UMD at College Park - Geography Department
Instructor: Dr. Mila Zlatic
Phone: 301-405-8224
E-mail: mzlatic@umd.edu
Meets: MW 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm, LEF1124
Office Hours: MW – 1:00 - 2:00, or by
appointment
Office: LeFrak 1137
Population Geography – GEOG 335
Syllabus – Spring 2014
COURSE OBJECTIVE
To increase student awareness of local and global population change, to better understand the
influences that population growth and change have on our lives, and to better understand
population dimensions at various geographic scales. Basic concepts of population studies,
demographic perspectives, future trends, and population issues are discussed. We identify what
population events are occurring, why they are occurring, and haw we are coping with them.
What are we doing to shape the future of demographic events? We explain future trends in
population and discuss population projections are used by non-geographers. In addition to basic
concepts, demographic events occurring at various geographic scales, and future trends in
population, some attention is given to demographic analysis in social policy and political
planning.
Learning Outcomes:





Evaluate the importance of local and global population changes, assess how these
changes are impacted by population characteristics and processes, and what effect these
changes will have on future development
Examine the relationship that population growth and change have on daily life around the
world
Use basic concepts of population studies, demographic perspectives, future trends, and
population issues to compare population dimensions at various geographic scales
Independently analyze the causes of population events and evaluate proposed solutions
Predict future trends in population and discuss how population projections are used by
non-geographers
PREREQUISITE
Completed GEOG201 and GEOG202 or have permission by the Geographical Sciences
Department.
REQUIRED TEXT BOOK and SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS
Gary L. Peters and Robert P. Larkin. (last edition), Population Geography: Problems, Concepts
and Prospects. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co.
Web sources, articles and databases will be used to supplement the text book and will be
posted on Course site. Students are encouraged to post articles and other interesting
information on population they found during the course work on ELMS - discussion section.
REQUIREMENTS
Class meetings, required readings, timely submission three research assignments, attendance
and participation in class discussions, two midterms and a final exam. Students have to submit
all required written assignments on ELMS
PROJECT
From the list of countries provided by the instructor choose a country to work on throughout the
semester. The State cannot be changed throughout the semester – you have to work on the
same State for all three assignments – no exceptions.
GRADING
A grade will be based on three exams (150 points for the first two exams and 250 points for the
final exam), research assignments (150 points for each written assignment), and class
participation (120 points). PowerPoint presentation on the country result – Extra Credit (35
points). Participation consists of attendance and participation in discussions. Students are
required to come to class prepared to discuss daily readings and are expected to post their
assignments on time. There will be 10 percent (one grade) penalty for late posting of any
assignment. Students who do not appear in class to participate in discussions, do not give an
oral presentation, or do not take a test will be given a score of "0" for each segment of the
requirement. The final exam is cumulative. Final grade will be posted on TESTUDO 48 hours
after the last exam. No personal e-mail enquires will be honored.
Task
point
Grade
1. Attendance and participation in class
discussions
100
2. Three Research Assignments (150 each)
450
3. Two midterm Exams (150 percent each)
300
4. Final Exam cumulative
250
D (69.99 – 60 %)
1100
F (59.99 < %)
No rounding policy
A (90 – 100%)
B (89.99 – 80%)
Total
Extra Credit – PowerPoint Presentation highlights
from a country population development
C (79.99 – 70 %)
33
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS
If you have a documented disability, you should contact Disability Support Services 0126
Shoemaker Hall. Each semester students with documented disabilities should apply to DSS for
accommodation request forms which you can provide to your professors as proof of your
eligibility for accommodations. The rules for eligibility and the types of accommodations a
student
may
request
can
be
reviewed
on
the
DSS
web
site
at
http://www.counseling.umd.edu/DSS/receiving_serv.html.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
The University System of Maryland policy provides that students should not be penalized
because of observances of their religious beliefs, students shall be given an opportunity,
whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is
missed due to individual participation in religious observances. It is the responsibility of the
student to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in
advance. Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later than the end of the
schedule adjustment period.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The University of Maryland has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity,
administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at
Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. The code prohibits students from
cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses
without authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents, and forging
signatures. The University Senate encourages instructors to ask students to write the following
signed statement on each examination or assignment: "I pledge on my honor that I have not
given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (or assignment).”
For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please
visit http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html