World Regional Geography
GEOG 2010 (formerly GEOG 105)
3.0 Credit Hours Course Information
Course Information
Course Description:
World Regional Geography is a survey of the developed and developing regions of the world. Regional
cohesion and differentiation will result from the concepts of space/location, place, human environment
interaction, movement/diffusion, and regions.
Contribution to General Education Learning Outcomes:
The primary educational goal of this course is to provide information that enables the student to understand the
various geographical regions of the world, their boundaries, physical characteristics, natural resources,
climate, cultural differences, and related problems. Other goals of this course include increasing the student's
awareness of the strategic importance of each region of the world and the political outlook and economic
potential of each. As a result of successfully completing this course the student will be able to demonstrate
general knowledge of world regions, including physical and human characteristics, and a working knowledge of
general to specific geographic principles. More importantly the student will be able to view the world from a
different perspective: specifically, seeing the world through non-American eyes. Outcomes are summarized as
follows:
1. Recognize, describe, and explain social institutions, structures, and processes and the complexities of a
global culture and diverse society.
2. Think critically about how individuals are influenced by political, geographic, economic, cultural and family
institutions in their own and other diverse cultures and explain how one's own belief system may differ from
others.
3. Explore the relationship between the individual and society as it affects the personal behavior, social
development and quality of life of the individual, the family and the community.
4. Examine the impact of behavioral and social scientific research on major contemporary issues and their
disciplines' effects on individuals and society.
Course Outcomes:
The primary educational goal of this course is to provide information that enables the student to understand the
various geographical regions of the world, their boundaries, physical characteristics, natural resources,
climate, cultural differences, and related problems. Other goals of this course include increasing the student's
awareness of the strategic importance of each region of the world and the political outlook and economic
potential of each.
Prerequisites and Co-requisites:
There are no prerequisites or co-requisites for this course, although it would benefit the student to have a
general understanding of the world's realms and their interactive relationships prior to entering the course.
Course Topics:
The sequence of topical coverage will be as follows:
Chapter 1: Globalization & Diversity
Chapter 2: The Changing Global Environment
Chapter 3: North America
Chapter 4: Latin America
Chapter 5: The Caribbean
Chapter 6: Sub-Saharan Africa
Chapter 7: Southwest Asia & North Africa
Chapter 8: Europe
Chapter 9: The Russian Domain
Chapter 10: Central Asia
Chapter 11: East Asia
Chapter 12: South Asia
Chapter 13: Southeast Asia
Chapter 14: Australia and Oceania
Specific Course Requirements:
Each student should have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office software. A basic understanding of web
browsing and web components will be helpful as well. A computer that runs a high-speed connection would be
best, but a dial-up connection will still suffice.
Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements
Required Textbooks:
Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course: RODP Virtual Bookstore
Supplementary Materials:
Geography for Life: National Geography Standards Geography Education Standards Project
Washington D.C. 1994 [For Education Majors Only]
Hardware Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/current-students/technical-support
Software Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/current-students/technical-support.
Specific hardware requirements for this course include Real Player (for streaming video), Acrobat Reader
(for certain map projects), and Microsoft Office. Information
Instructor Information
Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a
statement of virtual office hours and other communication information. Assessment and Grading
Testing Procedures:
The testing process will be a timed event and occur entirely online. There will be NO proctored exams.
Exams will cover a predetermined set of material (i.e. chapters) and be delivered in an essay format and
short answer. The exams will cover specified course topics. The grades for each exam will be returned to
the student within a reasonable timeframe.
Grading Procedure: The outcome objectives for this course will be determined by the student's retention
of material from:




Textbook chapters
Discussions
Homework Assignments
Exams
The exams for this course will reflect the pertinent aspects covered in each chapter, as well as material
the instructor deems most integral to a sound geographic education. Proficiency in the course will be
determined by the student's performance on exams and homework assignments.
Grading Scale:
90 – 100%
80 – 89.9%
70 – 79.9%
60 – 69.9%
< 60%
A
B
C
D
F
There will be two exams in this course, a midterm and a final exam. The Midterm Exam will cover material
associated with the first seven chapters of the textbook. The Final Exam will cover the last seven chapters of
the textbook. Material for these exams will come from the textbook, course modules, discussions, quizzes and
homework assignments. The two exams make up 40% of the total course grade. Another 30% of your grade
will come from your participation in 14 online discussions. The remaining 30% will come from submission of
homework assignments (e.g. textbook quizzes, National Atlas assignment, Google Earth assignment, etc.).
Assignments and Projects:
Your homework assignments this semester include:
 National Atlas
 The Geography of Poverty and Wealth
 Google Earth Inquiry
 Careers in Geography
 8 textbook quizzes (including the companion web site maps linked below)
 http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_rowntree_gad_1/24/6379/1633050.cw/index.html
All of this material will become 30% of the student's total score.
Class Participation:
Students MUST participate in all interactive aspects of the course if interaction is part of the course design. For
example, students must communicate with the instructor and other students via message post if a discussion is
slated for that day's topic. Students must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements. The
instructor will send weekly updates as it warrants. The student is expected to check e-mail often and
communicate any problems with the instructor. The student is expected e-mail queries to the instructor, and if
the instructor deems those queries pertinent to the class as a whole, will carbon copy the class in the reply.
Punctuality:
The syllabus for this course contains a working calendar of assignment due dates. Moreover, the online
calendar will reflect the due dates for assignments the student should check ahead of time. The student is
expected to plan ahead and be available to submit work at the appointed time. Missing these due date is not an
option for students. A window of ample time will be built into the course. If the student has problems meeting
these dates, then the student should reconsider classes in an online environment.
Course Ground Rules
The onus resides on the student to complete all work at the appointed time. To do this it is presumed that the
student has learned how to navigate in Desire2Learn (or has sought assistance from RODP technicians to this
end). Participation by the student is required for certain aspects of this course, and the student is expected to
communicate with other students to develop ideas concerning material. The student is also expected to check
in regularly to see course updates. Students will observe course etiquette at all times in this course.
Guidelines for Communication
E-mail:






Always include a subject line.
Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording
your e-mails. Use of emoticons like this smiley face (☺) might be helpful in some cases.
Use standard fonts.
Do not send large attachments without permission.
Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless
necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
Respect the privacy of other class members.
Discussion Groups:







Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker, then a discussant.
Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful
of other's ideas.
Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Chat:
Chat will NOT be used in this course.
Web Resources:






Eighteen Standards in Geography http://www.ncge.org/publications/tutorial/standards/
National Geographic Geosurvey
http://geosurvey.nationalgeographic.com/geosurvey/templates/question_1.html
Google Earth http://www.google.com/earth/index.html
National Atlas http://www.nationalatlas.gov/
Mapping Skills Web Site http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/
Frontline World Online Video Resources http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/watch/index.html
Library
The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to
library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries,
encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online
assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses.
Students With Disabilities
Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if
determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting
disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility
for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's
responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established
procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.
Syllabus Changes
The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated
during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual
e-mail communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.
Technical Support
Telephone Support:
If you are having problems logging into your course, timing out of your course, using your course website tools,
or other technical problems, please contact the AskRODP Help Desk by calling
1-866-550-7637(toll free)
or go to the AskRODP website at:
http://askrodp.custhelp.com