- About the program
- Subjects
Certificate awarded
Bachelor's degree in Geography
Major
Program outcomes
- The ability to work with geographic maps, including drawing, analyzing, interpreting, and producing them.
- Using modern technologies (Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing), in addition to knowledge of computer software.
- The ability to actively participate in community service.
- The ability to participate in urban planning and sustainable development projects.
- The ability to link human and natural phenomena and analyze their mutual impact.
Program objectives
1- Updating and developing geography curricula, as well as learning methods and tools that align with the department's mission.
2- Enhancing students' abilities to know, understand, and apply modern scientific curricula and master the essential skills for self-directed learning.
3- Training students to work in teams, exercise freedom of expression, and participate in the practical and cultural life of the community.
4- Updating and developing the research skills of the department's faculty members.
5- Promoting a culture of quality and fostering a spirit of positive competition to improve performance.
6- Meeting the community’s needs through the department’s distinguished scientific services and directing research to solve societal and environmental problems.
Job Market
- Meeting the demand of the labor market for teachers and faculty members.
- There are various opportunities for geography graduates, whether at the bachelor's or postgraduate level, in different sectors.
- Working in multiple research centers, especially those affiliated with the University of Gharian.
- Serving the community and the environment through working on development projects and environmental conservation.
- A geography graduate can contribute to meeting the labor market needs in all municipalities across Libya.
Description
The Geography Department at Al-Jabal Al-Gharbi University was established in 1986 and is considered one of the first departments created in the College of Education. It then became a department combining the History and Geography sections until the academic year 2004, when it became one of the most important departments of the College of Arts in Gharyan, affiliated with Al-Jabal Al-Gharbi University, continuing until the College of Arts in Al-Asabah separated in 2012.
The Geography Department includes a laboratory containing numerous devices, maps, and models used in field and practical studies for courses that require hands-on and fieldwork aspects.
The department awards a Bachelor's degree in Geography through a four-year academic program where students study a range of subjects that serve the specialization in Geography, in addition to a group of general subjects such as Computer Science, Arabic Language, Psychology, and Islamic Civilization.
The department also awards a Master's degree based on the decision of the Minister of Higher Education No. 1074 of 2023.
The department comprises a distinguished group of specialized professors with high experience and competence, most of whom hold the academic rank of Assistant Professor or higher, with various contributions in conferences, seminars, and research published in numerous journals.
Program content
Duration
8 Terms
General credits
16
Elective credits
0
Compulsory credits
127
Total credits
143
| Subject code | Subject name | Credits | Subject type | Subject prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IS.011 | Islamic culture | 2 | General | - |
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The student studies topics in Islamic culture, and specific topics in Islamic civilization. |
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| AR.012 | Arabic Language | 2 | General | - |
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The student studies grammar rules including the subject and predicate, the subject and object, sentence structure, grammatical passages, and topics from Arabic poetry. |
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| ENG.013 | English language | 2 | General | - |
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Introduction to English as a global language, its role in scientific research, studying grammar rules with continuous practice in pronunciation, memorizing terminology, and translating texts. |
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| GEOG.111 | Foundations of physical Geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The course aims to assess the basics of the physical branch of geography as an introduction on which the entire field of physical geography is based, and to clarify the main components of the Earth's spheres (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere), the characteristics and processes that shape them, the systems resulting from them, and the interactions between them, in addition to addressing the most important concepts and modern theories included in the branches of physical geography. |
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| GEOG.112 | Evolution of Geographical Thought | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Explanation and analysis of the development of geographical thought and its successive theories from the Greek era to the modern era, as well as the contributions of scholars, especially Muslim scholars, in the development of fundamental geographical ideas, how to describe and document geographical phenomena, and the construction and use of geographical maps. It also covers geographical discoveries and the factors that prompted them, highlighting the role of practical geographers and shedding light on cognitive issues and their relation to modern geographical studies, along with the most important contemporary trends in geography. |
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| GEOG.113 | Principles of Area | 4 | Compulsory | - |
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Introducing the science of surveying and highlighting the importance of this field through the study of the fundamentals of surveying operations and the methods for carrying them out, training students to use various surveying and measurement tools and instruments to survey geographic features (both natural and human-made) directly from the field for the creation of maps at different scales, updating old maps, understanding the nature of field studies, their elements and methods, and practical field training to conduct field studies, as well as processing data using Geographic Information Systems. |
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| PS021 | General psychology | 2 | General | - |
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Introducing the student to the theories of psychology and focusing on topics in developmental psychology, mental health, and cognition. |
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| DS.022 | Descriptive statistics | 2 | General | - |
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The scientific definition of the Descriptive Statistics course, the relationship of statistics to sciences, and the analysis of measures of central tendency and dispersion, correlation coefficients, variance, probabilities, and both grouped and ungrouped frequency distributions. |
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| NC.023 | National culture | 2 | General | - |
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Introducing the student to national culture, applying sciences to serve the nation and its citizens, and studying topics on the projects of the Arab unity and the Maghreb, as well as the struggles of fathers and ancestors in the epic battles against colonizers and invaders to achieve the country's independence. |
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| GEOG.121 | Foundations of human Geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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An in-depth study of Libya's demographics in terms of the spatial and administrative distribution of the population, in addition to the age and occupational structure, and addressing various human activities within the country and their relation to the regional and international environment, as well as studying the relationship between natural and human geographical factors and explaining their mutual influences from a geographical perspective. |
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| GEOG.122 | Geography of the Arab world | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Introducing the importance of the Arab homeland from a strategic and historical perspective, as well as its capabilities and natural and human resources, and explaining and discussing the natural and human features and characteristics of the Arab homeland in general, in addition to a regional study of the Arab countries in terms of natural and human aspects and the movement of exchange between its parts. |
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| GEOG.123 | Principles of Maps | 4 | Compulsory | - |
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Introducing cartography and its development, and introducing maps and their types, with a focus on the importance of the map, its elements, and areas of use, in addition to teaching the basics of map drawing and practical training on using the various tools and devices used in map drawing, and teaching the student the basics of map design and production and practicing that using the computer. |
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| GEOG.124 | Historical Geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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It studies the historical development of the science of geography and the role of scientists, especially Muslims and Arabs, with a focus on their role in enriching geographical sciences in relation to astronomy, the movement of planets, maritime navigation, surveying and mapping, the progress of geographical discoveries regarding the continents, and the development of human races and their spatial and temporal distribution throughout the geographical history of peoples. |
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| CO.031 | Computer | 2 | General | - |
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Introduction to computers, computer operations, the most important computer software and components, how to log in and log out of a computer, and continuous training on how to use different programs. |
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| HIS.033 | History of Islamic Civilization | 2 | General | - |
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The student studies the most important Islamic civilizations, their origins, and their characteristics, and traces some civilizations in the Arab East and their role in spreading Islam and Islamic culture. The student also studies the most prominent Islamic states, such as the Abbasid and Umayyad caliphates, and how they expanded to cover a vast area of the world, spreading Islam, the Arabic language, and Islamic culture. |
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| GEOG.231 | Quantitative geography | 3 | Compulsory | DS.022 |
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Getting to know the most important statistical models primarily concerned with geographical applications and how to use them in the field of geography and understand their results, through the theoretical explanation of various statistical methods, mathematical equations, and application formulas, in addition to practicing the execution commands for these methods and statistical models using computer programs such as Excel and SPSS, and intensive training on the geographical interpretation of the results produced by each application. |
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| GEOG.232 | Medical geography | 4 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies an introduction to medical geography, its concept, its relationship with other sciences, and the study of topics in first aid, some chronic and viral diseases, their factors, treatment methods, and ways of prevention. |
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| GEOG.233 | Africa | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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An introduction to the African continent historically and geologically, its position in the world, and the importance of its location from a strategic perspective, as well as a study of its natural characteristics (climatic, geomorphological, and biological, as well as its human characteristics), in addition to presenting and discussing the continent's most important natural resources and their role in the global economy. |
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| GEOG.234 | Infrastructure and Topography | 3 | Compulsory | GEOG.111 |
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It focuses on studying the types of landforms on the Earth's surface, their distribution, the characteristics of each, and reviewing examples of each type on the continents, with an emphasis on the major landforms, especially in the Arab world and Africa. |
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| GEOG.235 | Climatic Geography | 4 | Compulsory | - |
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Introducing the nature, composition, characteristics, and methods of measuring the elements that make up the local climate, identifying the controls governing spatial variations, as well as the interactions between climatic elements, and providing practical training in processing climate information through simplified hands-on practice in analyzing data samples from weather stations. |
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| GEOG.241 | Economic Geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Clarifying the basic principles and general concepts that govern the geography of economic activities, with a focus on the principles of spatial analysis and addressing the most important economic concepts, particularly the geographical concepts of economic activities. In addition, studying the economic uses of land and the theories explaining them, and introducing the main branches under the general framework of economic geography, with an emphasis on practical significance and the key axes that bring the branches together within the general framework of the course. |
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| GEOG.242 | Geography of Env. problems | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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This course focuses on various environmental problems, particularly pollution in its types (air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, solid waste pollution, and noise pollution), with an explanation and discussion of the natural and human sources of pollutants, their direct and indirect effects, and how to treat them and reduce their escalation. It also covers the issue of the depletion of natural resources, its impact on environmental balance, and the possibility of rationalizing their use. |
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| GEOG.243 | Demographics Geography | 3 | Compulsory | GEOG.121 |
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Teaching population concepts and explaining their spatial characteristics, as well as addressing the philosophical backgrounds of both demographic and geographical population indicators, and deriving what is consistent and interconnected within their overlapping elements, whether from a historical, ecological, or quantitative perspective. |
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| GEOG.244 | Biogeography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies an introduction to biogeography, its concept, and its relationship with other sciences, as well as the study of vegetation cover on the Earth and the major plant regions in the world, along with their natural and biological characteristics. The student also studies the main types of wild animals, their economic value, and their geographical distribution, in addition to studying the biotic environment in Libya, whether plant or animal, and their geographical distribution. |
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| GEOG.245 | Agricultural Geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The study of agriculture, its components, patterns, and influencing factors, an introduction to theories of agricultural localization, agricultural practices and innovations, the economic behavior of farmers, and agricultural systems in Libya and their development from a geographical perspective, along with training on local examples of applied studies in the field. |
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| GEOG.246 | Industrial Geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Introduction to industry, its development, spatial patterns of industry, theories of industrial location, modern approaches to analyzing it, regional industrial patterns, and various industrial phenomena (mining industry, oil, gas and petrochemical industries, food industries, machinery industry, electronic industries), through the factors of their establishment, distribution, and their impact on the local, regional, and global economy. |
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| GEOG.351 | Geography of Eurasia | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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It focuses on studying the geographical location of the continent, its landforms, climate, and natural vegetation, in addition to explaining the types of human races within the continent, and studying the population situation, the distribution of economic activities, and the continent's natural resources. It includes teaching the geographical location of the continent, its terrain, climate, natural vegetation, population, economic activity, and natural vegetation, in addition to explaining the types of human races within the continent and the continent's natural resources. |
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| GEOG.352 | Geomorphology | 3 | Compulsory | GEOG.234 |
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It focuses on studying the different forms of the Earth's surface in detail, the shapes of these phenomena, their dimensions, and the processes responsible for their formation and development, particularly river, desert, and marine erosion. |
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| GEOG.353 | Distribution maps | 4 | Compulsory | GEOG.123 |
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It aims to teach the student how to transform scientific material into a visual form using distribution methods with different types of symbols used in distribution maps (qualitative-quantitative) and to become familiar with the various designs for drawing these maps. The student practices diverse applications for each method using different artistic, statistical, and mathematical techniques. |
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| GEOG.354 | Water geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies an introduction to the geography of water, its concept and its relation to other sciences and branches of geography, the study of water bodies on the Earth's surface and their chemical and physical characteristics and their volume on the Earth's surface, the study of water sources, their types, and geographic distribution, their role in human and economic activities, and their impact on international politics, in addition to the water sources in Libya, their types, and geographic distribution. |
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| GEOG.355 | Dry land geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Introduction to the geomorphology of arid lands in greenhouse areas through studying the nature and causes of drought, the natural and human factors that lead to its increase, and the geomorphological patterns resulting from various erosion processes, as well as the role of weathering, both mechanical and chemical, in shaping these patterns, along with field training to identify indicators of drought in the surrounding environment. |
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| GEOG.356 | Basics of scientific research | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Introducing the principles and regulations of geographical scientific research, in addition to familiarizing with the types and sources of geographical data and information, methods of library research, ways of collecting, organizing, and classifying data, as well as the rules of scientific writing and scientific documentation. |
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| GEOG.361 | Geographic research methods | 3 | Compulsory | GEOG.356 |
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Introducing the principles and regulations of geographical scientific research, in addition to familiarizing with the types and sources of geographical data and information, methods of library research, ways of collecting, organizing, and classifying data, as well as the rules of scientific writing and scientific documentation. |
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| GEOG.362 | Geography of the New world | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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This course studies the continents of the New World (the Americas and Australia) in terms of geographical discoveries and natural features and characteristics (climate, landforms, climatic and vegetation regions), as well as human characteristics and the diverse plant, animal, and mineral resources, energy resources, and the impact of each continent on the global economy and the movement of trade between them and the rest of the continents. |
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| GEOG.363 | Geography of transport | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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دراسة الأسس التي تقرر تحركات الإنسان والبضائع والتعرف على مقومات المواصلات طبيعياً وبشرياً مع التركيز على الفروق الاقتصادية والجغرافية بين وسائل النقل المختلفة ومناقشة البنية الاقتصادية لتكاليف المواصلات وأبعادها الجغرافية وتحليل توطن شبكات الطرق في ليبيا وتطورها. |
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| GEOG.364 | Geography of regional planning | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Introduction to the basic concepts of the region and regional planning, and the fundamentals and methods of assessing natural and human resources and capabilities at the regional level in the country, as well as an introduction to methods of exploring the most suitable development options for utilizing natural and human resources in the region in a way that achieves a balance between resource development and conservation. It also emphasizes the concept of the geographer's contribution and role in shaping the structure and details of regional development plans by providing information and analyses on the spatial distribution of these resources and their spatial relationships, and making use of development plans in Libya as a practical model. |
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| GEOG.365 | Geography of seas and oceans | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The study of the hydrosphere and its distribution on the Earth, tracking the development of maritime navigation throughout history, reviewing the major water bodies (oceans and seas), and studying their distribution, sizes, and physical and chemical properties, in addition to the geomorphology of oceans and seas, and the impact of large water bodies on global climate characteristics. |
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| GEOG.366 | Geography of resources and energy | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Introducing natural resources and the possibility of benefiting from them while maintaining environmental balance, evaluating natural resources, and examining the suitability of existing traditional methods to achieve optimal use of these resources, as well as the role of economic planning in developing natural resources within the capabilities and economic characteristics of the population. The second part discusses energy through its study from a geographical perspective and as a key element in the economic cycle of human societies, studying energy sources, the geography of supply and demand, the geographical aspects of energy policies, and the role of energy in employment and as one of the inputs for industrial production. |
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| GEOG.471 | Geographic information systems | 4 | Compulsory | - |
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Introducing the nature and concepts of Geographic Information Systems in terms of their origin, development, components, and applications, studying the types of geographic data, classifying them, and methods of inputting, storing, and managing them in Geographic Information Systems, as well as training on how to display geographic data, produce outputs, and learn about methods for detecting and correcting spatial data. |
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| GEOG.472 | Political geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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Studying the impact of natural and human environmental elements on political units, processes, and decisions, and clarifying the spatial dimensions of political phenomena. This is achieved by familiarizing the student with the nature of the spatial interaction of political phenomena, explaining and illustrating the system, elements, and foundations of the state and its integrated units, understanding the relationships between these units, and applying geographical concepts to domestic and international political issues. |
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| GEOG.473 | Remote Sensing | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies the remote sensing system, its relationship with other sciences, understanding the nature of the system and its characteristics, how it is used in geography, reading images and satellite visuals, continuous training on how to use it, especially in analyzing and interpreting satellite visuals, its role in collecting data and information, saving effort and time, and the accuracy of data and information. |
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| GEOG.474 | Urban geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies the concept of urbanism in its rural and urban forms, the most important urban planning theories, the study of rural and urban areas, the relationship between the city and its countryside, the economic and developmental importance of urban planning in cities and villages, the major urban concentrations in the world, and the problems of urbanism along with proposed solutions. |
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| GEOG.475 | Soil geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studied soil, its characteristics, types, and its geographical distribution across the Earth's regions, in addition to the relationship between soil and human activities, especially agriculture, studying soil problems and how to utilize it without causing harm, and studying the most important soils in Libya and their geographical distribution. |
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| GEOG.476 | Graduation Project | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies how to prepare a graduation project, with practical examples from several research papers to practice how to formulate, prepare, and present the graduation project. |
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| GEOG.481 | Geography of services | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies the geography of services, its concept and its relationship with other sciences, the study of the most important public services and their geographic distribution in Libya, and the study of the impact of services of various types—educational, touristic, health, and public—on community life, as well as their effect on the economy, the environment, and sustainable spatial development. |
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| GEOG.482 | Geography of Libya | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies Libya in terms of history, location, strategic importance, characteristics of its population and their geographical distribution, features of climate, soil, vegetation, and climatic and vegetation regions, as well as the main agricultural and industrial activities, especially oil and its economic importance, transportation, air and sea transport, and foreign trade. |
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| GEOG.483 | Geographic texts and terms | 2 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies selected texts from branches of geography and translates them, in addition to studying the scientific terminology of concepts in the branches of physical and human geography. |
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| GEOG.484 | Tourism geography | 3 | Compulsory | - |
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The student studies tourism geography, its concept and its relationship with other sciences, the study of the most important tourist sites in the world and in Libya, and the study of the impact of tourism on economic and service activities and how to invest tourist sites in sustainable development. |
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| GEOG.485 | Meteorological geography | 4 | Compulsory | GEOG.235 |
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The student studies the definition of meteorology, its historical origins, and the most important stages of its development. Then, the student studies the atmosphere, its sections, and its main characteristics. The student also studies the most important instruments used in measurement processes (temperature, humidity, rainfall, atmospheric pressure, evaporation, etc.). Additionally, the student practices reading instruments in the field, especially those that measure solar radiation, temperature, humidity, and rainfall. |
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| GEOG.486 | Graduation Project | 3 | Compulsory | GEOG.356 |
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The student completes the graduation project by following the project steps (choosing the topic - identifying the problem - importance - objectives - methodology - study tools - previous studies - research structure - writing, formatting, and reviewing the research). |
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