Culture, Environment and Society

Instructor: Minhe Ji Lectures: TR: 9:30–10:50 AM (ENV 115)
Office: ENV 310G (565-2377) UNT WebCT: webct.courses.unt.edu
Email:  jminhe@unt.edu Office hours: TW: 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Course Objectives: Students who satisfactorily complete this course will develop the following:
  1. An appreciation of how geographers perceive and organize knowledge about the world.
  2. A grasp of how humans interact with and affect the environment.
  3. A basic familiarity with spatial patterns of human culture.
  4. An understanding of the broad outlines of the global context of their lives.
Course Description: Geography is an integrative discipline concerned with patterns in the spatial distribution of human and natural phenomena. While physical geographers try to understand natural phenomena, human geographers focus on people: where and how they live, what kind of towns and cities they build, and how they are modifying the environment in which we all live. This course introduces concepts and methods of examining patterns in the distribution of human activity, recognizing that humans exist in, modify, and are influenced by the natural environment.

Required Text: The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. J. M. Rubenstein, 6th Edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1999. The accompanying Study Guide by Robert E. Nunley, et al. is recommended. Students are also required to frequently visit this web site, www.prenhall.com/rubenstein, for supplementary readings.

Pedagogic Approach: The course content and schedule appear on the next page, and students are expected to have read the corresponding chapter before class. Any changes in the schedule will be announced. A lecture format will be followed in most instances, but lectures will not cover all the material in the chapters. Instead, lectures will emphasize the most significant definitions and concepts, stress underlying structures and add additional information. Class discussion, interactive learning, and critical thinking are promoted. Questions are welcome anytime during lecture. The WebCT site provides an informal forum for after-hour discussion.
Evaluation and Grading: Students are evaluated through 4 exams (80%) and 8 quizzes (20%). Quizzes are based on the reading assignment of relevant lectures, while exam questions can be drawn from both lectures and the textbook. All tests will consist of "objective" questions and will not be cumulative. It is the responsibility of students to observe the schedule of these tests and assignments. No make-up exam will be given. The course grade will follow the traditional 90-80-70-60 breakdowns. Borderline cases will be judged on the basis of attendance and class participation to determine whether the next higher letter grade should be granted. Students are responsible for their attendance record that is kept by the instructor.
Drop Policy: Students are responsible for observing the deadline printed on the UNT schedule of classes.
Policy on Students with Disabilities: The Department of Geography, in cooperation with the Office of Disability Accommodation, complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Please present your written accommodation request before the 12th class day so that I can make the necessary arrangement.

COURSE OUTLINE AND ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK
MAJOR TOPIC
READINGS* & QUIZZES**
8/29-8/31
 What is Human Geography? Basic Geographic Concepts; Cultural Geography Chapter 1
WebCT Tutorial
9/5-9/7
 Population Geography: Structures, Patterns, & Change Chapter 2 (Quiz)
9/12-9/14
 Spatial Interaction, Spatial Behavior, & Migration Chapter 3
9/19
EXAM 1
    
9/19-9/21
 Geography of Language: World Pattern & Change Chapter 5 (Quiz)
9/26-9/28
 Geography of Religion: Classification & Patterns Chapter 6 (Quiz)
10/3-10/5
 Ethnic Geography: Areal Expression & Urban Diversity
(Oct. 6 - Last day to drop this course with grade of "W")		 Chapter 7 (Quiz)
10/10-10/12
 Political Geography Chapter 8
10/17
EXAM 2
    
10/17-10/19
 Economic Geography: Primary Activities – Agriculture Chapter 10 (Quiz)
10/24-10/26
 Economic Geography: Secondary Activities – Industry
(Oct. 31 - Last day to drop this course with my consent)		 Chapter 11 (Quiz)
10/31-11/2
 Economic Geography: Tertiary Activities – Services Chapter 12
11/7
EXAM 3
    
11/7-11/9
 Development and Underdevelopment Chapter 9 (Quiz)
11/14-11/16
 Urban Geography: Systems, Structures, and Problems Chapter 13 (Quiz)
11/23
HAPPY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS!
    
11/28-11/30
 Human Impacts on Resources and Environment Chapter 14
12/5-12/7
Pre-Final Week: Review
    
12/14
EXAM 4 (8:00 a.m. - 10 a.m., ENV 115)
   

* Course readings are mandatory and should be completed before the indicated class period.
** Quizzes are offered online at the WebCT site. Students should self-schedule to take the quiz within the week for the assigned readings.