TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING 2014
GEOG 1043 303
INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
INSTRUCTOR: Emily Whitney
Email: Emily.Whitney@tulsacc.edu
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
1. Human Geography: People Place, and Culture 10th ed. Fourberg, Murphy de Blij
2. College Atlas
3. Wiley Plus Access Code
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
An Introduction to the basic concepts associated with people and their relationships to their physical
and cultural environment; with an emphasis on social, economic and political. Lecture 3 hrs
EVALUATION TECHNIQUES:
1. There will be seven 15 point quizzes over assigned reading and maps. The locations that
students will be required to identify on the map will be handed out at the beginning of each
unit. These quizzes will be given only during class time and CANNOT be made up if absent. The
lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the semester. If a student is able to maintain an
12 or above on ALL quizzes, the one lowest quiz score will become extra credit.
2. There will be 7 assignments various assignments each worth 30 points. The due date for each
assignment can be seen under the class schedule as well as on blackboard. In addition, there will
7 prep test assignments available on Wiley each worth 10 points. Prep Tests are completed on
Wiley by the assigned due date.
3. There will be various discussions each class period. Discussions will consist of “thinking
questions” and current event articles. Students are required to participate in each discussion. A
total of 100 points will be given for discussion.
4. Individual Projects will be worth 200 points. Each student will present one of the 6 topics
discussed in class. Student projects will be graded accordingly: 100 points content; 50 points
presentation; and 50 points creativity. You need to take notes when other students are
presenting because the final exam will contain questions over ALL presentations.
5. There will be 6 exams during the semester. All exams will have a point value of 50 points per
exam. Each exam will include chapter material and discussion topics. Final exam will have a
point value of 100 point and will include chapter material and cover all student projects. You
will need to purchase scantrons for these tests.
Point Breakdown:
Exams: 400
Quizzes: 105
Discussion: 100
Individual Projects: 200
Assignments: 280
The total points possible: 1015 points
BLACKBOARD:
Blackboard will be used to post announcements, assignments, and grades. You will also be allowed to
submit your assignments on blackboard. Please be sure to check blackboard every week.
GRADING CRITERIA:
Grades are based on the percentage of total points earned. The criteria for student achievement are
follows:
A: 90 – 100
B: 80 – 89
C: 70 – 79
D: 60 – 69
F: 0 – 59
Cheating (copying or plagiarism) will result in an automatic zero on that particular assignment.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
You will be expected to be present and on time for each class. If you are absent, it will be your
responsibility to contact the instructor concerning your absence and for obtaining information that was
presented in class.
Late Assignments and Make-Up Policy:
No assignment will be accepted for grading after the date and time it is due unless the student has
contacted the instructor 24 hours previous to the due date and time and has been given approved
extension.
TESTS MAY BE TAKEN ONLY BEFORE OR ON THE SCHEDULED DATE AND TIME.
If a personal or physical emergency prevents a student from turning in an assignment, the student
should contact the instructor as soon as possible for an emergency extension.
If a student’s grade is borderline, their conscientiousness towards the requirements of this class will be
given consideration.
CLASS CANCELLATION:
Any class cancellation will be posted on Blackboard.
CELL PHONE POLICY:
Out of respect for the other students in class, please turn off ALL cell phones during class time.
COURSE WITHDRAWAL:
The deadline to withdraw from a course shall not exceed ¾ the duration of any class. Contact the
Counseling Office at any TCC campus to initiate withdrawal from a course (‘W’ grade) or to change from
Credit to Audit. Check the TCC Academic Calendar for deadlines. Students who stop participating in the
course and fail to withdraw may receive a course grade of “F,” which may have financial aid
consequences for the student.
COMMUNICATIONS:
a. Email communications: All TCC students receive a designated email address
(ex:firstname.lastname@tulsacc.edu). All communications to you about TCC and course
assignments will be sent to your TCC email address; and you must use TCC email to send email
to, and receive email from, the instructor regarding this course. Email is my preferred method of
contact. I am not always in my office but I am online most of the time. I will respond to email
within 48 hours of receiving it. I do not respond to email during specified college holidays.
Emails sent during a holiday will be replied to once the college reopens for business.
b. Inclement Weather: TCC rarely closes. If extreme weather conditions or emergency situations
arise, TCC always gives cancellation notices to radio and television stations. This information is
also posted on TCC website (www.tulsacc.edu).
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:
General Education courses at TCC ensure that our graduates gain skills, knowledge, and abilities that
comprise a common foundation for their higher education and a backdrop for their work and personal
lives. TCC’s General Education goals are: Critical Thinking, effective Communication, Engaged Learning,
and Technological Proficiency.
STUDENT WITH DISABILITIES:
TCC provides accommodations for qualifying students in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act. For information, students may contact the disabled Student Resource Center, 918-595-7115, or the
Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 918-595-7428V, 918-595-7434TTY.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not condoned or tolerated at campuses within the Tulsa
Community College system. Academic dishonesty (cheating) is defined as the deception of others about
one’s o wn work or about the work of another. Tulsa Community College adopts a policy delegating
certain forms of authority for disciplinary action to the faculty. Such disciplinary actions delegated to the
faculty include, but are not limited to, the dismissal of disrespectful or disorderly students from classes.
In the case of academic dishonesty a faculty member may:

Require the student to redo an assignment or test, or require the student to complete a
substitute assignment or test;
 Record a "zero" for the assignment or test in question;
 Recommend to the student that the student withdraw from the class, or administratively
withdraw the student from the class;
 Record a grade of "F" for the student at the end of the semester. Faculty may request that
disciplinary action be taken against a student at the administrative level by submitting such
a request to the Dean of Student Services.
Plagiarism is a specific type of academic dishonesty. It is claiming, indicating, or implying that the ideas,
sentences, or words of another are your own; it includes having another person do work claimed to be
your own, copying the work of another and presenting it as your own , or following the work of another
as a guide to ideas and expressions that are then presented as your own.
Cheating, violating the integrity of examinations, or plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course and
will be punished in accordance with the Student Code of Responsibility and Conduct for Tulsa
Community College. You may read the Student Policies and Resources Handbook at
http://www.tulsacc.edu/student-services/student-code-conduct.
Remember that open and mutually respectful communication of varied opinions, beliefs, and
perspectives during classroom or online discussion encourages the free exchange of ideas that is
essential to higher learning and to the ability to learn from each other.
Faculty may request that disciplinary action be taken against a student at the administrative level by
submitting such request to the Dean of Student Services.
INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT:
Each student is responsible for being aware of the information contained in the TCC Catalog, the TCC
Student Policies and Resources Handbook, and semester information listed in the class schedule. All
information may be viewed on the TCC website: www.tulsacc.edu
Smoke Free: Tulsa Community College grounds are smoke free.
THE POLICIES AND STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE ALTERED, ADDED TO, OR
DELETED AT ANY TIME BY THE INSTRUCTOR. NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES WILL BE BY E-MAIL AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS ON BLACKBOARD.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Week
1
2
Dates
1/14
1/20
Reading
Discussion
Assignment
Assignments
Presentations
Introduction
Ch. 1
Thinking
question
1/16
Introduction
assignment and
prep test
1/23
Teacher
Introduction
Ch. 1
Current
events
1/21
Ch. 2
Thinking
question
1/28
Topics
3
1/27
Population
4
2/3
Population
Ch. 2
Population
assignment and
prep test
2/6
Current
events
2/4
5
2/10
Migration
Ch. 3
Thinking
Question
2/11
6
2/17
Migration
Ch. 3
Current
events
2/18
Migration
assignment and
prep test
2/20
Language
Assignment and
prep test
3/6
Teacher
Quiz 1 Introduction
Map and Chapter
1/23
Teacher
Test 1
Introduction
1/30
Student
Population
2/4 & 2/6
Quiz 2 Population
Map and Chapter
2/6
Teacher
Test 2 Population
2/13
Student
Migration
2/18 & 2/20
Quiz 3 Migration
Map and Chapter
2/20
Teacher
Test 3 Migration
2/27
7
2/24
Language
Ch. 6
Current
events
2/25
8
3/3
Language
Ch. 6
Thinking
question
3/4
Student
Language
3/4 & 3/6
Current
events
3/11
Video
Extra Credit
3/13
9
3/10
10
3/17
Language
Spring break
Ch. 6
Test / Quizzes
Quiz 4 Language
Map and Chapter
3/6
Test 4 Language
3/11
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
3/24
Religion
Ch. 7
Thinking
Question
3/25
Religion
Ch. 7
Current
Events
4/1
Urbanization
Ch. 9
Thinking
Question
4/8
Urbanization
Ch. 9
Current
events
4/16
Agriculture
Ch. 11
Thinking
Question
4/22
Agriculture
Ch. 11
Current
events
4/29
3/31
4/7
4/14
4/21
4/28
5/5
Religion
Assignment and
prep test
4/3
Urbanization
Assignment and
prep test
4/17
Agriculture
Assignment and
prep test
4/29
Teacher
Student
Religion
4/1 & 4/3
Quiz 5 Religion
Map and Chapter
4/3
Teacher
Test 5 Religion
4/10
Student
Urbanization
4/16 & 4/18
Quiz 6 Urbanization
Map and Chapter
4/16
Teacher
Student
Presentations
4/29 & 5/1
Test 6
Urbanization
4/24
Quiz 7 Agriculture
Map and Chapter
4/29
Final Exam
Final Exam
Agriculture and
Student
Presentations
THE POLICIES AND STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE ALTERED, ADDED TO, OR
DELETED AT ANY TIME BY THE INSTRUCTOR. NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES WILL BE BY E-MAIL AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS ON BLACKBOARD.