Human geography 1 – Erasmus students
Credits (ECTS): 7
Teachers: assoc.prof. Dejan Rebernik (dejan.rebernik@guest.arnes.si), assoc.prof. Jernej
Zupančič (jernej.zupancic@ff.uni-lj.si), doc.dr. Marko Krevs (marko.krevs@ff.uni-lj.si),
Assistant: Mojca Ilc Klun (Mojca.Ilc@ff.uni-lj.si).
Regularly carried out in winter semester; but due to the way of implementation of the course
for Erasmus students explained below it may be carried out also in summer semester.
Form of the implementation of the course adapted for the Erasmus students (because the
regular course is implemented in Slovenian language only):
- individual study using the selected literature;
- fieldwork (if carried out during your Erasmus exchange);
- consultations with the professors and assistant;
- delivery of a project report, following the guidelines given by the professors.
The quantity and the quality of students work should be on a comparable level related to the
regular students.
Marking: using the scale 1-10 (positive 6-10); mark is given for the written report about the
realized activities (individual study and the project) and the oral presentation / »defence« of
the report in the class or to the teacher(s) (depending on the time of completing the report).
Main topics of the course:
- selected themes in geography of population;
- selected themes in geography of settlements;
- selected themes in social and cultural geography;
- individual research project / paper related to topics learned within the course.
The written report which is the main basis for marking and crediting the course should prove
the activities and adequately present the level of required knowledge and skills. The report
should have the following basic structure:
- first page: information about the student, the course, the professors and assistant, time of
delivery of the report;
- second page: Contents;
- third page: Introduction – brief description of the report (based on these guidelines and
the tasks completed);
- Report on the individual study of the selected literature, sources and tools: see the list of
main terms and the proposed literature below;
o Geography of population;
o Geography of settlements;
o Social and cultural geography.
- Brief report on the use of the internet tool Gapminder
(http://graphs.gapminder.org/world/) to compare the changes in relation between the
economic development (GDP per capita), life expectancy and total fertility; write a short
"report" (include the graphs from Gapminder) about your observations in general (all
world countries), and then specifically for your country, Slovenia, Botswana, China and
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two countries selected by you; how would you explain the specifical processes in the two
countries you selected? (1-2 pages)
Do a short study of a selected topic / research problem in one selected country, and report
about it (1-2 pages). Select a country (maybe your own, or Slovenia) as a study case, and
ONE topic you wish to analyse within the selected country. The topic (“research
problem”) should be related at least to one of the three areas of human geography within
this course (you can pick your topic from the lists of topics in detailed guidelines below).
Your brief report about this study should contain: clear definition of topic (study
question), method of your analysis (how you get the answers to your study question), data
source(s), the analysis, your personal interpretation of the results.
Conclusion: personal reflections about your study project focus, and about the course;
what did you learn and where do you think it will be useful for your study / professional
career?
References: exact referencing of sources and literature used for the study and for the
report.
Please write ONE report for your whole work, with a clear structure of the contents, and with
all relevant general information (about you, the university/department and teachers, the
course, time of your activity related to the course).
Detailed guidelines for study of literature and reporting:
For geography of population (3-4 pages):
1. Study and report on the following topics: main population trends in the world,
measuring demographic characteristics and processes (explain main indicators),
demographic transition, migrations and factors of migrations, policy responses to
demographic problems.
2. Use relevant chapters in the following literature:
- H.J. de Blij, A.B. Murphy: Human Geography
- Jones, H., 1990: Population Geography
- D. Josipovic, Slovenia - a geographical overview, 2004. Write a short summary on
population development of Slovenia (max 1 page).
For geography of settlements (5-6 pages):
1. Study and report on the following topics: Nomadism, Differentiating rural and urban
settlements, Functions of rural settlements, Dispersed rural settlements, Nucleated
rural settlements, Land division systems, Agrarian reform, Round village, Linear
(road) village, Cluster village, Star village, American village, Urban settlement,
Definitions and criteria of urban , Metropolitain Statistical Area, Conurbantion, Site
and situation of urban centres, Origin of urban settlements, Hearst of earliest human
civilisation, Greek and Roman cities, Moslem cities, Medieval european cities,
Colonisation and urban development, Industrial revolution, Urban growth in USA,
Urban Growth in Less Developed World, Suburbanisation, Urban Hierarchy, Rank
Size Rule, Urbanisation, Urban functions, Basic and Nonbasic Functions, Central
Place Theory, Internal Arrangement of Cities, Central Business District, Concentric
Zone Model, Sector Model, Multiple Nuclei Model.
2. Use relevant chapters in the following literature: Human Geography – People,
Cultures and Landscapes, Nelson, Gabler, Vining, 195, str. 448 – 466 in 482 – 525.
For social and cultural geography (3-5 pages including references, excluding eventual tables
and figures):
1. Study and report on the following topics: language as social & spatial phenomenon;
spatial distribution of language groups; races: concepts of understanding races in
contemporary societies; racial problems; religion as spatial phenomenon / factor;
mapping of language, ethnicity, races, religion.
2. Use relevant chapters in the following literature:
- Agnew John, Livingstone David, Rogers Alisdair, 1996, Human Geography,
Blackwell Publishers, London
- De Blij Harm, 1993, Human Geography. Culture, Society and Space, fourth
Edition, NY, Chicester, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore
- Bradford Michael, Kent Ashley, 1994, Understanding Human Geography. People
and their changing environment, Oxford University Presss, Oxford
- Daniels, P., Bradshaw M., Shaw D., Sidaway J. , 2011, Human Geography : Issues
for the 21th Century,
- Hoggart Keith, Lees Loretta, Davies Anna, 2002, Researching Human Geography,
Arnold, London
- Goodwin Mark, Cloke Paul, Crang Philip, 2005, Introducing Human Geography,
Arnold, London
Fieldwork: you should contact the assistant about your eventual participation in the fieldwork
within this course.
Delivery and marking:
- Before the final delivery use the possibility of consultations during the office hours;
- Final delivery in digital form by e-mail to all professors; keep in mind that professors will
need in average 2-3 weeks for reading and marking;
- Oral defence of the report might be required before the final marking;
- The mark is given on the basis of the final report;
o in case of negative mark you get opportunity to improve the report, but in that
case the mark can only be 6 when the improvements are carried out;
o in case you wish to achieve a higher mark, professors decide how you defend your
project (in a seminar or to at least one of the professors – depending on when you
will finish the project).