Human Geography

Textbook: Human Geography, seventh edition, by Fellmann/Getis/Getis, McGraw Hill Publishers, 2003
You can purchase the book from University Center Bookstore.

Supplemental Materials: related on-line web pages and handouts

Description:

Ok, now you're one of the students sitting in the class. What do you expect to learn from this class? Let's explore the diversity of the this world, from United States to Russia, from Caribbean Ocean to Black Sea, from population to languages, from Buddhism to Shamanism, from African rural villages to Los Angeles downtown. This course is an introductory gate to the world of human being in different places and various time.
Spatially, geographical patterns shows you the wonderful and fantastic human imprints all over the world. As a student learning human geography, you will be rewarded the most wonderful knowledge of the human footprints.

Goals:

Students will be able to
1. Recognize, describe, and explain social institutions, structures, and processes and the complexities of a global culture and diverse society;
2. Think critically about how individuals are influenced by political, geographic, economic, cultural, and family institutions in their own and other diverse cultures and explain how one’s own belief system may differ from others;
3. Explore the relationship between the individual and society as it affects the personal behavior, social development and quality of life of the individual, the family and the community;
4. Examine the impact of behavioral and social scientific research on major contemporary issues and their disciplines’ effects on individuals and society;
5. Using appropriate principles, methods, and technologies, perceptively and objectively gather, analyze, and present social and behavioral science research data, draw logical conclusions, and apply those conclusions to one’s life and society.

Special Notes:

1. This course satisfies the Minimum General Education Requirement for a Social Science course.
2. Students with a disability requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS). An Accommodation Request (AR) should be completed as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the first week of the course. The ODS is located in the Roaden University Center, Room 112; phone 372-6119

Materials to be covered:

Assigned readings in textbook

Lecture

Assigned On-line materials

Topics to be covered:

Most of the topics in textbook plus internet assignments and additional supplementary material.

Teaching Methods

Lecture

Slides/Transparencies/video films

Web presentation

In-class discussion

Additional supplemental information from assigned readings

Written assignments

In-class demonstration

Teaching Philosophy

Students are the main focus in this class. I think each of you as an individual who want to learn the fundamentals of the physical geography. The knowledge is always there for you to fetch as long as you are willing to learn, think and act. I will help you to achieve your primary goal of attending this class, which is not only passing the exam, but also actually gaining the knowledge from the class.

Attendance Policy

Students are responsible for all assigned material. Class attendance is mandatory. You will miss your grade if you miss the class more than three times without proper excuses.

Exams/Grading Policies

There are three regular exams, plus one final exam. Materials for the exams will be drawn from lectures, films, web-presentation, and readings. Make-up exams require validated medical emergencies or other proper evidences. Students must contact me in advance or by the day of exam. If you fail to do so, your make-up exam score is only good for 60% of that exam.
There are three options in the final exam. You will have chance to take the first, second or both final exams. If you score higher enough (to your own satisfaction), you can skip the second final exam. If you think you can improve your grade by taking the second final exam, you are welcomed to do so. The higher grade from your two taken final exam will be your final exam grade.
Late Assignment will have 5% deduction per day.
Monkey score is not acceptable. This means you will have to do better than 30 points out of 100. According to the psychologists, monkeys can score somewhere between 25 and 30 out of 100. If your grade happen to be that low, you've got to do something to rescue you from being labeled as a species other than human being.. You can either drop this course, receive an F, or come to every class (this will improve your grade, definitely) from then on. I do give credits to students who eventually wake up from the African Sleeping Sickness syndrome.
Participation is one of the major factor in this class. I will always like to know who you are and your background in terms of cultural, geographical and humanity context. Joining discussion and say hello to me will always improve mutual understanding especially in a auditorium holding more than 100 students. I will definitely try my best to know your face and name.
Extra point projects may be provided to students who might have trouble passing this class. It is not designed to help students to get better grades than C.
You may be qualified for dropping the lowest grade from the first three exams. If you have not missed any class, you will be eligible for dropping the lowest grade from the first three exams.
The total quiz/attendance points will be normalized to have a maximum of 125 points.
I will treat you like a college student and you will be respected as a civilized human being. Any uncivilized behavior in the class is not allowed and will be reported to the university.

Grading: (subject to change)

Exam I 150 points

Exam II 150 points

Final Exam 200 points

Assignment, In-class quizzes, participation and attendance 125 points

Total 625 points

A > 530 points (=85%)

B > 468 points (=75%)

C > 375 points (= 60%)

D > 312 points (=50%)

F < 312 points

Schedule (subject to change)

Week	Date	No. of Classes	Chapter	Topic
1	6/2	1	1	Introduction
	6/3	1	2	Roots and Meaning of Culture
2	6/7	1	3	Spatial Interaction and Spatial Behavior
	6/8	1	3,4	Population
	6/9	1	4, exam	Population
Test 1	6/9	5	1-4	50-minute exan
2	6/10	1	5	Language and Religion
3	6/14	1	5	Language and Religion
	6/15	1	7	Folk and Popular Culture
	6/16	1	7	Folk and Popular Culture
Test 2	6/17	11	5,7	50-minute exam
4	6/21	3	8	Livelihood and Economoy (Chinese Calligraphy)
	6/22	3	8,9
	6/23	3	9	From Blue Collar to Gold Collar
	6/24	9	11	50-minute exam
5	6/28	2	11	Urban Systems and Urban Structure
	6/29	2	11	Urban Systems and Urban Structure
	6/30	3	13	Human Impacts on Natural Systems
Final Exam	7/1	2	13	Human Impacts on Natural Systems

*Schedule subject to change.

If you have problems viewing the Powerpoint files, you need to right-click on the files and use "Save Target As.." and open it from local computer, e.g. C drive
Non-photo version files contain only text and simple vectored graphics. The photos or figures mentioned in the lectures should have their links posted on this page. The Full-version slide are the files presented at the lecture. If your computers are not connected to high-speed internet (such as on campus connection, or cable at home), please do not attempt to read full-version slide shows. It will take a while to view the files. If you don't have Powerpoint on your computer, you can try to download pdf file (size dependent upon the scope of the file) and view it using acrobat reader.
This page will be updated constantly according to the progress of the lectures. You need to return to this page frequently to receive updated information.

Exam I	150 points
Exam II	150 points
Final Exam	200 points
Assignment, In-class quizzes, participation and attendance	125 points
Total	625 points
A	> 530 points (=85%)
B	> 468 points (=75%)
C	> 375 points (= 60%)
D	> 312 points (=50%)
F	< 312 points