In the academic year 2024-2025 this subject will only be offered in Basque. Geography of Spain is a subject that deals with population, urban and economic diversity in the territory of the different autonomous communities. It also deals with the contrasts of the physical environment in terms of geomorphology, climate, vegetation and water. It is an opportunity to get to know a country by learning about the concept of geography as the unequal spatial distribution of natural and socio-economic phenomena that crystallise in the territory. The differentiated location of very disparate natural areas is also associated with different cultures that have shaped an enormous diversity of landscapes in Spain.

This subject aims to understand the processes that have shaped an unbalanced territorial structure and which is reflected in the socio-economic disparities between the autonomous communities. It also aims to identify which factors beyond the regional and national scale are influencing regional development. Understanding how the European and global Union dimension affects the rural and urban spheres of the different autonomous communities is an essential question. It is also interesting to consider what responses the different autonomous communities are giving to the challenge of being integrated into supranational geographical spheres. Tackling unemployment, depopulation and social and political discontent are some of the current challenges in Spain's post-COVID 19 society.

As far as the physical environment is concerned, the fifteen national parks located in twelve autonomous communities show the enormous wealth and diversity of ecosystems. An excellent framework for learning about the exceptional natural values, the uniqueness of their flora, fauna and geomorphological formations that these temples of nature contain. The Spanish National Parks are internationally recognised for their state of conservation, planning and integrated management of natural resources.

This generic approach is embodied in the challenge of ascertaining these phenomena at the scale of an Autonomous Community. Identifying how these general processes are assimilated in the peculiarities of each region is the object of the student's work. The field practice in an Autonomous Community, different from the location of the degree course taught, immerses us in the fusion between regional idiosyncrasies and other influential geographical scales.

I. Basic and general competences of the Degree in Geography and Land Management

(https://gestionalumnos.ehu.es/tmp/Geografia%20y%20Ordenacion%20del%20Territorio.pdf) are the following:

- Basic competences: CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4 and CB5.

- General competences: G004, G005, G006, G007 and G008.

II. Specific competences of MODULE MC03(Fundamentals of Geography):

M03CM01: Students will be able to explain and transmit knowledge that has been developed at the interface between the natural and social sciences.

the natural sciences and human sciences, understanding the role that geographical studies have had in this aspect.

geographic studies.

M03CM02: Students will be familiar with those subjects that make up the core of geographical knowledge, and

which are more widely used in university curricula and in the lines of research of university departments and institutes.

departments and university institutes.

M03CM03: That students, through the sectorial specialisations in geography, acquire a vision of the different aspects that contribute to the differentiation of geographic knowledge.

different aspects that contribute to the differentiation of territories and be able to make descriptive and prescriptive judgements.

MO3CM04: Students will possess an ability to discern the physical and human factors that are the basis of the internal organisation of territories and the

the internal organisation of territories and the source of regional personality.

MO4CM06: Students must be able to use the techniques of documentation, data collection, analysis and methodology of these disciplines.

of these disciplines.

III. Specific competences and learning outcomes:

- The student understands and is able to express the processes and structures that organise the territory.The learner explains regional imbalances in Spain, using data and maps.

- The learner handles statistical, geographical and documentary sources on the Spanish regions.

is able to interpret the results of statistical, geographical and documentary sources on Spanish regions.

- The student characterises the different geographical areas of the Spanish physical environment. He/she is able to argue the factors that influence the configuration of the different geographical areas of the Spanish physical environment.

- The learner prepares a socio-economic and natural environment report on an Autonomous Community using the appropriate statistical, geographical and documentary sources.

1. Political and territorial organisation of Spain.

1.1. Territorial, administrative and political scales.

1.2. Stages of development in the Autonomous Communities.

1.3. Socio-economic differences between the Autonomous Communities.

2. Population.

2.1. The spatial dimension of the ageing process by Autonomous Community. 2.2.

2.2. Imbalances in the distribution of the population at different geographical scales.

3. Urban system.

3.2. Urban system and spatial distribution of urban subsystems.

3.3. The Spanish urban system in the context of the European Union and in the global context.

4. Productive spaces: industry and services.

4.1. Process of industrialisation, crisis and deindustrialisation.

4.2. Industrial sectoral distribution by Autonomous Community.

4.3. Classification of services and sub-sectorial distribution by Autonomous Communities.

5. Relief.

5.1. Lithology and landforms.

5.2. Main morpho-structural units.

6. Climate

6.1. Factors and elements of climate and in Spain.

6.2. Climatic zones in Spain.

The teaching of the subject is based on theoretical and practical classes and seminars, as well as on the autonomous work of the student.

through the following methodology:



- Classroom activities: lectures, practical activities in the classroom (commentary on graphs and maps) and an oral presentation of the group work in the four-month period.

and maps) and an oral presentation of the group work during the four-month period.



- Non-face-to-face activities: programmed readings, preparation by the student of a practical work.



- Class attendance is necessary to understand what the practical part consists of.



- We will do a field practice to better understand some concepts and what is exposed in this field trip is included in the contents included in the exam.

included in the contents of the exam.

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 50
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 50

The evaluation system is final. The course will be graded by means of an exam (5 points) and the elaboration of a work applied to an work applied to an Autonomous Community (5 points).

The exam is worth five points out of ten points and the practical work is worth five points out of ten points. It is necessary 2.5 points in the exam and 2.5 points in the practical work in order to pass.



As the weight of the final exam is more than 40% of the grade for the course, it will be sufficient not to take the final exam for the final grade to befinal exam will be enough for the final grade of the course to be no-show or no-show.

The same criteria will be followed for the extraordinary exams as for the ordinary exams.

The evaluation system is final. The course will be graded by means of an exam (5 points out of 10 points) and the elaboration of a paper applied to an Autonomus Community. It is necessary to obtain at least 2.5 points in the exam and 2.5 points in the practical work in order to pass.



As the weight of the final exam is higher than 40% of the grade for the course, it will be sufficient not to take the final exam for the final grade to be no-show.

Farinós, J. & Olcina, J. (2017). Geografía regional de España. Espacio y comunidades. Tirant Humanidades.

Martín Vide J. & Olcina Cantos, J. (2001). Climas y tiempos de España. Alianza Editorial.

Méndez, R. & Molinero, F. (Coord.) (1993). Geografía de España. Ariel.

Meléndez Hevia, I. (2004). Geología de España. Una historia de seiscientos millones de años. Editorial Rueda.

Romero, J. (Coord.) (2017). Geografía Humana de España. Curso de introducción. Tirant Humanidades.

Basic bibliography

Fernández Cuesta, G. & Quirós Linares, F. (2011). Atlas temático de España. 3 tomos. Ediciones Nobel



García Alvarado, J.Mª & Sotelo Navalpotro, J.A. edit. (1999). La España de las Autonomías. Síntesis.



Instituto Geográfico Nacional (2019). España en mapas. Una síntesis geográfica. Centro Nacional de Información Geográfica. https://www.ign.es/web/espana-en-mapas



Puyol Antolín, R. (dir.) (1988-1989). Geografía de España. Síntesis, 18 vols.

In-depth bibliography

European Union (2023). Eurostat regional yearbook, 2023 edition.

Journals

Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles.
ERIA.
Estudios Geográficos.
Investigaciones Geográficas.
Scripta Nova
Ciudad y Territorio. Estudios Territoriales

Web addresses

https://www.mitma.gob.es/portal-del-suelo-y-politicas-urbanas/atlas-estadistico-de-las-areas-urbanas
http://www.aemet.es/es/portada
http:/www.ine.es
https://www.age-geografia.es/site/
http:/www.ign.es
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/
http://dialnet.unirioja.es
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/RCI/#?vis=nuts2.labourmarket&lang=en
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/gisco
https://www.oecd.org/
https://www.un.org/es/