COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

A Course Title
& Number Geo 201-01World Cultural Geography
B Pre/Co-
requisite(s) WRI 102
C Number of
3-0-3
credits
D Faculty Name Dr. Pia Anderson
E Term/ Year Spring 2017
F Sections CRN Course Day Time Location
s
20311 GEO MW 11-12:15 Arts 201
Location subject to change
G Instructor
Information
Instructor Office Telephone Email
Anderson Arts 139 X2023 panderson@aus.ed
u
Office Hours:

Monday and Wednesday 2 pm to 3:30 pm

Or by appointment

H Course Provides a broad survey of the cultural geography of the world. Addresses
Description cultural systems, agriculture and natural resources, urbanization,
from Catalog industrialization, development and political geography, among other topics.
I Course Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Learning
Outcomes Express a basic understanding of the principal concepts of cultural
geography.
Demonstrate an understanding of how cultures and human behaviors
can affect the natural environment.
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the natural
world to human cultures.
Demonstrate basic research and critical thinking skills.
Demonstrate basic oral presentation skills.

J Instructional Textbook: Diamond, Jared (2011) Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or
Material Succeed Revised Edition. New York: Penguin.
K Teaching and This course is lecture and activity based. I will incorporate films and
Learning demonstrations when possible to supplement lecture material.
Methodologie
You are expected to attend class and take notes. To facilitate learning, you
s
are expected keep up with weekly reading assignments and practice
 COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

application and critical thinking of course information through class activities

and homework assignments.
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L Grading Grading Scale

Scale,
Grading
Distribution, 95 100 4.0 A 77 79 2.3 C+
and Due 90 94 3.7 A- 73 76 2.0 C
87 89 3.3 B+ 70 72 1.7 C-
Dates
83 86 3.0 B 60 69 1.0 D
80 82 2.7 B- Less Than 0 F
60

Grading Distribution

Assessment Weight Due Date

Quizzes 10
Midterm I 25 March 15
Midterm II 25 April 17
Presentation 5
Final 30 May 14th
Attendance & Participation 5
Total 100%

Exams: Exams will consist of multiple choice, short answer questions and
M Explanation of
essay questions based on material from the lectures and readings. Exam
Assessments
questions will aim to assess course outcomes testing your knowledge of
important terms, and your ability to apply different concepts related to the
scientific method.

Exams must be taken on the scheduled date. No make-ups will be given

barring extenuating circumstances and accompanying documentation.
Make-up exams will be essay in nature.

Participation: You are expected to be an active and involved member of

this course. Your input is invaluable to the learning experience and it helps
me to ensure that you understand the course material throughout the
semester.
Your final grade will be based exclusively on these course components. No
extra-credit projects will be offered to supplement a final grade.

* Once posted, grades are final and will not be changed barring a
mathematical or clerical error. Grades will not be rounded up. For example,
72.49% represents (and will remain) the letter grade C- and not C. No
students, including graduating seniors, will be given special consideration.*

Attendance: Lectures are a required component of course. Attendance will

N Course
be taken at 2:00 and students arriving after attendance will be considered
Policies
late. Students who are late on 3 occasions will receive an additional
absence.
 COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Classroom Behavior: Students who choose to come to class are expected

to be respectful. Please do not talk to your fellow students during lecture
unless specifically instructed. Please do not close your notebooks or get up
to leave until the class has been dismissed. If, due to extenuating
circumstances, you arrive late, please enter the classroom silently. If you
need to step out of the classroom for any reason, please do so silently.

Technology in the Classroom: If you have your mobile phone with you in
the classroom, it must be switched off. Mobile phones must remain out of
view, and any phones that are used during class will be confiscated for the
class period. Any student in possession of a mobile phone during an exam
will be asked to leave the exam and will receive a grade of 0. Any student
using a laptop computer to check email or access the internet will be asked
to leave for the remainder of the class period.
 COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Class Schedule
Date
TOPIC READING Due Dates
s
Week Introduction to Geography Prologue
1
Week The Journey of Humans Around the World Chapter 1
2 and Modern Geographical Issues in the
World Today
Week Past SocietiesExamples from the South Chapters 2
3 Pacific Part I
Week Past SocietiesExamples from the South Chapter 3 Quiz, February 13
4 Pacific Part II
Week The New World Chapters 4 and 5
5
Week The Viking Example Chapter 6
6
Week The Viking Expansion Chapters 7 and 8
7
Week Opposite Paths to Success Chapter 9 Midterm 1 March 15
8
Week The Rwanda Example Chapter 10
9
Week Modern Examples in the Dominican Chapter 11 Quiz, March 29
10 Republic and Haiti

Spring Break

Week Modern ExamplesChina and Australia Chapters 12 and 13 Take home quiz due
11 April 13
Week Practical LessonsHow Societies Make Chapter 14 Midterm II April 17
12 Decisions
Week Practical LessonsBig Businesses and the Chapter 15
13 Environment
Week What Geography Can Tell Us About the Chapter 16 and
14 World Today Afterword

Week Review
15

Final ExamSunday, May 14th 8-10am