University of Nicosia, Cyprus

Course Code
THOM-310 / Course Title
Cultural Geography / ECTS Credits
6
Department
Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management / Semester
Fall / Spring / Summer / Prerequisites
ENG-101 and Junior: or approval
Type of Course
Compulsory/Elective / Field
Cultural (Human)Geography / Language of Instruction
English
Level of Course
1st Cycle / Year of Study
Third / Lecturer
Dr. James Leigh
Mode of Delivery
Face to face/e-learning / Work Placement
N/A / Co-requisites
None

Objectives of the Course:

The main objectives of the course are to:
Develop academic method: thinking, research, referencing, collating and integrative skills with initiative and originality.
Develop in students the basic understanding and introductory skills to work with geography
Introduce students to the nature of geography
Help students develop a curiosity and love for the field
Encourage students by giving content and skill to explain:
  • The distribution and spatially different activities of human across the earth
  • Variations of population growth and migration of humans through typical and exceptional trends
  • Cultural differences and their spatial variations
  • Development of subsistence and economic activity patterns and their relation to the environment
  • The development of resource use and the implication of resource depletion, particularly of fossil fuels’ impact on civilization
Aid students to understand the unique spatial basis of geography
  • Space: place, position and links
Develop in students:
  • Map skills
  • Abilities to visually represent and interpret facts of geography

Learning Outcomes:

After completion of the course students will be expected to be able to:
1. Use academic method to research, reference, collate and integrate facts and concepts with initiative and originality.
2. Explain the distribution of human activity
3. Utilize data and information within the methods of cultural geography
  • Assess maps and data
  • Visually represent data in tabulated form or maps as they relate to the field
4. Analyze the causes for spatial variation in population statistics and migration patterns
5. Explain cultural difference and distribution
6. Discuss the nature and role of intercultural communication for a multicultural Europe
7. Analyze the relation of subsistence and economic activity within peoples within their environment
8. Assess the finiteness of energy supplies and the impact of scarcity on civilization and consider alternatives for fuel and contingencies for other lifestyles in a post-energy era
9. Develop skills to:
  • Discuss space with its place, position and links
  • Use maps and visual presentation of geographic data and trends
  • Assess geographic data

Course Contents:

1. Academic method: thinking, researching, referencing and integrative tasks with initiative and originality
2. Nature of geography
3. Fundamentals of cultural geography
4. Population geography
5. Globalization and civilization clash, and applied geopolitics
6. Resources and Peak oil and societal implications into third millennium geopolitical developments
7. Political geography
8. Language
9. Religion
10. Culture
11. Development
12. Agriculture
13. Industry
14. Overview of peoples and culture to appreciate areal difference of humans, and to better communicate across cultural borders

Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

A selection from: PowerPoint Lectures, videos, readings, quizzes, discussion, student presentations/assignments/exercises

Assessment Methods

A selection from: Assignments, Quizzes, MidTerm Exam, Final Exam

Required Textbooks/Reading

Author / Title / Publisher / Year / ISBN
Leigh, J. / THOM-320 Cultural Geography, Manual / UNic / Yearly / NA
Leigh, J. and Hill, S. / Safari through Culture, Behaviour and Communication / Afi (Touch) Editions / 2007 / ISBN: 978-9963-681-03-7
Rubenstien, J. / The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography / Prentice Hall / 2007 / ISBN-13:978-0132435734
Collins Longman / Student Atlas / Collins Longman / 2001 / ISBN: 978-0007103713

Recommended Textbooks/Reading

Author / Title / Publisher / Year / ISBN
Fellman, J. Getis, A. and Getis, J. / Human Geography: Landscapes of Human Activities / McGraw-Hill / 2007 / ISBN-13: 978-0072827651
Globalization [Journal] / ICAAP / Periodical / ISSN: 1535-9794
Journal of Cultural Geography / Taylor and Francis / Periodical / ISSN:0887-3631
National Geographic / National Geographic Society / Periodical / ISSN: 0027-9358
Social and Cultural Geography [Journal] / Taylor and Francis / Periodical / ISSN:1464-9365
Social Geography Journal / Copernicus / Periodical / ISSN: 1729-4274
The Open Geography Journal / Bentham / Periodical / ISSN:1874-9232

Attendance Regulations:

Students are expected to attend all lectures and complete all activities. Excessive absence (20% or more) may require withdrawal of the student. Where a student is at risk for absences they should be justified by a doctor’s certificate or similar document.

Course Requirements:

  • Final exam
  • Referenced assignments should be referenced in the content sections, with a alphabetized reference list at the end of the assignment. Any reference system is accepted, but page number should be given wherever available. The suggested outline of sections (Title Page, Introduction, Purpose, Main Body/Argument, Conclusion(s), Reference List) should be adhered in all assignments. PPT assignments should be handed in printed with 2 slides per page with easily readable font sizes.
  • Plagiarism is a serious academic crime and will be dealt with as such, including punishment, within the University’s policies.
  • Student s are expected to keep up to date with the each lecture’s reading material.
  • Whenever possible students should keep both paper and electronic copies of all work submitted.

Grading Policy:

Letter Grade / Meaning / Numerical Grade / Grade Points
A / Excellent / 93-100 / 4.0
A- / 90-92 / 3.7
B+ / Very Good / 87-89 / 3.3
B / 83-86 / 3.0
B- / 80-82 / 2.7
C+ / Good / 77-79 / 2.3
C / 73-76 / 2.0
C- / 70-72 / 1.7
D+ / Poor but Acceptable / 67-69 / 1.3
D / 63-66 / 1.0
D- / 60-62 / 0.7
F / Failure / 0-59 / 0.0