Overview
GEOG 306 introduces geomorphology, the scientific study of landforms and land-forming processes. This course will help you gain an understanding of how a myriad of processes act at or near Earth’s surface, as well as how they integrate across time, from modern to geological timescales, to create and shape the landforms that make up the canvas of our physical environment.
Geomorphology is a branch of physical geography that studies the natural environment, as well as geology, which studies the solid Earth. It draws from both disciplines and contributes to both. Because geomorphology studies highly complex assemblages of landforms that exhibit multivariate control by agencies such as climate, running water, vegetation and fauna, and human alteration, it also interacts with other sciences that contribute to the global and interdisciplinary approach to comprehending Earth’s systems, such as climatology, hydrology, pedology (soil science), glaciology, and ecology. Geomorphology is a fundamental scientific discipline that is also practical and used in a variety of real-world applications, such as construction of infrastructures, land management, environmental impact assessment, and policy development (e.g., climate change adaptation and impact mitigation).
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
- demonstrate a foundational understanding of geomorphology as an interdisciplinary field whose scope includes, but is not limited to, the study of processes shaping Earth’s surface.
- apply models and theories to analyze the driving and resisting forces that influence landform evolution, drawing on examples from Canada and around the world.
- evaluate the role of geomorphological agents—including water, ice, wind, gravity, and biological activity—in driving key geomorphic processes in slopes, fluvial, glacial, coastal, periglacial, karst, and aeolian environments.
- analyze the physical, chemical, and biological processes—such as weathering, erosion, transport, and deposition—through which geomorphological agents shape landforms and contribute to landscape evolution.
- interpret topographic maps and aerial photographs—using stereo vision—to analyze landforms and their development, providing evidence-based geomorphic explanations.
- discuss the impacts of human activities and climate change on geomorphic systems and explore strategies for environmental management, hazard mitigation, and sustainable landscape planning.
Evaluation
To receive credit for GEOG 306, you must score a grade of at least 40 percent on each of the lab assignments, achieve a grade of at least 60 percent on both the midterm and final exams, and achieve a course composite grade of at least 50 percent.
The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Lab assignments 1–10 (5% each) | 50% |
| Midterm exam | 25% |
| Final exam | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Trenhaile, A. S. (2016). Geomorphology: A Canadian perspective (6th ed.). Oxford University Press Canada.
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Easterbrook, D. J., & Kovanen, D. J. (1999). Interpretation of landforms from topographic maps and air photographs laboratory manual. Waveland Press, Inc.
Pivot, F. (2025). Geography 306 – Geomorphology: Earth surface processes and landforms air photos booklet. Athabasca University.
Pocket stereoscope