GEOG 355

Geography of the Pacific Northwest

Tuesdays & Thursdays  3:00 PM - 4:40 PM
Black Hall Room 151

Instructor: Dr. Robert Kuhlken
Office: Lind Hall Room 118B
Office Hours: Wednesdays 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Phone: 963-2795
E-mail: kuhlkenr@cwu.edu
 
 
 
Required Texts: 
  • Atlas of the Pacific Northwest, 9th edition

  • edited by Philip Jackson & Jon Kimerling
     
  • The Restless Northwest

  • by Hill Williams
     
  • Snoqualmie Pass

  • by Yvonne Prater 

    All are available in the CWU bookstore. 

    


About this course

 Geography 355 explores the human and physical geography of the Pacific Northwest.  A foundation in the basic geologic structure of the three states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho is followed by an examination of major landforms, climate, and vegetation patterns.  We will then discover a variety of things about the human occupation of this region and about different places, involving historical geography, distribution of population, settlement patterns, and the economic and political organization of these three states.  This will include the geography of natural resources, agricultural activities, industrial location, transportation systems, and the functioning of urban centers.  We will investigate those components of the landscape that we perceive as the built environment, but also look into other cultural elements such as ethnicity, or music and literature, that help to define a regional identity.

Map exercises

Map Exercise 1  -  due October 23

Map Exercise 2  -  due November 20

Map Exercise 3 - due December 4
 

Journal titles for article critiques


Course Outline & Required Readings

 

September 25   Introduction


September 30   The Region

October  2        The Ancient Northwest

October  7        The Modern Northwest

October  9        Landforms & Geology

October  14      Climate & Vegetation

October  16      Natural Vegetation of the Kittitas Valley

October  21       MIDTERM EXAM Study Guide

October  23       Cultural-Historical Geography

October  28       Case Study of Snoqualmie Pass,  Part 1

October  30       Case Study of Snoqualmie Pass,  Part 2

November  4     Population;   Transportation

November  6     Land Use;   Agriculture;   Forestry

November 11       Veterans  Day Holiday

November 13       Agriculture in the Kittitas Valley

November 18       Land Use Planning in the Pacific Northwest

November 20       Water Resources;  Energy Resources;  Mining

November 25       Manufacturing and Service Industries; 
                              Outdoor Recreation; Tourism; Hunting & Fishing

November 27       Thanksgiving Holiday


December  2         Native American Issues in the Contemporary Northwest

December  4          Regional Identity in the Pacific Northwest

Final Exam:  Thursday,  December 11,   2:00 PM



To  Dr. Kuhlken's homepage.

To  Geography and Land Studies homepage.