Ask yourself the following questions:

• Why does northern Wisconsin have so many lakes?
• Why is Wisconsin notoriously cold in the winter?
• Why is the western United States so mountainous?
• Why is central Australia so hot and dry?

Do you know the answers to these questions? You will learn the answers to these questions, as well as answers to any other questions you might have regarding the physical environment if you enroll in Geography 127. Geography 127 is a non-mathematical science class that provides students with an introductory analysis of the physical environment by discussing individual environmental components, organized into topics, and how these components interact to create unique physical environments across the globe. Topics covered include weather and climate, vegetation, soils, rocks and minerals, volcanism, continental drift, landforms, runoff and soil erosion, river systems, and glacial systems. Explorations into these environmental components will focus not only on description, but also assess how and why these components change over time and space. In addition to 3 hours of lecture per week, students will also meet for 2 hours of lab per week. The lab section of the course is instructed by one of several teaching assistants and is designed to explore some of the course’s major themes, via hands on (in class) exercises, in much more detail. Furthermore, the course material is integrated into 3 field trips that occur throughout the semester during regularly scheduled lab periods. Students will come away from this course with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the natural world.