Spring 2026 - GEOG 266W B100
Geography in Practice (3)
Class Number: 2506
Delivery Method: Blended
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: TBA, TBA
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Leanne Roderick
lroderic@sfu.ca
Office Hours: TBA
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Prerequisites:
One of: GEOG 100, GEOG 102, GEOG 104, GEOG 111.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to what geographers do in applied contexts, how geographic concepts relate to applied skills, and how to communicate what geography is and why geographical approaches are useful. The course will emphasize written and oral communication skills through regular writing assignments, feedback, and direct engagement with professional geographers. Writing.
COURSE DETAILS:
An introduction to what geographers do in applied contexts, how geographic concepts relate to applied skills, and how to communicate what geography is and why geographical approaches are useful. The course will emphasize collaboration and communication skills through regular writing assignments and feedback, in which each student will develop and grapple with their own geographical Question. Students will engage with guest speakers through the Geography in Practice Online Speakers Series, in which geographers working in diverse professional fields will be interviewed.
Note:
There will be tutorials the first week of class
Lecture materials are to be completed asynchronously online
In-person tutorial is mandatory
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
- Iteratively monitor and improve your own process of learning
- Find information regarding geography topics from a variety of media types
- Evaluate whether or not information is relevant and useful, and any potential biases
- Read scientific papers for key concepts, and identify the basis for the authors’ conclusions in the data and analysis
- Synthesize geographical information from a variety of sources and viewpoints
- Formulate and ask relevant questions
- Communicate a coherent synthesis of a topic in geography, both orally and in writing, demonstrating awareness of audience
- Collaborate effectively and efficiently with peers
Grading
- • Geography Journal 15%
- • Peer Collaboration & Feedback 10%
- • Engagement with guest speakers 5%
- • Geography Question Project: • Question Proposal 10%
- • Annotated Bibliography 15%
- • Literature Review Draft 10%
- • Literature Review Final 28%
- • Presentation 7%
Materials
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.