Section 1: 11:00-12:15 am TR NURS 108

Section 2: 9:00-9:50 am MWF CH 364

Course Description

GEOG 151 is a basic course in human geography. It may be used to satisfy one-third of the credits needed for the social science component of the University of North Dakota's general education requirements plus meets its world cultures criteria. While it is listed as one of the 100-level classes required of geography majors, it has been designed specifically to foster a non-geography major's interest and understanding about the role of people in shaping the cultural landscape over time. The viewpoint utilized is geographic, so the orientation of this course is on the spatial dimensions of human activities. Special emphasis is given to comparing global, regional, and local cultural landscape with respect to issues of population, migration, language, religion, political systems, economic systems, settlement patterns, land use planning, and global interdependency.

Because GEOG 151 is endorsed as general education requirements type of course, all enrolled students are expected to engage in writing across the curriculum activities, to utilize a variety of transdisciplinary abilities and skills, and to become adept in describing, analyzing, and evaluating the cultural landscape from a geographic framework. Students are encouraged to recognize the connections between this course and related social science disciplines such as anthropology, economics, history, sociology and psychology. Also to be noted is the international dimension of this course.

The course is geared mainly to first-year and second-year undergraduates. Consequently, a mix of teaching strategies and evaluation instruments are utilized that go beyond a standard format of lecture with testing consisting of a mid-term exam and a final exam. Students will be encouraged to participate in classroom discussions and to become more involved in their education as adult learners. Whenever a student has a question about this course, the student should ask that question in class, and if appropriate, meet with the instructor, too.

Course Schedule (Subject to change when necessary but with appropriate notice given to students)
 

TOPIC	SEC. 1	SEC 2
Overview to the course and introducing the Geographer's way	Tue. 05 Jan.
Assignment: Preview both the text and the atlas.
Fundamental geographic concepts and spatial perspective.  Text, pp. 1-29; Atlas, pp. 4-5, 8, 10 & 24-25	Thu. 07 Jan.
Note: Each reading should be completed before class for you to best deal with lectures
Key themes in human geography.  Text, pp. 31-62; Atlas, pp. 4-5, 10-11, and 14-25  Out of Class Assignment: Short Answer essay 1	Tue. 12 Jan.
Note: Assignments turned in late without the instructor's permission will be docked points.
Investigating human activities using the spatial perspective  Text, pp. 63-94	Thu. 14 Jan.
Note: In-class assignments missed without an approved excuse may not be made up!!
Martin Luther King Holiday            Mon. 18 Jan.
Population geography and global change issues  Text, pp. 97-135; Atlas, pp. 4-5, 16-26, and 30-31	19-21 Jan.
Traditions in exploring geography of language  Text, pp. 137-161; Atlas, pp.17, and 24-28	26-28 Jan.
Traditions in exploring the geography of religion  Text, pp. 161-184; Atlas, pp.4-5	Tue. 02 Feb.  In-class assigment 2:   Special showings of Maryknollers videos
Arabic and Islam: case study of the diffusion of language and religion	Thu. 04 Feb.  Review pages assigned for 26 Jan.-02 Feb.
Discovering unity in diversity: Geography of ethnicity  Text, 185-222; Atlas, pp.10-19	Tue. 09 Feb.  Out-of-Class Assignment: Short Answer Essay 2  (Due: 18 Feb.)
Special Presentation on Migration Case Studies	Thu. 11 Feb.  Review pages assigned 09 Feb.  Take Home Exam 1 due
Folk Culture and Popular Culture  Text: pp. 223-262	Tue. 16 Feb.  Internet Website Ass.1 due
Pop Goes the Cultural Landscape   Select a weekly news magazine to critique  Note:  You are to retain a photocophy of your work to be used later in class.	Thu.  18 Feb.  Fast Food Project Due
Spatial Dimensions of Assessing Primary Economic Activities  Text:  pp. 262-307; Atlas, pp. 4-5	23-25 Feb.
A Geographic Perspective on Secondary Economic Activities  Text: pp.262-307; Atlas: pp. 4-5	02-04 Mar.  Internet Assignment 2 (Due 16 March)
Week of 08-12 March :   SPRING BREAK --  NO CLASSES!!
Development in a Spatial Context  Text: pp. 349-389; Atlas, pp.10-12 and 20-29	16-18 Marc
Introducing the Urban Cultural Landscape  Text: pp. 391-410; Atlas: pp.4-5	Tue. 23 Mar.
Central Place Hierarchy   Text, pp. 410-413; Atlas, pp. 6-8	Thu. 25 Mar
Models of Urban Spatial Morphology: North American Case Studies  Text: pp. 414-442	Tue. 30 Mar.  Take Home Exam 2 Due
Models of Urban Spatial Morphology: Non-North American Examples	Thu. 01 Apr.   Review Readings for 30 Mar.  In-class Assign.3: Special Showing of Islamic City  Short Answer Essay 3 (Due 08 Apr.)
Basics of Traditional Political Geography  Text: pp.443-474; Atlas: pp. 6-8	06-08 Apr.
Political Geography Case Studies or How to Gerrymander for Fun and Profit in Electoral Geography  Text: pp.474-484; Atlas: pp.6-8	13-15 Apr.  In-class Assignment 4: Electoral Geography Exercise
World-Wide Dimensions of Global Change  Text: pp. 485-526; Atlas: pp.4-5 and 28-31	20-22 Apr.
Geography of Tourism: Global Change Issues in Microcosm  Handouts on Reserve at the Chester Fritz Library	Tue. 27 Apr.  In-Class Assignment 5: Classification of Tourist Destinations
Conclusion to the Course  Skim all the text !!	Thu. 29 Apr.  Small Group and Classwide Discussion of Short Answer essay 3.

 

Faculty Member's Expectations

You are an adult learner. Therefore, your instructor expects you to behave in a manner that is appropriate to being a member of the academic community of the University of North Dakota and follow current Code of Student Life and the UND 1997-99 Undergraduate Catalog.

Please remember that I cannot make you learn. Indeed the official campus policy is that attendance in lecture sections is not mandatory. Yet it is useful to be coming to class and to ba an active participant if you are to maximize your potential as student GEOG 151. Remember as well, please, that the textbook and atlas only are springboards to academic exploration in the selected topics of human geography. If you are having an academic difficulty with this course, please inform me. Students always are encouraged to speak to me. Perhaps you simply need a bit of tutoring, some constructive criticisms from the Writing Clinic, or to seek assistance from Learning Services to improve your reading or studying skills. Your professor's goal is not to flunk you but help you become a better UND student who is going to be a lifelong learner. Consequently, grading is not an end but means to an end. It is a way to reward you for what you have learned over the semester.

Grading

Simply by faithfully attending class and attempting to complete all the assignments is worth at least a "D" or above. Still, there is reason that so many "B" and "A" grades are received as the final course mark by majority of students in GEOG 151. What you do in GEOG 151 for graded activities are items designed to emphasize how well you have accomplished the learning for the various tasks. Avoid being sloppy in your thinking anb implementation of projects such as the Fast Food Project and the Migration Project. Take an appropriate amount of time when dealing with Short Answer Essays; be focused upon what is being asked. Read directions carefully when taking any multiple-choice style exams and pay attention in lecture--Dr. Munski is notorious for absent-mindedly giving you clues to quiz and exam questions. Most importantly, he tells you about what he looks for in terms of "A" level quality.

Below are the tasks which will be for this semester; you should monitor your scores.
 

Item	Point Value	Your Score
Internet Website Task 1	15
Internet Website Task 2	15
In-class Assignment 1	05
In-class Assignment 2	10
In-class Assignment 3	05
In-class Assignment 4	10
In-class Assignment 5	05
Short Answer Essay 1	20
Short Answer Essay 2	20
Short Answer Essay 3	20
Fast Food Project	25
Exam 1 (Take Home)	50
Exam 2 (Take Home)	50
Final Exam (Take Home)	50

 

Grading Scale: A=96% B=83-95% C=70-82% D=60-69% F=59% and below