Study Guide

Overview and Test Objectives
Field 008: Geography

Test Overview

Table outlining the test format, number of questions, time, and passing score.

Format	Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of Questions	100 multiple-choice questions
Time	2 hours 30 minutes*
Passing Score	220

*Does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial

Test Objectives

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective.

Subarea		Range of Objectives	Approximate Percentage of Questions on Test
I1	Geographic Concepts and Skills	001–002	15%
II2	Physical Systems, Natural Resources, and Land Use	003–004	15%
III3	Human Systems and Human–Environment Interaction	005–006	15%
IV4	World Regions and Global Issues	007–008	15%
V5	History and Geography	009–011	20%
VI6	Other Interdisciplinary Perspectives	012–014	20%

Hover over each subarea for details of subtest content or see table above.

Sub area 1 15%, Sub area 2 15%, Sub area 3 15%, Sub area 4 15%, Sub area 5 20%, and Sub area 6 20%.

Subarea I1—GEOGRAPHIC CONCEPTS AND SKILLS

Objective 001—Understand geographic terms, concepts, and resources.

Includes:

• basic geographic terms and concepts (e.g., interdependence, assimilation, site and situation diffusion)
• the five fundamental themes of geography (i.e., location, place, human–environment interaction, movement, and region)
• the six essential elements of geography (i.e., the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, and the uses of geography)
• ways in which regions are defined by people
• basic properties (e.g., grid systems, symbol systems, scale, direction and orientation) and uses of maps, globes, and projections
• use of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning systems (GPS), and other geographic tools to acquire, process, and communicate information from a spatial perspective
• resources used in geographic research (e.g., atlases, almanacs, aerial surveys, satellite imagery, meteorological tables)

Objective 002—Apply methods for conducting geographic investigations and analyzing and interpreting geographic information.

Includes:

• steps in the research process (e.g., formulating a clear statement of questions, choosing a research design, collecting data, organizing and communicating results)
• acquisition and organization of geographic data (e.g., gathering sources, note taking, file maintenance, preparation of bibliographies) and the use of electronic technologies to assist in assessing and managing information
• analysis of geographic documents, maps, and information (e.g., recognizing purpose, point of view, and central questions; distinguishing between fact and opinion; making inferences and drawing conclusions)
• evaluation of geographic analyses and interpretations (e.g., assessing evidence, identifying underlying assumptions, recognizing bias)
• interpretation of geographic issues represented in graphic formats (e.g., maps, charts, diagrams, graphs) and selection of alternative graphic formats for conveying geographic information

 

Subarea II2—PHYSICAL SYSTEMS, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND LAND USE

Objective 003—Understand physical features of the earth and the natural processes that shape the earth's surface.

Includes:

• major landmasses and bodies of water, including their shapes, locations, and significant physical features
• the four basic components of Earth's primary physical systems: the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere
• physical processes that shape the earth's surface (e.g., glaciation, plate tectonics, volcanic activity, erosion, deposition, hydrologic cycle)
• the principal elements of climate (e.g., temperature, atmospheric pressure, winds, condensation, precipitation, air masses)
• global and regional climate types and climatic patterns, and factors that influence climate (e.g., latitude, altitude, oceanic circulation, the earth–sun relationship)
• ways in which physical features and processes of the earth affect plant and animal life and human societies
• instructional strategies and resources for promoting the acquisition of geographic knowledge, applying techniques for assessing student understanding of geography, and utilizing knowledge of professional standards and technology in geography instruction

Objective 004—Understand global ecosystems, natural resources, and patterns of land use.

Includes:

• location and characteristics of major global ecosystems (e.g., rain forests, deserts, deciduous forests, tundra, grasslands)
• concentrations, characteristics, and uses of important natural resources, and changes in the use and importance of various resources over time
• geologic, biologic, and climatic factors that determine the location of water, soil, mineral, fossil fuel, and living resources
• basic forms of land use (e.g., agriculture, forestry, mining, manufacturing, residential) and factors that influence patterns of land use and development
• environmental, cultural, political, and economic consequences of land-use and development patterns
• instructional strategies and resources for promoting the acquisition of geographic knowledge, applying techniques for assessing student understanding of geography, and utilizing knowledge of professional standards and technology in geography instruction

 

Subarea III3—HUMAN SYSTEMS AND HUMAN–ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

Objective 005—Understand human culture, human settlement, and global and regional patterns of population growth, distribution, and migration.

Includes:

• cultural concepts (e.g., assimilation, adaptation, diffusion)
• cultural characteristics (e.g., language, habitations, customs and traditions; belief systems; ethnicity, patterns of livelihood)
• purposes, organization, and functions of diverse human settlements, factors that influence their characteristics and locations, and how human settlements have changed over time
• causes and consequences of urbanization and the functions and internal structure of cities in various places and regions
• basic demographic concepts (e.g., birth rate, death rate, migration, doubling time, population density) and their application to historical and contemporary populations
• interpretation of population pyramids (e.g., age structure and sex ratios, dependency ratio)
• causes and consequences of population increase and decline
• types, causes, and consequences of human migration (e.g., push and pull factors, diffusion of ideas and cultural traits, economic development, conflicts over territory and natural resources)
• instructional strategies and resources for promoting the acquisition of geographic knowledge, applying techniques for assessing student understanding of geography, and utilizing knowledge of professional standards and technology in geography instruction

Objective 006—Understand the nature and effects of human interactions with the environment.

Includes:

• ways in which human societies modify the physical environment and adapt to environmental change
• effects of environmental factors such as climate, topography, ecology, and location on population, agriculture, industrial development, and commerce
• causes and effects of current environmental problems (e.g., climate change, tropical deforestation, decline of fish stocks, acid rain)
• conservation initiatives and programs for resource use and management and the relationship between property ownership and the management of natural resources
• role of technological innovation and economic development in the creation and solution of environmental problems
• ways in which diverse perspectives and points of view affect decisions on environmental issues (e.g., land use, natural resources, wildlife habitat, climate change)
• ways in which environmental changes have reduced the environment's capacity to support human activity and strategies developed in response to such changes
• perception, impact, and response to natural catastrophes
• instructional strategies and resources for promoting the acquisition of geographic knowledge, applying techniques for assessing student understanding of geography, and utilizing knowledge of professional standards and technology in geography instruction

 

Subarea IV4—WORLD REGIONS AND GLOBAL ISSUES

Objective 007—Understand characteristics, processes, and issues of major regions of the Eastern Hemisphere.

Includes:

• comparison of the physical and human characteristics of major regions of the Eastern Hemisphere
• location of major places (e.g., cultural centers, cities, physical features)
• cultural characteristics of regions of the Eastern Hemisphere (e.g., languages, religions, political systems, race and ethnicity)
• types of economic activities within the Eastern Hemisphere (e.g., mining, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, services)
• major connections within regions of the Eastern Hemisphere (e.g., trade, migration, flow of goods and services)
• significance of political agreements, treaties, and international organizations (e.g., IGOs, NGOs, European Union, NATO, OPEC)
• global issues associated with population growth, resources, patterns of global interaction, and conflict and cooperation
• instructional strategies and resources for promoting the acquisition of geographic knowledge, applying techniques for assessing student understanding of geography, and utilizing knowledge of professional standards and technology in geography instruction

Objective 008—Understand characteristics, processes, and issues of major regions of the Western Hemisphere.

Includes:

• comparison of the physical and human characteristics of major regions of the Western Hemisphere
• location of major places (e.g., cultural centers, cities, physical features)
• cultural characteristics of regions of the Western Hemisphere (e.g., languages, religions, political systems, race and ethnicity)
• types of economic activities within the Western Hemisphere (e.g., mining, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, services)
• major connections within regions of the Western Hemisphere (e.g., trade, migration, flow of goods and services)
• significance of political agreements, treaties, and international organizations (e.g., IGOs, NGOs, OPEC, NAFTA, Organization of American States [OAS])
• global issues associated with population growth, resources, patterns of global interaction, and conflict and cooperation
• instructional strategies and resources for promoting the acquisition of geographic knowledge, applying techniques for assessing student understanding of geography, and utilizing knowledge of professional standards and technology in geography instruction

 

Subarea V5—HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

Objective 009—Understand basic historical concepts.

Includes:

• basic historical terms and concepts (e.g., nation-state, feudalism, hegemony, revolution, empire)
• construction of timelines and the identification of chronological relationships between major events in U.S. and world history
• differences between primary and secondary sources of historical information
• reference sources used in historical research (e.g., almanacs, encyclopedias, the Internet, bibliographies, periodical guides)
• uses and limitations of various historical source materials (e.g., oral histories, newspapers, diaries, artifacts, census data, personal correspondence, materials accessed through information technology)
• multiple interpretations of events and developments in Michigan, U.S., and world history, the impact of major theories and interpretive frameworks that shape history, and the biases that these theories and frameworks might present
• evaluation of major issues and events in Michigan, U.S., and world history from diverse perspectives (e.g., regional, interregional, racial, ethnic, social class, gender)

Objective 010—Understand history and the relationship with geography within major eras of U.S. history.

Includes:

• how physical factors such as climate, topography, and natural resources have influenced historical events and developments
• how historical events and developments (e.g., territorial conquest, imperialism and colonization, technological innovation) have shaped the human and political geography of the United States
• how processes such as population growth, economic development, resource use, international trade, and communication have affected the development of the United States
• major events and developments in U.S. history during Era 1, beginnings to 1620 CE; Era 2, colonization and settlement, 1585–1763 CE; and Era 3, revolution and the new nation, 1754–1800 CE (e.g., Native American nations, colonization, triangular trade and slavery, causes and consequences of the Revolutionary War)
• major events and developments in U.S. history during Era 4, expansion and reform, 1792–1861 CE; and Era 5, the Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850–1877 CE (e.g., westward expansion, Civil War, Reconstruction)
• major events and developments in U.S. history during Era 6, the development of an industrial, urban, and global United States, 1870–1930 CE; and Era 7, the Great Depression and World War II, 1920–1945 CE (e.g., imperialism, industrialization, World War I, World War II)
• major events and developments in U.S. history during Era 8, the post–World War II United States, 1945–1989 CE (e.g., civil rights movement, baby boom, collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cold War)
• major events and developments in U.S. history during Era 9, America in a new global age, 1990 CE to the present (e.g., the global economy, post–Cold War world, 9/11 and terrorism, energy policies)

Objective 011—Understand history and the relationship with geography within major eras of world history.

Includes:

• how physical factors such as climate, topography, and natural resources have influenced historical events and developments
• how historical events and developments (e.g., territorial conquest, imperialism and colonization, technological innovation) have shaped the human and political geography of the world
• how processes such as population growth, economic development, resource use, international trade, and communication have affected different world regions
• important hemispheric interactions and cross-regional development throughout world history
• major events and developments in world history Era 1, the beginnings of human society to 4000 BCE; Era 2, early civilizations and cultures and the emergence of pastoral peoples, 4000–1000 BCE; Era 3, classical traditions, world religions, and major empires, 1000 BCE–300 CE; and Era 4, expanding and intensified hemispheric interactions, 300–1500 CE (e.g., early human migration, classical civilizations, spread of major religions)
• major events and developments in world history during Era 5, the emergence of the first global age, fifteenth to eighteenth centuries CE; and Era 6, an age of global revolutions, eighteenth century to 1914 (e.g., European Renaissance and expansion; the Columbian exchange; colonization; major world empires; scientific, political, and industrial revolutions)
• major events and developments in world history during Era 7, global crisis and achievement, 1900–1945 CE; and Era 8, the Cold War and its aftermath, twentieth century since 1945 CE (e.g., World War I, World War II, technological innovations, the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union)
• major events and developments in world history during Era 9, the United States in a new global age (e.g., independence movements, economic development and globalization, environmental degradation, terrorism, food and water scarcity)

 

Subarea VI6—OTHER INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES

Objective 012—Understand basic economic concepts and the relationship between economics and geography.

Includes:

• basic economic terms, concepts, and economic indicators (e.g., scarcity, opportunity cost, economic incentives, competition, specialization, forms of unemployment, circular flow and the national economy, gross domestic product, consumer price index)
• basic characteristics of a free market economic system and similarities and differences between major economic systems
• basic principles and components of international economics (e.g., the concept of comparative advantage, the principles of free trade and protectionism, exchange rates), and the changing relationship between the U.S. economy and the global economy
• distribution of world economic activity and historical and contemporary patterns of economic interdependence
• how historical and contemporary human interactions with the environment have influenced economic growth and decline in diverse world regions

Objective 013—Understand basic political science concepts and the relationship between political science and geography.

Includes:

• basic political science terms and concepts (e.g., sovereignty, authority, balance of power, judicial review, reserved and concurrent powers, social contract theory)
• documents related to the origins of American constitutional government and the development of democratic values and ideals (e.g., Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, the Mayflower Compact, Thomas Paine's Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Federalist Papers, the Gettysburg Address, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment)
• basic principles (e.g., federalism, rule of law, limited government, checks and balances) and major components of the U.S. Constitution
• purposes, organization, and functions of government in the United States at the federal, state, and local levels and relationships between different levels of government
• political parties and the U.S. political process (e.g., the origin and evolution of political parties and their influence; how interest groups, the media, individuals, and public opinion shape the public agenda)
• location of political boundaries and ways in which the forces of cooperation and conflict (e.g., gerrymandering, cultural and political divisions within and between places, major international organizations) influence the division and control of the earth and its resources
• the geographic context of global issues involving political stability and change

Objective 014—Understand core democratic values, recognize the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society, and apply methods for analyzing public policy questions.

Includes:

• core democratic values of America's constitutional republic (e.g., individual rights, justice for all, equal opportunity, respect and appreciation for diversity, patriotism) and ways in which pivotal decisions and major debates in U.S. history reflect those values
• behaviors expected of members of a democratic society (e.g., how an individual's actions affect other people, how one acts in accordance with the rule of law, how one acts in an ethical and responsible way as a member of society, how individuals in history demonstrated democratic values and ethics)
• steps in the decision-making and problem-solving processes (e.g., identifying decisions to be made or problems to be solved, gathering information, identifying alternative courses of action)
• ways of engaging in constructive conversation about matters of public concern (e.g., clarifying issues, considering opposing views, applying core democratic values, anticipating consequences, working toward making decisions)
• reasoned and informed decision making on public issues (e.g., stating issues clearly, tracing the origins of issues, analyzing various perspectives people bring to public policy debates, recognizing factors to be considered when formulating resolutions to public issues, evaluating possible solutions)
• criteria used to analyze evidence and position statements (e.g., logical validity, factual accuracy and/or omission, emotional appeal, credibility, unstated assumptions, logical fallacies, distortions, appeals to bias or prejudice)
• ways of composing coherent essays that express positions on public issues supported by reasoned arguments and pertinent evidence

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