GEOG 1302 Austin Community College – Fall 2012
Ross E Bigelow, PhD Geography (Michigan State University)
Contact Information:
Office: Hill Country University Center, Fredericksburg Campus, Room 137
Office Hours: Tuesday 3-5:40 PM
Office phone: 830 997-6363
E-mail: or
Text: Rubenstein, James M., 2011: The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography, 10th ed. (New Jersey: Pearson-Prentice Hall)
Course Overview: Imagine you were a visitor from another galaxy arriving on planet Earth. Your first encounter with Earthlings is a “strange cultural experience”. Everything is unusual: the way the locals look, communication, hot or cold, flowers and trees, food and eating habits. If by chance, you land in Moscow; you might think all Earthlings live in a cold climate with hot houses, and speak Russian. But what would the visitor think of Earthling culture if it landed in Brussels, Belgium or New York City or Lagos, Nigeria? Alien experience would be so different. There are at least 2,000 cultures on planet Earth and it is hard to comprehend the diversity. Cultural Geography is the study the diversity of land-human relationship; it is look at patterns of language, religion, population, migration, and economic activities, etc. The course is an opportunity to understand the diversity of culture, the reasons for patterns, and perhaps learn why cultures vary from place to place.
Course Rational: Introduction to Cultural Geography provides students with an understanding of the spatial distributions of cultures and the processes that led to these distributions. This understanding will allow students to apply general geographic knowledge and skills to their chosen careers, to apply the course towards an associate degree at ACC, and to prepare you for success in upper division courses in Geography at 4-year institutions.
Common Objectives: At the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Understand human factors that influence world events and seek out Internet, media and other sources of information on current events.
· Better understand the diversity of life on our planet: place and space, “man-land relationships” and the diversity of human patterns around the world.
· Think spatially and understand the importance of geographic tools and philosophy.
· Describe what “geography” and “culture” mean in our cultural geography course.
· Understand the processes for determining place, human-environmental interaction, and the use and importance of geographic tools, like maps, globes, remote sensing, GPS, and GIS basics.
· Develop creative skills using power point, Internet search engines, maps, videos, GPS and other online resources. Write three papers and improve writing, speaking and performance skills.
· Comprehend key world issues –energy efficiency, climate change, poverty, AIDS in Africa, impact on economics of burgeoning populations, immigration, preserving Earth resources, American security.
· Acquire knowledge and tools that you can use to make our world a better place and see the opportunities and advantages of living in the USA to achieve your life objectives.
Instructional Methodology:
A 16-week course, Cultural Geography 1302 will meet for 2 hours and forty minutes once a week from August 28 to December 11, with the Final Exam on December 11. Each session will consist of a slide show and class discussion of the 14 chapters in the textbook. In addition, each student should contribute to discussions, take chapter quizzes, prepare a special project, do a book review, and write an original paper on his/her adopted country. Class attendance and participation will affect your grade.
Grading/ Course Evaluation (points):
· Three papers on approved topics, including adopted country* 300
· Quizzes (10 x 30 points each) 300
· Class attendance and participation 50
· Final exam _350
Total 1000
*Each student will adopt a country at the beginning of the course and track that country during the course, following text topics chapter by chapter. At the beginning of the course, the student will prepare a 4-page paper on his/her adopted country. Midway through the course you will submit a 4-page paper on a special topic. Before the end, he/she will prepare a 4-page written review of a book approved in advance. Details and due dates for these papers are provided in the Adopt-a-Country section below.
Students need 900 points + for an “A”, 800+ for a “B”, 700 + for a “C”, 600 + for a “D”. Every student starts class with an “A” and is responsible to do the work to maintain that grade.
Course Policies:
· Attendance: Academic performance correlates closely with attendance. All students are expected to attend all classes on time. Quizzes missed may be made up the following week but no later. If you expect to be late or absent, as a courtesy to your Professor contact me in advance by phone or email to determine when and what assignments you will make up. Attendance is worth up to 30 points which will affect your grade.
Number of Classes Missed / Points Earned
0-1 / 30
2-3 / 25
4 / 20
5 / 15
6 or more / 0
· Class Participation: All students are expected to participate in class discussions and ask questions. Come to class, be prepared, read your text, study your class notes, source information on the Internet, and make constructive input to class discussions. Class participation is worth at least 20 points.
· If you decide to withdraw from this course, please contact your professor first. Be aware that during the 2007 session of theTexas Legislature a bill was passed that limits incoming freshmen to six course withdrawals over their undergraduate years at state colleges, including courses taken at ACC. You are free to withdraw, but your professor would appreciate a chance to briefly discuss your reasons and circumstances. If you do not withdraw and have not attended at least two classes within the first thirty days after the course begins, the professor will take action to withdraw you from the course.
· Incomplete Policy: If you do not successfully complete all class requirements, you will fail the course. No “Incompletes” will be possible.
· Student Discipline: Students are expected to respect the rights and needs of other students, the instructor and visitors to class. No food is allowed in the classroom.
· Honesty and Dishonesty: ACC sets the following standard: “Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but limited to cheating on a quiz or exam, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by the student shall be the result of his/her thoughts, research, or self-expression. Academic work is defined as but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects either individual or group; and classroom presentations and homework.” Dishonesty may result in student dismissal by action of the instructor. You are expected to do honest work for this class.
· Disabilities: ACC sets the following standard: “Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.”
· Academic Freedom: ACC sets the following standard: “Students are strongly encouraged to participate in class discussion. Students may express viewpoints that differ from those of other students or the instructor. Indeed, challenging the facts or opinions of others generate good discussion and can promote a healthy learning environment. However, differences should be expressed with respect for the views of others.”
Adopt-a-Country Guidelines for Short Reports:
· By September 4th, adopt a country for this course. You may select any country, except the United States, or one adopted by a fellow class member. Alternatively, you may choose state-less peoples such as the Palestinians, Kurds or Roma.
· Select a country that you would like to know more about, perhaps one you or a friend or relative have lived in, visited or would like to visit someday. Check the Internet or with the instructor for help in selecting a country.
· Your country adoption requires the professor’s approval. Selection of some countries will earn you extra credit
o 15 Points Extra Credit: China, Korea, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, or any stateless people.
o 10 Points Extra Credit: Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, any Persian Gulf state, Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Botswana or other African country.
o 5 Points Extra Credit: Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Israel, South Africa, Botswana, Thailand, the Philippines or Malaysia, Poland, or Czech Republic.
Check with me if you wish to select any other country for possible extra credit points.
Write three Short Reports (due dates are highlighted):
1. On September 11th, submit a short written report (about 1000 words) with an overview of your adopted country (including location; population; the people, economy, culture, languages, religions; a very brief history; notable physical geographical features; and human challenges or issues that face your country in today’s world). Submit your paper in class or by email.
2. By October 16th, present results of a project and submit a short written report (about 1000 words) on a special topic to be determined. Please obtain prior approval of your topic. This report could be a topic of special interest in your adopted country, an interview of a family member or pen pal who lives (or once lived) abroad, or other. As an alternative project, talk to me about a report on cuisine, music, art or sports topic, KIVA micro loans, Second Life, Simcity, or other topic related to geography. Two local activities that could fulfill this project are to:
· Attend and report on the Renewal Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair at Markt Platz, in September. See http://www.theroundup.org/.
· Interview sellers and buyers at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market at Marktplatz, Thursdays 4-7 pm, at Kinderhalle, through September 27th. See http://www.fbgfarmersmarket.com/FBG_Farmers_Market/home.html.
3. By November 27th, prepare and hand in a short written review (about 1000 words) of a book related to an aspect of the world geography, either on your adopted country or on any broader topic. See the separate book list for possible choices that are pre-approved. For other choices, obtain prior approval.
Course Calendar Summary: For detailed weekly topics and assignments, see the handout.
· August 28 – Introduction to Cultural Geography
· September 4 – Chapters 1 Introduction and 14 Resource Issues
· September 11 – 9/11 Remembrance
· September 18 – Chapter 2 Population and Paper 1 due
· September 25 – Chapter 3 Migration
· October 2 - Chapter 4 Folk and Popular Culture
· October 9 – Chapter 5 Language
· October 16 – Chapter 6 Religion
· October 23 – Chapter 7 Ethnicity and Paper / Project 2 due
· October 30 – Chapter 8 Political Geography
· November 6 – Chapter 9 Development
· November 13 – Chapter 10 Agriculture, Chapter 11 Industry and Chapter 12 Services
· November 20 – No class – Thanksgiving wee
· November 27 – Chapter 13 Urban Patterns and Paper 3 due
· December 4 – Review course for Final Exam
· December 11 – Final Exam
REBigelow: Syllabus Cult Geog 1302 Fall 2011: 08/20/2012