GR 100 Introduction to Geography

Overview of Course

Make the most of your travels with Introduction to Geography, a course designed to help you see the world in a new way. Geography is more than maps; it integrates the natural and social sciences to understand regions, landscapes, and the relationships between people and their environments.
This course introduces the core perspectives and tools used by geographers, including map interpretation, spatial analysis, and geographic reasoning. You will explore how the world works through the lenses of climate, ecosystems, natural resources, and physical landscapes, while also examining how cultures, economies, and political systems shape our global community. Course content is closely tied to the ship’s itinerary, helping you connect geographic concepts directly to the places we visit.
A central focus is understanding why geographic patterns exist. Through lectures, discussions, and field assignments in port cities, you will analyze how environmental processes and human systems shape both physical and social landscapes. As we travel between regions, you will also examine how globalization, migration, trade, and technological change connect places in complex ways.
By the end of the course, you will have a strong foundation in geographic thinking, improved spatial analysis skills, and a deeper appreciation of global interconnectedness.