MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

GCU221  1996 Fall – 1999 Summer II

Arizona Geography

1.

Describe the physical characteristics of Arizona, including climate and vegetative zones. (I)

2.

Describe the settlement of Arizona from the arrival of prehistoric tribes to the present. (II)

3.

Describe demographic characteristics in Arizona, including growth, distribution, and migration of major population groups. (III)

4.

Identify land ownership and political organization in Arizona at a variety of levels. (IV)

5.

Describe primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary activities in the development of Arizona's economy. (V)

6.

Describe surface and ground water resources in Arizona. (V)

7.

Identify possibilities for future environmental, demographic, political and economic trends in Arizona. (VI)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

GCU221  1996 Fall – 1999 Summer II

Arizona Geography

I. Physical Background

A. Location

1. Relative

2. Absolute

a. Latitude/longitude

b. Public lands survey system

B. Physiographic provinces

1. Colorado plateau

2. Central Mountains (Mogollon Rim)

3. Basin and range

C. Climate

1. Koppen classification

2. Temperature and distribution

3. Precipitation and distribution

4. Pressure and winds

a. Prevailing

b. Seasonal (monsoon)

c. Influence of the orographic effect

D. Vegetative zones

II. Settlement Periods

A. Prehistoric (Hohokom, Mogollon, Anasazi)

B. Indians at the time of European contact

C. Spanish

1. Exploration

2. Missionary influence

3. Settlement

D. Mexican

E. American westward movement

F. Territorial

G. Statehood

III. Demographic Characteristics

A. Population growth

1. Rates

2. Numbers

B. Distribution

1. Urban/rural

2. By age

3. By ethnicity and race

C. Migration

1. Internal

2. Immigration

3. Emigration

D. Population groups

1. Indian

2. Mexican

3. Anglo

4. Black

5. Oriental

6. Mormon

IV. Land Ownership

A. Original tribal occupation

B. Historic boundaries and borders

C. Land grants

D. After statehood

1. Federal

2. State

3. Private

E. Political organization

1. Counties

2. Congressional districts

3. Regional and municipal governments

4. Judicial system

5. Educational systems

V. Economy

A. Sectors

1. Primary

a. Extractive industries

b. Agriculture

2. Secondary

a. Manufacturing

b. Transportation

3. Tertiary

4. Quaternary

B. Water resources

1. Surface water

2. Groundwater

VI. Future Development

A. Environmental

B. Demographic

C. Political

D. Economic