Geography104: Introduction to Human Geography SOFI 2011: July 2- August 10 Instructor: Dr. James C. Saku Office Phone: 301-687-4724 Home: 301-687-0519 Administrative Assistant: 301-687-4369 Office Location: GU 232 Email: jsaku@frostburg.edu Course Description The distribution of human beings in relation to population dynamics, economic development, and cultural diversity. Institutional Learning Goals 1. Liberal knowledge and skills of inquiry, critical thinking and synthesis: Students will be required to use different methods in gathering and evaluating theories and methods of human geography. 2. Core Skills: Assignments on current event will provide students the opportunity to comprehend and interpret written and oral information. 3. Acquisition and application of specialized knowledge: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the historical and cultural factors affecting present global social, economic and political issues. 4. Values and Social Responsibilities: Students will demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of global environmental problems. 5. Appreciation of cultural identities: Students will demonstrate respect and tolerance for other cultures and traditions. Specific Course Objectives By the end of the class students should be able to 1. Demonstrate proficiency in theories on human geography. 2. Determine the location of important global human and physical features. 3. Analyze differences in the economic, cultural and political systems between developed and developing countries. 4. Analyze current global geopolitical issues 5. Demonstrate an understanding of population concepts including the Demographic Transition Theory, Malthusian Theory, and Population Pyramids. 6. Demonstrate an understanding of the human impacts on the environment. 1
Required texts: Alyson Greiner (2011) Visualizing Human Geography Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons. Academic dishonesty: Note that academic dishonesty including plagiarism and cheating during examinations is a serious offence and carries severe penalty. Please refer to the Pathfinder for details. Disruptive student behaviour in the classroom: Please refer to the Pathfinder for details. Discussion forum: There will be four discussion forums. You are required to read the questions carefully and respond to them. Share with others your thoughts on the issues related to the world. It is important that you focus on your personal thoughts about the issues. Avoid using offensive language. Respect each others views and do not be personal. After posting your comments, you will need to respond to the comments of at least two students to earn full points. Grading of each discussion forum is: Your own posting First response Second response = 5 points = 2 points = 3 points Extra Credit To encourage strong class participation, the person with the highest number of postings per week will earn additional 3 points and the person with the second highest postings earns 2 points and third highest 1 point. Important Dates to Remember: Discussion Forums Forum 1: July 9-July 12 Forum 2: July 16-July 19 Forum 3: July 23-July 26 Forum 4: July 30-August 2 Assignments 2
July 5: Assignment 1 July 18: Assignment 2 July 30: Assignment 3 Tests July 14: Test 1 July 28: Test 2 July 10: Test 3 Class Assignments All students will be required to complete two assignments. The assignments will be posted on the assignment folder of blackboard and are from the book. Grading: Discussion forum (4 discussions 10 points each) Three class assignments (50 points each) Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 = 40 points = 150 points = 100 points = 100 points = 100 points The final grade is based on the total points accumulated over a maximum of 490 points. The scale and grades are as follows: A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F< 69 No NC grade will be awarded General Course Outline (Tentative and subject to change) July 2 Chapter 1: What is Human Geography? Thinking like a human geographer, geographical tools July 3 Chapter 2: Globalization and Cultural Geography Contemporary globalization, cultural geographies of local knowledge July 4 Chapter 2: Globalization and Cultural Geography The Commodification of culture 3
July 5 Chapter 3: Population and Migration Population fundamentals, Population Composition and Change, Assignment 1 Due July 6 Chapter 3: Population and Migration Population and Environment Interactions, Migration: forced and voluntary migration July 10 Chapter 4: Geographies of Language Languages in the World, Language Diffusion and Globalization, July 11 Chapter 4: Geographies of Language Dialects and Toponyms July 12: Test 1: Test will be available all day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. You will need three hours to work on the test. Once you log onto the test module, you will need to stay in for three hours. You cannot log on and leave and come back. Blackboard allows instructor to track users. July 13 Chapter 5: Geographies of Religion Religion in Global Context, Religious Hearths and Diffusion July 16 Chapter 5: Geographies of Religion Religion, Society and Globalization; Religion, Nature, and Landscape July 17 Chapter 6: Geographies of Identity: Race, Ethnicity, Sexuality, and Gender Race and Racism, Geographies of Race and Racism, July 18 Chapter 6: Geographies of Identity: Race, Ethnicity, Sexuality, and Gender What Is Ethnicity? Ethnicity in the Landscape, Sexuality and Gender Assignment 2 Due July 19 Chapter 7: Political Geography Key Concepts in Political Geography, Geographical Characteristics of States 4
July 20 Chapter 7: Political Geography Internationalism and Supranational Organizations, July 23 Chapter 7: Political Geography Global Geopolitics, Electoral Geography, Political Landscapes July 24: Chapter 8: Urban Geographies Cities and Urbanization July 25 Chapter 8: Urban Geographies Urban Structure, Urban Dynamics July 26: Test 2: Test will be available all day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. You will need three hours to work on the test. Once you log onto the test module, you will need to stay in for three hours. You cannot log on and leave and come back. Blackboard allows instructor to track users. July 27 Chapter 9: Geographies of Development What Is Development? Development and Income Inequality July 30 Chapter 9: Geographies of Development Development Theory July 30: Assignment 3 Due July 31 Chapter 11: Changing Geographies of Industry and Services Types of Industry, Evolution of Manufacturing in the Core factors affecting the location of industries, Fordism and fordist production August 1 Chapter 11: Changing Geographies of Industry and Services Evolution of Manufacturing beyond the core newly industrialized economies, exportprocessing zones, offshoring, Services deindustrialization and globalization. August 2 Chapter 12: Agricultural Geographies Agriculture: Origins and Revolutions, Agricultural Systems, August 3 Chapter 12: Agricultural Geographies 5
Agriculture, the Environment, and Globalization August 6 Chapter 13: Environmental Challenges Ecosystems, Nonrenewable Energy Resources, August 7 Chapter 13: Environmental Challenges August 8: Final Test: Test will be available all day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. You will need three hours to work on the test. Once you log onto the test module, you will need to stay in for three hours. You can not log on and leave and come back. Blackboard allows instructor to track users. 6