GEOG 1101: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY: PEOPLE, PLACES, AND CULTURES

Spring Semester 2008

TR 9³⁰-10⁴⁵

Dr. Andrew Herod, 209 GGS Building. Tel: 542 2856

Email: AHEROD@UGA.EDU

OFFICE HOURS: by appointment.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Whether we like it or not, the fact is that we live in an increasingly interconnected globe. Due to the fact that information, people, and money can now travel around the world more quickly than ever before, political and economic events that occur in places thousands of miles away that we may never have heard of can have dramatic impacts upon our daily lives. For example, manufacturing job loss in the United States may be the result of a recession in Europe, so that Europeans can no longer afford to buy products made in the US. Equally, international disputes may be the result of activities in one country impacting another (there has been a long standing dispute, for instance, between Canada and the United States over the issue of acid rain Ð factories in New England produce the pollution that causes acid rain, but because of prevailing winds much of the negative impact of this is felt across the border in eastern Canada). Likewise, places such as Georgia are being linked to others (such as central Mexico) through processes of international labor migration.

Given this increasingly interconnected nature of our contemporary world, then,

the goal of the course is to have you become much more aware of the world around you, particularly with regard to how what happens in one place can have significant consequences in other places across the planet. Thus, the course will NOT be geared towards simply memorizing where places are. Rather, we will focus upon understanding and explaining some of the political, historical, and economic relationships that bind people together, even though they may live many thousands of miles apart.

COURSE MATERIALS: The text we will use is:

Paul Knox and Sally Marston (2007), Places and Regions in Global Context: Human Geography (4^th edition).

Also, visit http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_knox_humangeo_4/, which has been specially set up to complement this book. The site has information about some of the topics covered in the class, as well as a multitude of other interesting issues that have bearing for understanding our contemporary planet and the role that geography plays in allowing us to do so. There are web links to other useful sites and on-line quizzes that you can take so that you may test your knowledge of the materials covered in various chapters of the text book.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You are adults and are responsible for your own education. Therefore, students are expected to attend all lectures and read all supporting materials from the text. Text readings are a supplement to the course and cannot be substituted for lecture materials. No lecture notes will be available from the instructor if a student misses class. I advise you not to be tempted by the large size of the class to think your absence will not be missed. Experience shows that those who fail to attend class also fail to do well in Ð or even to pass Ð the class. For your sake I hope you wonÕt be tempted to try to be the exception that proves the rule!

The course grade will be based on results from three exams (2 regular exams and a final), and a set of in-class activities. Exam questions will be based upon materials drawn from class lectures, course readings, and in-class activities (see below). ALL EXAMS ARE CUMULATIVE. I also reserve the right to call an undetermined number of pop quizzes. Grades will be assigned as follows:

A = 90% or better

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

F = 59% or less.

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: This class has 3 in-class assignments, which will count for 20% of your overall grade. The exams will count for 80% of your overall grade.

HANDOUTS: Copies of diagrams used as overheads in the class are available at the following URL: www.ggy.uga.edu/courses/geog1101_aherod/handouts. No copies will be given out in class. Students should visit this website and download or print off copies of overheads to be used in class by topic. Make sure you bring copies of such diagrams to class with you.

EXAM POLICY: There are three exams and a final in this course. ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE FINAL EXAM. This will be worth 40% of your overall grade. You will be allowed to miss one of the first three exams for whatever reason (illness, family emergency, overslept etc.). NO STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED EXAM. The two best scores from the first three exams will be added together with the score from the final and from the lab to calculate your overall grade. Thus, the break-down of scores is as follows:

Assignments = 20% of final grade

Final Exam = 40% of final grade

2 exams = 20% each (for total of 40% of final grade)

Important Dates to Remember:

Tuesday Feb 5: First Exam

Tuesday Feb 26: Second Exam

Tuesday Mar 4: Mid-point withdrawal deadline

Mon-Fri Mar 10-14: Spring Break

Tuesday April 8: Third Exam

Thursday April 24: Last day of this class

Tuesday Apr 29: Reading Day

Tuesday May 6, 8^00am-11^00am: Final Exam

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE AND TEXT BOOK READINGS:

Topic 1: Introduction to the Course (Ch. 1; Ch. 2)

Topic 2: The Politics of Representation: Maps and Map Projections (pp. 495-504)

Topic 3: Population Geography (Ch. 3, 5, 6)

Topic 4: Agriculture and development. (Ch. 7, 8)

Topic 5: The Geography of Uneven Development (Ch. 10; Ch. 11; Ch. 12)

Topic 6: Legacy of Colonialism for Less Developed Countries (pp. 356-362)

Topic 7: New Political Geographies in the post-Cold War Era (pp. 343-355; 362-391)

Topic 8: Nationalism, racism, and Òethnic cleansingÓ in Bosnia.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students should refer to the UGA Undergraduate Bulletin and the Student Handbook concerning academic honesty. If I suspect a student of academic dishonesty I will report the case to the University Academic Policy Panel. A student found guilty of academic dishonesty (such as cheating in exams) by the Panel will be subject to a number of penalties, including but not limited to: award of a failing grade for the course, suspension, notification placed on the studentÕs transcript of their having been found guilty of cheating, and expulsion from the University.