University of Education, Winneba
Department of Geography Education
Course Code/Title: GPY 363: Population and Development
Second Semester
Level: 300
3 credit hours
Course Description
Building on the concepts and issues introduced during GPY 355 Population Studies last
semester, this course will look at population in terms of its relationship with social and
economic change. The discussions will centre on the population- resources- environmentdevelopment relationships. It will also examine issues like Population and Health
(reproductive health and the HIV-AIDS epidemic). The discussions will focus on Africa and
the developing world in general although references will be made to what pertains in the
developed world.
Topics
A. Introduction of concepts- Population and Development
Required readings:
1. Weeks, J. R. (1999). Population: An introduction to concepts and issues. Belmont:
Wadsworth, pp.
2. Aryeetey-Atto, S. 2003. Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa. 2nd .Edition. Prentice
Hall. New Jersey, pp. 193-201
B. Population and Resource Utilization
Required readings
1. Jones, G. and Hollier, G. (1997). Resources, Society and Environmental Management.
London: Paul Chapman Publication
2. Commission on Environment (1987). Our common future: A report of the
Commission on Environment. Oxford: Oxford University Press
C. Population and Environment
Required readings
1. Miller, J. T. (1994). Living in the environment, 8th ed. Belmont, California:
Wadsworth Publishing Company
2. Commission on Environment (1987). Our common future: A report of the
Commission on Environment. Oxford: Oxford University Press
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3. Getis, A., Getis, J. and Fellamann, J. D. (1998). Introduction to geography (6th ed).
Boston: WCB McGraw-Hill, pp. 143-185
4. Weeks, J. R. (1999). Population: An introduction to concepts and issues. Belmont:
Wadsworth, pp. 464-482
5. Fouberg, E. H.., Murphy, A. B. and Blij, H. J. (2012). Human geography: People, place
and culture (10th ed). USA: John Wiley and Sons Inc., pp. 452-458
D. Population and Health (Reproductive health and HIV AIDS)
Required readings
1. Kibirige, J. S. (2002). Population growth, poverty and health. Population and Society:
Essential Readings. Ontario: Oxford University Press, pp. 72-88
2. Caldwell, J. (2000). Rethinking the African AIDS epidemic. Population and
Development Review, 26(1), pp. 673-705
3. Rubenstein, J. M. (2011). The cultural landscape: An introduction to Human
Geogrpahy (11th Ed.). USA: Pearson, pp. 64-74
E. Population, Gender and Development
Required readings
1. MacIintosh, A. and Finkle, J. (1995). The Cairo Conference on Population and
Development: A new paradigm? Population and Development Review, 21(20), pp.
223-260
2. Dasgupta, P. and Logan, B. (2004). Is overpopulation a major cause of poverty in
Africa? Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial African Issues. Dushkin:
McGraw-Hill, pp. 220-243
F. Population Policies and Programmes
Required readings
1. Weeks, J. R. (1999). Population: An introduction to concepts and issues. Belmont:
Wadsworth, pp. 487-534
2. Rubenstein, J. M. (2011). The cultural landscape: An introduction to Human
Geogrpahy (11th Ed.). USA: Pearson, pp. 63-64
3. Fouberg, E. H.., Murphy, A. B. and Blij, H. J. (2012). Human geography: People, place
and culture (10th ed). USA: John Wiley and Sons Inc., pp. 72-76
Course Assessment
Students will be assessed or evaluated as follows:

Quiz: 20 marks

Class attendance and participation: 5 marks
2

Group presentation: topics will be assigned each group to research on and do a
presentation of the findings in class- 15 marks

End of semester examination: 60 marks
Lecturer: E. F. Sam
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