Geoscience 111: CULTURES and REGIONS
CLASS SYLLABUS: Spring 2004
Course No.000544, 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. TR, Library 103
Instructor: Dr. Paul R. Sando, Lommen 90, phone 477-2241.
Office Hours: MTWRF 11 to noon, MW 1 to 3 pm, or by appointment.
Email: psando@mnstate.edu
Texts: Required: Jordan-Bychkov and Domosh, The Human Mosaic, 9th Ed.
Strongly Recommended: Goodes World Atlas, 20th Ed. (or similar world atlas)
Readings will be assigned based on the course schedule and class progress.
Geoscience 111 will introduce the foundations for studying the development of cultures and
cultural diversity in the world, introduce the foundation concepts of Regional Geography, and study
the interrelation between cultures, regions, their environments, and human activities. The
objectives of this course include developing a framework of basic concepts and theories, studying
interdependence and interrelationships in global cultures and regions and having students develop
their own methodology for analyzing the world based upon the concepts learned.
Evaluation of these goals includes; three exams given during the term, five quizzes, and two
written projects. Each exam may include map questions and written definitions along with
multiple-choice questions. The instructor reserves the right to give drop quizzes if attendance
becomes poor. Appointments for make-up exams may be made if the instructor is notified in
advance of a necessary absence or in cases of an extremely good excuse. Drop quizzes cannot be
made up.
Tentative Exam Dates; Feb. 5, March. 9, and the Final on May 12 at 9 am.
Grades:
1st Exam-55 pts, 2nd Exam-55 pts, Final Exam- 70 pts, 5 Quizzes (10 pts each)- 50
pts, Writing Project abstract-15 pts, Writing Project -50 pts, for a total of 295 points.
Only the class grade will be curved and only as necessary. The instructor also reserves the right
to assign extra credit. The grading scale is based on straight percentage of total points.
A - 90 to 100%; B - 80 to 89%; C - 70 to 79%; D - 60 to 69%; F- below 60%
Student Requirements
1. Attendance policy: Class attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended (There
exists a distinct statistical correlation between attendance and success). The student is
expected to attend class. It is your responsibility. If the student misses a class it is his or her
responsibility to see the instructor and get missed assignments or get the notes from a classmate.
If you must leave class early, for whatever reason, I ask the courtesy of being told beforehand
and that you sit in such a location as to cause a minimal disruption of class as you leave.
2. The student is expected to read the text material. I do not lecture from the text alone, so it is
your responsibility to read and make sure you understand the text. (Hint: Ask me questions if
you don't understand.) It is nearly impossible to do well without good notes.
3. Make-ups: The student is expected to take all exams and quizzes. If you expect to make-up an
exam or quiz, I need to know the reason for the absence in advance. If it is an emergency on test
day, email, or call and leave a message, and be ready to present your excuse at the next class
period. Make-ups of exams or quizzes must be completed within one-week of your return to
class. If you should have a problem, please see me. I can be flexible if circumstances require.
4. Writing Projects: The students will be expected to complete two writing projects.
The first project shall consist of at least three, double-spaced pages of text (one
inch margins all around), possibly one map, and any other relevant tables or
graphics. The second project will be a continuation and expansion upon the first
project, and will consist of at least an additional six text pages and other relevant
additions. In other words, the first project (15 pts) is designed to be the
ABSTRACT for the second project (worth 50 pts). The topic must be something
relating to Cultural-Regional Geography and must be approved prior to writing by
the instructor. Otherwise, the topic is up to the student's discretion. Instructor's
approval is necessary in order to avoid doubling up on a subject, to address or
avoid problems early on before the writing begins, and to allow the student a good
chance of finding reference materials. The instructor will be available to help
students locate and secure references if needed. You must have a minimum of
FIVE references (though better papers will have more). It is expected that the
student will communicate well and will present a decently edited paper.
References should be cited within the text according to any major accepted format
and should also be listed in a bibliography. The abstracts are due Feb. 12 with the
whole project due on April 15. Please feel free to use the assistance of the Write
Site for help with your paper.
6. Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class
to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-2652 (phone)
or 477-2047 (TTY), CMU 222 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations
are implemented in a timely fashion.
7. Finally, this is a university course, and you are expected to conduct yourselves as proper
scholars. The University's policies concerning any academic dishonesty are listed in your student
handbook. Plagiarism is using someone else’s work as your own without citing that person as a
reference. Be sure you cite references well. Ask if you have questions, please! I also refer you
to the university’s academic honesty policy at:
http://web.mnstate.edu/sthandbook/POLICY/index.htm
Topics
A. Introduction
1. Cultural Regions
2. Cultural Diffusion
3. Cultural Ecology
4. Cultural Integration
5. Cultural Landscape
Readings
Ch. 1
B. Popular/Folk Culture
1. Regions And Diffusion
2. Ecology And Landscape
3. Integration
C. Folk Culture/Landscapes
1. House Types
2. Agricultural Patterns
Ch. 2
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT-----NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA
D. Demographics
Ch. 7
1. Regional Demographics
2. Diffusion & Migration
3. Patterns
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT-----CHINA/SE ASIA
E. Languages And Dialects
1. Families And Subfamilies
2. Minority Languages
3. Americanese & Dialects
F. Ethnic Geography
1. Rural Folk Context
2. Popular Urban Context
G. Religion/Denominations
1. Ethnic Religions
2. Universal Religions
3. Denominations
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 3
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT----MIDDLE EAST/N.AFRICA
H. Political Geography
Ch. 6
1. Political Culture, diffusion, and division
2. Heartland/Rimland and other political ecology
3. Interaction and political landscape
I.An introduction to Economic Geography
(via Cultures and Regions)
1. Agriculture of the world
Ch. 8
2. Industrialization
Ch. 9
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT----- EUROPE/RUSSIA
J. Urban Regions
1. Cityscapes In Geography
1. Internal Urban Structure
2. Popular Architecture
REGIONAL STUDY UNIT------JAPAN/PACIFIC RIM
Ch. 10
Ch. 11