will combine lectures and individual student presentations. Students are expected to attend lectures prepared to discuss the reading/themes in an informed manner.

Credit Hours - 3

The course focuses on geomorphological processes and landforms, the integrated nature of processes that lead to the formation of landforms and features on the environment. Knowledge of these geomorphological processes will enable students appreciate the nature of the land and analyze why certain landforms occur in some places. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the integrated nature of geomorphological processes and their role in shaping landforms and features in the environment.
2. Evaluate the internal and external geomorphic factors and processes, demonstrating the ability to identify, classify, describe, and analyze landforms on the Earth's surface.
3. Analyze the relevance of geomorphic studies to the environment and assess the impact of geomorphological processes on landscapes and ecosystems.
4. Apply knowledge of geomorphological processes to appreciate the nature of the land and analyze the spatial distribution of landforms, gaining insights into the reasons behind the occurrence of specific landforms in different geographical locations.

Course content

The course involves examining the internal and external geomorphic factors and processes, origin, classification, description and analysis of process and landforms of the earth, and the relevance of geomorphic studies to the environment.

Mode of Delivery

Classes will combine lectures and individual student presentations. Students are expected to attend lectures prepared to discuss the reading/themes in an informed manner. 

Credit Hours - 3

The course focuses on geographic thinking from as far back as Classical Greece times to present. It discusses the contradictions and shifting positions of the geographic perspective prior to the development of the scientific method. Emphasis will be placed on key figures in Geography's history; principal trends, concepts, models and paradigms; and Geography's place in academia and society. The course will enrich students’ knowledge on the nature of geographic inquiry from a historical perspective as well as central themes in the discipline of geography. By the end of the course students should be able to: 

1. Explain the historical development of geographic thinking, including key figures, influential trends, and significant concepts in the discipline.
2. Critically analyze the contradictions and shifting positions of geographic perspectives prior to the development of the scientific method, and their implications for the evolution of geographical thought.
3. Evaluate the principal trends, concepts, models, and paradigms that have shaped geographic thinking, demonstrating an understanding of their significance and impact.
4. Assess the role of geography in academia and society, recognizing its influence on the understanding of the Earth's landscapes and environments from a historical perspective.

Course content

The course seeks to trace the historical development of geographic thinking from Classical Greece to the present, highlighting key figures and influential trends in the discipline. It also analyzes the contradictions and shifting positions of geographic perspectives prior to the development of the scientific method, and their impact on the evolution of geographical thought. Specific topics include the geographical subject matter, how geographers seek to tackle it and how it all began, the contributions of Greeks, Romans, Christians and Moslems, the age of discovery and its Impact on Geographical Thought and the thrust of modern geographical thinking including the concept of regions, environmental determinism and possibilism.