Course credit
3 credit hours
Course description
Interaction between peoples and their environments. Spatial patterns and processes of population distribution, characteristics, and movement, human environmental impact, and economic activity.
Delivery
This course is available in a web-based format, utilizing web pages and WebCT, a computer conferencing program. WebCT requires Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.
Prerequisites
none
Instructor
Murray Austin, Professor Emeritus
Evaluation
7 essay assignments, 9 journal entries
Overview
This introductory human geography course focuses on the interrelationships among various forms of human spatial behavior and geography. Specifically it looks at and tries to understand the reasons behind various geographic patterns and the influence distance (and other spatial factors) has on human behavior and social processes. The course will help students better understand how society is influenced by the physical environment and in turn how human activities affect the physical environment. It will help students better understand the factors that influence the geographic distribution of population and the consequences of that distribution. It will help students better understand the influence of space (geography) on economic and political processes and activities. The course will also briefly explore the forces affecting settlement structures and patterns (including the processes of urbanization). In general, this course will help students understand our spatial world.
This course tries to encourage students to understand basic concepts and how they apply to the "real world." I do not want the simple regurgitating of memorized facts. To have students "make the material their own" and to help them "take ownership" of the ideas I rely on written work that emphasizes analysis and synthesis over the repeating of what they have read. This requires that the student read the lesson overviews, the textbook, and that they find other material to supplement those materials (from the bibliography, Web Resources, or other sources). It also requires that they think about the Study Questions, take the assignment of the personal journal seriously, and apply all of this to their essays.
Students are also encouraged to look around themselves to see how the ideas and concepts in the course play out in the "real world." If such field observations are done, they should be reported in the journal and used in responding to the essay questions.
In addition this course is designed to help students learn to think constructively and critically, to expand their analytic skills, to increase the base of general knowledge, and to be better prepared as responsible citizens better able to participate in public discourse and decisions.
Course organization
The course is divided into nine lessons where each lesson has an overview provided by the instructor that is intended to provide an introduction and a context for the reading of the text. Each lesson is outlined with several Study Questions. Each lesson requires the student to submit a Personal Journal entry, and some lessons provide a topic and require an essay assignment. Grades will be based on the seven essay assignments plus a personal journal. The journal is to help the student think about the material covered in the textbook and see how it relates to "the real world."
The first essay assignment should range in length from 4 to 5 pages (a page has typically 200 -250 words). All other essay assignments should range in length 8 to 12 pages. Essays should reflect the material in the text, the ideas included in the lesson overviews, your thoughts as expressed in your journal, and some evidence of other related materials, i.e., supporting maps, graphs, etc. In addition, you should cite references appropriately as needed.
Students are to keep a personal journal of thoughts related to the readings. The journal should contain five things:
Outline and
lesson plan
Lesson 1 Course Intro/Why Geography Matters
Essay 1 & Journal Entry 1
Lesson 2The Global Context
Journal Entry 2
Lesson 3The Environmental Context
Essay 2 & Journal Entry 3
Lesson 4 The Demographic Context
Journal Entry 4
Lesson 5 The Socio-cultural Context
Essay 3 & Journal Entry 5
Lesson 6 Geography and Economics
Essay 4 & Journal Entry 6
Lesson 7 Geography of Politics
Essay 5 & Journal Entry 7
Lesson 8 Geography of Settlement
Essay 6 & Journal Entry 8
Lesson 9 Geography of The Future
Essay 7 & Journal Entry 9
Grading
In all written work, the first requirement is that the assignment be done as described. In addition, your journal will be graded on the basis of the effort and thought that was put into it. Personal opinions (when expressed as such) will not count against the student, but opinions without argument and evidence are not worth much. The essays will be evaluated on content, organization, responsiveness to the topic, use of material from the text, and evidence of additional reading and research. If there are any questions concerning an assignment, contact the instructor. I will be glad to read a draft or an outline of an assignment BEFORE it is turned in for a grade and give some feedback for improvement (if needed).
| Assignment | Points |
| Essay 1 | 20 |
| Journal Entry 1 | 5 |
| Journal Entry 2 | 5 |
| Essay 2 | 30 |
| Journal Entry 3 | 10 |
| Journal Entry 4 | 10 |
| Essay 3 | 30 |
| Journal Entry 5 | 10 |
| Essay 4 | 30 |
| Journal Entry 6 | 15 |
| Essay 5 | 30 |
| Journal Entry 7 | 15 |
| Essay 6 | 30 |
| Journal Entry 8 | 15 |
| Essay 7 | 30 |
| Journal Entry 9 | 15 |
| Total | 300 |
The grade distribution is as follows:
Textbook(s)
Knox, P. & S. Marston (2001), Human Geography. (2nd Edition), Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall.
Texts are available from the vendor of your choice or
University Book and Supply
1009 West 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-7581 or 800-728-7581
Fax: 319-277-1266
E-mail: bookstore@panthersupply.com
To enroll
ONLINE
GIS enrollment information
IN PERSON
UNI Continuing Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)
For more information
Cindy Klodt, Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
ContinuingEd@uni.edu