St. Catherine University
Spring 2012
GEOG 2000-W01: HUMAN (CULTURAL) GEOGRAPHY
Classes: Sec. W01 – Sundays 8:30-12:00 AM
Professor: Valiant C. Norman
Office – to be arranged Phone: 651-690-8882 E-mail: vcnorman@stkate.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Course description: The global human population is incredibly varied. In this course, we
study relationships between nature and people; population distributions, variations,
processes of change and migrations; cultural characteristics (ethnicity, language,
religion) and the resulting landscapes; economic land uses and environmental changes;
and the locations, architecture, spatial organization and complex features of towns,
cities and metropolitan regions. You will be introduced to valuable concepts and
perspectives of geography and learn about patterns and processes of phenomena
around the world.
Goals of the course:
1. an introduction to the principal concepts, approaches, and perspectives of the
study of Geography
2. information related to overall geographic patterns and processes of the Earth
and the US
3. general knowledge of selected places and regions and some characteristics
(landscapes, populations, cultures, values, problems) of each
4. an understanding of some of the complex interrelationships between people
and their
5. environments and the effects of one on the other,
6. some insight into major conflicts and public policy issues of our time
7. a basic knowledge of source materials: maps, books, articles, documents,
governmental and organizational reports and statistics, newspapers, magazines,
"web sites," satellite photos
8. preparation for more knowledgeable and effective citizenship, both of her/his
country and of the world, with greater acceptance – and even celebration - of
the many cultural traditions of the world
9. a better understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live and, thus,
a richer, more interesting and meaningful life
Recommended Text: deBlij, H.J., Murphy, Alexander B., and Fouberg, Erin, Human
Geography: People, Place, and Culture. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Ninth
Edition or higher. (note: the text is not absolutely required but highly recommended, as
many of the exam questions will be found in the textbook)
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An atlas is also not required, as there are many on-line map sites available. There are
numerous websites offering maps and geographic information on-line including:
www.sheppardsoftware.com
www.eduplace.com (see “Outline Maps”)
www.mapquest.com
www.worldatlas.com
http://canyon.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/maps/
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook
http://encarta.msn.com/maps/MapView.asp
http://geography.about.com/
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radgeog/websites.html
http://geography.miningco.com/library/map/blindex.htm
Supplies: Student will need four (4) Scantron Form No 882-E for the semester. They
are available in the St. Catherine Bookstore.
A Liberal Arts Education at St. Catherine University emphasizes the following goals:
Leadership and Collaboration; Ethics and Social Justice;
Diversity and Global Perspectives; Critical and Creative Inquiry;
Discipline-Based Competence; Effective Communication in a
Variety of Modes; Purposeful Life-long Learning.
Course Requirements & Grading Criteria: Students are encouraged to do as well as
possible throughout the entire semester, as the Final Grade will be an accumulation of
test and quiz scores, as well as points earned from the written Blackboard Field
Assignment. [Suggestion: maintain a regular reading schedule; develop a habit of
keeping up with the lectures and do not ‘cram’]
There will be a total of 700 points possible. Points will be earned by the percentage of
correct answers on each test and quiz, as well as points earned from the written
Blackboard Field Assignment.
Because illness or emergency may cause an absence on a test or quiz day, the final
grade will be computed on the basis of 600 points. That is, the lowest test score,
other than the fourth test (FINAL), will be dropped, or the two lowest two map quiz
scores will be dropped (of the first 3 map quizzes), for a total of 100 possible points,
whichever is to the student’s advantage. THE FOURTH TEST AND FOURTH MAP QUIZ
ARE MANDATORY AND WILL NOT BE DROPPED. No make-up tests nor map quizzes,
please.
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From a 600 total semester point maximum, letter grades are earned as follows [minimal
figures are given]:
Grade
Minimum
Percentage
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D
94%
89%
84%
80%
77%
73%
70%
60%
Minimum
Points
564
534
504
480
462
438
420
360
Note: A grade of “A” for a test and/or for the course reflects work of exceptional
quality in thinking, writing, thoroughness, creativity, and insight. An A is not justified for
average or even very good work. In order to earn a final course grade of “A,” a student must have,
in addition to an overall point total of at least 470, at least one exam on which she/he scores at
least 94% and she/he may not score lower than a B on any of the three exams. For a final grade of
“A-,” she/he must have a point total of at least 445, at least one exam on which the score is at
least 88%, and earn no less than a C+ on any of the three exams. A grade of B+ or B is NOT a bad
grade; it reflects a good achievement.
Requirement/Assignment Descriptions: The course requires a consistent lecture
attendance in order to maintain topic continuity, as well as insightful information that
may not be covered by the text.
1. There will be four (4) TESTS and four (4) MAP QUIZZES during the course of this
semester. There will not be a comprehensive Midterm, nor will there be a
comprehensive Final. Each test is worth 100 points. Each map quiz is worth 50
points.
2. There is a mandatory written BLACKBOARD FIELD ASSIGNMENT worth 100
points. The written Field Assignment may NOT be dropped in place of a test.
It is due and must be posted on Blackboard no later than:
Sunday, June 10th
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The assignment description and written parameters will be handed out in class at the
beginning of the semester. The Written Assignment must include a bibliography of your
minimum three (3) sources. The paper must be in your own words, excluding properly
cited data or quotations.
Extra credit: may be offered during the semester. It is optional, and there is no penalty
for not doing it. Its purpose will be to further introduce you to other cultures. Students
who have submitted it in the past have expressed appreciation for having other cultural
worlds opened to them. It has been said, “Teachers can show you the door; but you
must enter by yourself.”
Course Outline:
Tests and quizzes will cover the following material. Dates might change somewhat
depending upon class discussion or other unforeseen situations.
Note: on 2 class dates there will be both a Test AND a Map Quiz, May 20 and June 24
after lengthy breaks between classes.
Map Quiz 1:
April 22
Test 1:
May 6
Test 2:
Map Quiz 2:
May 20
Chapters 5-6-7
North America, Middle and South America
Map Quiz 3:
June 3
North Africa/Southwest Asia and Subsaharan Africa
On-line Assignment
Europe and Russia (incl.former Soviet Republics)
Chapters 1-2-3-4
June 10 & 13 Blackboard field assignment
Test 3:
Map Quiz 4:
June 24
Test 4:
July 1
Chapters 8-9-10-11
South Asia, East Asia, SE Asia, Australian Realm
Chapters 12-13-14
Academic Integrity: Please consult the Undergraduate Academic Catalog or the
university website for the Academic Integrity Policy. Of course, it is expected that each
student will earn his or her own scores and grades. You are in college to learn skills and
concepts required for responsible adulthood, citizenship, career, marriage, and
parenthood. Cheating and plagiarism (“to present as one’s own an idea or product
derived from an existing source”) will not be tolerated. In other words, do not use any
unapproved aids or look on anyone else’s materials while taking a test. In a paper or
take-home essay, use quotation marks and citations in a standard accepted way when
quoting/drawing from someone other than yourself. Copying someone else’s work is a
serious infraction; using your own paper from another class is not acceptable.
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Minimum penalty for cheating and plagiarism is an 0 for the assignment and possibly
further academic discipline.
Classroom Behavior: Please respect yourself, your fellow classmates, and the teacher.
Do not talk in class unless it is part of a class/group discussion. You may NOT under any
circumstances text message or use a cell phone in class. If you receive an emergency
call, please go out into the hallway to talk. You may NOT use a computer for any
purpose in class other than for taking lecture notes on the current Geography lecture.
(Penalties are possible.)
Class Meetings and Attendance: Classes meet three days a week. You are strongly
encouraged to attend all classes; your final grade might well be affected by attendance
and class participation. If you miss a class, I will be glad to talk with you about the
subject matter. However, I do not lend my notes; please see one of your classmates to
get notes on a lecture you have missed. Classes primarily will feature lectures and slide
or power point presentations, but will also include discussions, collaborative work,
videos.
I will check attendance every day. [As with all classes, attendance is taken daily and
reported to the Registrar’s office.] I do not need to know why you have missed a class,
whether for illness, oversleeping, or any other reason. You will get no penalty for up to
4 absences, but would lose 5 points for every absence from 5 to 8. Beyond 8 absences
(20% of the course), you would likely automatically fail the course.
Medical and/or Personal Problems: Unless you are ill, please typically try to go to the
restroom before or after, rather than during, the class. If you have a physical / medical
condition or learning disability which requires special consideration (re. seating, test
taking, mobility, etc.), please discuss this with me and provide documentation from the
O’Neill Center so that we can make a suitable arrangement. If you have a chronic illness
or experience serious personal problems that cause you to miss several classes, please
consult the Student Affairs Office (studentaffairs@stkate.edu; phone 690-6778)
about your issues; you may also talk with me.
Dropping the Course: If, for some reason, you consider dropping the course, please talk
with me first. If you do decide to drop, please officially notify the registrar promptly.
Additional Information: Because some people need more international, substantive,
and less commercially-driven information, the following is a list of on-line news
sources:
Common Cause: http://www.commoncause.org/
The Economist: www.economist.com
The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/
Der Spiegel (International): https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/
Time/Europe: www.time.com/time/europe/
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Truthout: www.truthout.org
Your teacher: Valiant C. Norman
Degrees: AA – Glendale Community College, Glendale, CA
BA – University of Hawai’I, Manoa Campus, Honolulu - Geography major
MS – Montana State University, Bozeman, Earth Science/Geography major
- course work for PhD at UCLA; did not finish dissertation
-Syracuse University for US Air Force Russian Language program
- Exeter University, Devon, England on exchange from UCLA
College extracurricular activities: Glendale College judo team; University of Hawai’i
soccer team
Teaching experience: more than 20 years at Bluegrass Community & Technical College;
Midway College; Kentucky State University
Interests: world cultures, especially religions, languages, cuisine, history, film, music,
with particular interest in Japan, India, China, Ireland, British Isles,
France,
Czech Republic, and the Scandinavian countries.
Travel so far: Ireland, Portugal, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Iceland, Finland,
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium,
Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Mexico,
Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Peoples
Republic of China, five provinces of Canada, and all fifty of the United
States.
Residences in California, Texas, New York State, Germany, Japan, Hawai’i, Ireland,
Montana, England, Kentucky, Peoples Republic of China, and Minnesota.
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