GEOG 403-01
GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE
Spring 2016
Tuesday, Thursday 2:00-3:15 pm; G02 Chichester
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Webpage:
Office Hours:
Dr. David S. Hardin
205D Chichester
434-395-2581
hardinds@longwood.edu
http://www.longwood.edu/staff/hardinds/dh.htm
1:00-3:00 Monday and Wednesday and by appointment
Course Description
Regional analysis of peninsular, western, central Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.
My Expectations
This course approaches Europe from a regional perspective. After a few lectures on overall patterns
of physiography, climate, culture, and economies, we will explore the various subregions of Europe.
The astute student will notice that my strengths lie in geomorphology, biogeography, and
cultural/historical geography, so those will tend to be the areas on which I will focus. As an historical
geographer, I tend to focus on origins and historical processes of change that get us where we are
today; history and anthropology majors should feel right at home. I expect you to listen during
lectures, take comprehensive notes, review those notes each day and as the semester progresses,
and obtain and read any supplemental materials. You will be given a great deal of information. I
expect you not only to master it as it comes along but also to retain what you have learned. If you
heed my expectations and the other advice you will receive (see "How to Survive a Hardin
Course" and "Classroom Etiquette Illustrated"), you not only should do well in this course but enjoy it
too.
Required Material
Textbook: Blouet, Brian W. The EU & Neighbors: A Geography of Euroe in the Modern World.
Second Edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2012. ISBN: 9780470943403

All lectures and other materials may be found in Canvas and on the course index
page: http://www.longwood.edu/staff/hardinds/Courses/Europe/Index.htm
Grading
Three class tests
Term Paper
Final Exam
100 points each (20% each)
100 points (20%)
100 points (20%)
Total 500 points
Final grades will be based on the total points you accrue and by the following percentage
distribution: 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; below 60% = F
There are no make-up exams unless prior permission or some compelling excuse is given (i.e.
excused illness or family emergency). YOU MUST NOTIFY ME BEFORE THE EXAM TO BE
ELIGIBLE FOR A MAKE-UP EXAM. Arrangements to make up a missed exam are the responsibility
of the student and must be made no later than one week after the scheduled exam date. If you
have or suspect you have any special needs in regard to test-taking,
make arrangements with the Learning Center before the first exam.
Exams
Exams are composed of multiple choice, true/false, matching (50%), definition (15%), map
identification (15%), and essay questions (20%). You should come to the exams well prepared and
expect to use the entire class period to complete them. If weather cancellations or time constraints
warrant it, exams may be given to you to take outside of class. Good attendance and comprehensive
note taking are essential if you want to excel in this course.
Term Paper
This will be an 8-10 page, double-spaced Times-New Roman 12 font paper with one-inch margins
that will deal with a European geographical problem of your choosing. It may be either contemporary
or historical, but it must be geographical in content (all subjects will be approved by me). Resources
for the paper will be limited only by your imagination, but must include at least ten references from
books and encyclopedias/statistical abstracts, journals/news magazines, and the Internet. A one
paragraph topic proposal is due on February 9; a one page update will be due on March 1; the paper
is due prior to or at the beginning of class, April 19. One half a letter grade will be deducted for papers
submitted after the beginning of class on April 19; at least one whole letter grade will be deducted for
papers later than April 19.
Attendance
Because of federal regulations, we must have a means of determining if and when students stop
attending classes. Therefore, attendance will be taken via a sign up sheet beginning after the add
period. It is your responsibility to initial the roll when it is handed out. I reserve the right to (1)
administer pop quizzes/exercises if attendance drops below fifty percent on any given day, (2) dock
points for absences, (3) lower your final grade by half a letter grade for missing 1½ weeks worth of
classes or more (≥5 classes; roughly 10%), or (4) lower your grade a whole letter grade or fail you
outright if you miss three weeks worth of classes or more (≥9 classes; roughly 25%). It is your
responsibility to keep me informed of any events that warrant an excused absence (short-term illness,
sports teams, academic teams, field trips, job interviews, court appearances, GRE/MCAT, etc.).
Social events do not qualify. If you have a family emergency or an extended illness (covering more
than two classes), your first move should be to contact the Dean of Students, who then will notify all
of your professors and ask that we accommodate your needs. Appeals at the end of the semester
about absences will fall on deaf ears unless you have compelling and documentable evidence and
even then you may not obtain a reversal. If you are told to leave my class, your attendance for that
day will be voided.
Technology Policy
You may record lectures. Computers for note taking are fine, but you MUST disable WiFi while in my
classroom. If you are found multi-tasking, playing games, surfing the web, etc. on your computer, you
will be banned from using it for the remainder of the semester. Using personal communication
devices such as iPhones, iPods, Blackberries, etc. is strictly prohibited. If you are found using one
while in my class, you will be told to leave.
Honor Code
All students are expected to abide by the Honor Code at all times. All submitted work must be
pledged.
Weekly Schedule
Week
Dates
#
Readings from Blouet
Topics
1
Jan. 19, 21
Introduction; Overview
Introduction: the European Union
2
Jan. 26, 28
Norden
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland,
Finland
3
Feb. 2, 4
Norden; British Isles
2 – GEOG 403
United Kingdom, Ireland
4
Feb.9, 11
Feb. 9
British Isles; France
Paper topic due
5
Feb. 16
Feb. 18
EXAM 1
France
6
Feb. 23, 25
France
Mar. 1
Mid-Semester Grade estimates due
7
Mar. 1, 3
Mar. 1
Low Countries; Germany
Paper update due
8
Mar. 8, 10
SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS
Mar. 15
Withdraw with “W”
9
Mar. 15
Mar. 17
EXAM 2
Germany
10
Mar. 22, 24
Germany; Alpine Europe
11
Mar. 29, 31
Poland; Czech Rep.; Slovakia; Baltic
States
12
Apr. 5
Apr. 7
Exam 3
Hungary; Romania
13
Apr. 12, 14
Balkans; Spain
14
Apr. 19, 21
Apr. 19
Portugal; Italy
Term Paper due
15
Apr. 26, 28
Italy; Greece
Fri., May 6
11:30 am2:00 pm
FINAL EXAM
France
Benelux Countries
Germany
Austria, Switzerland
Eastward Expansion 2004
Hungary, Romania
rest of Eastward Expansion 2007
Southern Europe
Italy
THIS SCHEDULE IS EXTREMELY SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS EVENTS AND
INTEREST WARRANT, INCLUDING THE RESCHEDULING OF CLASSES, EXTRA CLASS
ASSIGNMENTS, AND POP QUIZZES
Created January 17, 2016
3 – GEOG 403