World Regional Geography
GEA 2000-U02, TTh 11am – 12:15pm, OE 134
Fall 2011
Professor Hudson
Email: hudsonv@fiu.edu
Office: SIPA 302
Office Hours: TTh 10:15-10:45am
Course Description
This course provides a systematic survey to the major regions and countries of the world with regard to their physical,
cultural, economic, political and environmental characteristics. While the various regions are defined based on
overarching characteristics for that particular area, each world region is extremely dynamic, and encompasses a great deal
of diversity amongst those commonalities. We will examine both the continuity and diversity within and across world
regions.
Required Text
Pulsipher, Lydia. 2011. World Regional Geography: Global Patters, Local Lives, 5th Edition [without subregions]. W.H.
Freeman. (ISBN: 1429232447) TEXT WEBSITE: www.whfreeman.com/pulsipher5e
Videos, articles, and other materials will be available on the Moodle course page – these are also required and will appear
on the exams and/or quizzes. MOODLE SITE: ecampus.fiu.edu
Course Requirements
Exams (350 points): Exams One & Two are worth 100 points each, and Exam Three is worth 150 points and will
contain a comprehensive portion. All exams have already been scheduled – see Important Dates below, and/or Course
Schedule.
Map Quizzes (75 points): Throughout the semester there will be three map quizzes (25 points each), which test
your knowledge of where the world’s major features are on maps. The features that will be tested include, but are not
limited to: countries, cities, rivers, seas, mountains, peninsulas, and sub-regions. Again, this is a key component of the
course because intelligent and informed discussion about the world begins with a basic ground level understanding of the
world. You will be given a study list in advance of each map quiz, to help make your task easier.
Homework Quizzes (50 points): Throughout the semester there will be homework quizzes given over readings,
videos, class discussions or other required course materials. These quizzes will vary in their point value, but will add up
to 50 total points for the semester.
Common Reading Report & Reflection (15 points): A special reading assigned by FIU’s Global Learning
initiative is required for this class. Everyone in class will complete this reading, write a one page reflection on the piece,
discuss the reading in small groups, and submit a group report. Your grade for this assignment will be based on
completing each part of the assignment.
Co-Curricular Activity & Report (10 points): Throughout the semester, FIU brings in an exciting array of
outside speakers through the SIPA lecture series, AADS, LACC, and MESC centers, and the Tuesday Times Roundtable.
Each student must attend one of these events, and write a one page report that connects the topic to course material
through perspective analysis, highlighting possible routes for engagement.
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Grading & Evaluation
You final grade for the course will be calculated as follows:
Assignment
Points
Exam One
100
Exam Two
100
Exam Three
150
Map Quizzes
75
Homework Quizzes
50
Common Reading
15
Activity/Report
10
Total
500
Grading Scale
The grading scale is A = 100-93%, A- = 92.9-90%, B+ = 89.9-87%, B = 86.9-83%, B- =82.9%-80%, C+ = 79.9-77%, C =
76.9-73%, C- = 72.9-70%, D+ = 69.9-67%, D = 66.9-63%, D- = 62-60% F = 59-0%, which translates to, in points:
A = 500-465
C = 384-365
A- = 464-450
C- = 364-350
B+ = 449-435
D+ = 349-335
B = 434-415
D = 334-315
B- = 414-400
D- = 314-300
C+ = 399-385
F = 299-0
Important Dates*
September 15 – Map Quiz 1
September 29 – Exam 1
October 13 – Map Quiz 2
November 3 – Exam 2
November 10 – Map Quiz 3
November 24 – Thanksgiving Holiday (No Class)
December 8 – Exam 3 @ 9:45am
*Due dates/times for Homework Quizzes, Common Reading Discussion & Co-Curricular Reports will be announced in
class.
Tentative Course Schedule
Dates
Week 1
8.23 & 8.25
Week 2
8.30 & 9.1
Week 3
9.6 & 9.8
Week 4
9.13 & 9.15
Week 5
9.20 & 9.22
Week 6
9.27 & 9.29
Week 7
10.4 & 10.6
Topic
Introduction
Assignments
Chapter 1
Introduction continued
Chapter 1
North America
Chapter 2
Middle & South America
Europe
Chapter 3
Map Quiz 1 – September 15
Chapter 4
Review & Exam
Exam 1 – September 29
Russia & NIS
Chapter 5
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Week 8
10.11 & 10.13
Week 9
10.18 & 10.20
Week 10
10.25 & 10.27
Week 11
11.1 & 11.3
Week 12
11.8 & 11.10
Week 13
11.15 & 11.17
Week 14
11.22
Week 15
11.29 & 12.1
Week 16
DEC 5-11
North Africa & Southwest Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
Chapter 6
Map Quiz 2 – October 13
Chapter 7
South Asia
Chapter 8
Review & Exam
Exam 2 – November 3
East Asia
Southeast Asia
Chapter 9
Map Quiz 3 – November 10
Chapters 9 & 10
Southeast Asia
Chapter 10
Oceania
Chapter 11
Final Exam
Exam 3 – December 8 @ 9:45am
The Fine Print: Policies & Procedures
Attendance: Regular attendance is required to pass this course. Attendance means arriving on time and staying until the
class is dismissed by the instructor. If a student fails to attend at least 60% of class lectures or fails to complete 60% of
the course assignments, that student will fail the course with a grade of F-zero (F0).
Missed Work & Excused Absences: Only severe illnesses/medical emergencies suffered by the student, and certain
anticipated absences (see below), count as excused absences. The type and extent of documentation required to verify an
absence is at the discretion of the instructor. Students with verified, excused absences will be allowed to make-up missed
work during specified make-up periods. Make-up work for non-excused absences will be at the discretion of the
instructor, and will be subject to a penalty of no less than a 15% deduction in total point value for the missed assignment.
Anticipated Absences: Students are allowed certain university-sanctioned absences to be “excused,” but only if the
student notifies the instructor prior to the absence in writing and provides verifiable documentation. These absences
include: religious holy days, curricular absences (field trips for a class), university extracurricular activities (university
athletes, musicians, etc.). If you fail to notify the instructor prior to the absence, your absence will not be counted as
excused.
Classroom Conduct & Etiquette: Students are expected to refrain from activities and behaviors that disrupt the normal
functions of the classroom, and to refrain from activities and behaviors that are disrespectful to the instructor, other
students, or guests in the classroom. Please review “Standards of Student Conduct” in the FIU Student Handbook,
including the subsections “Respect for Self and Others,” “Disruptive Conduct (6c),” “Failure to Comply (6f),” and
“Personal Abuse (6k).”
Academic Integrity, Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please review
“Undergraduate Academic Misconduct Definitions and Procedures” in the FIU Student Handbook. The minimum
penalty for such an offense is failure for that assignment, and you may be reported to the University for further
disciplinary actions, which can include expulsion from the University.
Student Responsibilities: The syllabus is a contract between the instructor and the student. The student is responsible
for knowing, understanding, and abiding by the information contained in this document. It is the students responsibility to
read, to understand (asking questions if necessary), and to comply with the course requirements and the policies and
procedures. Ignorance of the information in this document is not an excuse, and will not warrant exceptions to these
policies.
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