KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Geography & Anthropology
Fall Semester 2009
 
I.          COURSE TITLE:                 CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
             COURSE NUMBER:             Geography 3340 - 01
 
II.        INSTRUCTOR:                    Dr. H. R. Trendell  (Dr. T)
            OFFICE:                                  Social Science Bldg. - SO 4046 (inside SO 4042)
            OFFICE PHONE:                   (770) 423 -6240
            OFFICE HOURS:                   TTh 11:00AM-12:00 Noon;  TTh 3:30-4:30 PM;
                                                                       (Other times by appointment)
            E-MAIL ADDRESS:              htrendel@kennesaw.edu  & VISTA e-mail   
            WEB PAGE:                            http://ksuweb.kennesaw.edu/~htrendel/
            DEPARTMENT:                    Geography & Anthropology Office:  SO 4042
                                                                    Phone (678) 797-2373
 
III.       CLASS MEETING:             Time:   Tue/Thur  9:30 AM – 10:45 AM 
                                                            Room:  Social Science 2030  (SO 2030)
 
IV.       TEXT:                                     The Human Mosaic: An Cultuaral Approach to Human Geography   (11th Edition).
                                                             Domosh, Neuman, Price, Jordan-Bychkov.   New York: W.H. Freeman Publishers (2010)
                       
V.        CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION:  A thematic approach is applied to analyze human cultures, to examine world cultural regions, to note the spread of cultural traits, to interpret interactions between culture and environment, and to appreciate multiple traits of a culture and cultural landscapes. The five themes of region, diffusion, ecology, integration and landscape are used to explore historical and contemporary issues of population, agriculture, politics, language, religion, ethnicity, popular culture, and urban spaces.  The philosophy of the course is based on the premise that the built environment is a spatial expression of the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of a people.
 
VI.       PURPOSE/RATIONALE: Cultural Geography acquaints the student with the spatial aspects of human occupancy of the Earth through the application of geographic concepts and cartographic principles to the analysis of culturally-motivated changes to the landscape.
KNOWLEDGE BASE:  This course uses the case study approach to present the student with a body of knowledge which forms the basis of an understanding of how human groups and geography have interacted to influence the cultural landscape of our planet.
USE OF TECHNOLOGY:  A multi-media approach will be used throughout the course to reinforce the geographic  perspective.  Students will use the worldwide web in researching cultural themes to be expressed in term papers and/or projects.
DIVERSITY:  Cultural Geography through the nature of the course presents a multicultural approach to human and ethnic interaction with the physical environment and offers the student an opportunity to explore a variety of cultures and human groups and their institutions throughout the world from the spatial perspective
 
VII.     COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:  This course is designed to:
(1) develop a geographic perspective through the study of the world's cultural regions.
(2) stimulate student interest in world affairs through background knowledge of people and places.
(3) acquaint the student with the complexities and geographic reality of a variety of human cultural activities.
(4) use of the case study approach to the geographic aspects of selected cultural groups.
(5) present a specific body of knowledge regarding the human occupance of this planet.
    
VIII.   COURSE REQUIREMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Essay and identification questions will be found on the examinations.
2 Failure to take required exams or complete the projects will result in a failing or an incomplete grade being submitted depending upon circumstances.    
3. Students will submit an 8-10 page research paper on any topic of their choosing which is related to Cultural Geography and of particular interest to them.  (Group Projects will be considered: 2 persons, 12-14 pages; 3 persons 16-18 pages) The major emphasis will be presenting a cohesive, well-written statement of the status of your chosen topic without turning it into just a review of the literature.  You should be able to communicate your opinions and perceptions of your topic which have been changed or developed as a result of your research. Also offer a critical evaluation of the phenomenon you studied.  Include a bibliography with your paper of at "least"12 sources (18 for two person or 24 for three person projects).  Each project must have one or more maps included.   SEE the “How to Write a Term Paper” supplement on the instructors’ webpage or the VISTA Home Page for this course.
4. Family Geography Project - submission of a 2-3 page overview of the cultural and historical geography of the family of the student (Detailed instructions on Website or VISTA Home page.
5. Late projects will be downgraded 10% per class meeting.
6. Overhead transparencies or Power Point slides of major maps should be used in class presentations. Consult with the instructor if you have questions or any problems with your research.
7. Lectures will not specifically follow the layout of the text, but reading the text will serve to provide the student with a basis for class discussion and participation.  Tests will include questions from lectures and readings.   Internet sites will be posted on VISTA home page as supplemental readings.

 
IX.       EVALUATION AND GRADING:
                        Hour Exam #1                                                             =  20%
                        Map Quizzes (Three)                                                   =  15%
                        Family Geography Project                                           =  15%
                        Attendance                                                                  =    5%
                        Term Paper (includes 5% for presentation)                  =   30%
                        Final Exam                                                                  =   20%
                        TOTAL GRADE                                                           100%
 
X.        ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.  Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University's policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding
plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/ falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards.   Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an "informal" resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct's minimum one semester suspension requirement. (In this course, incidents of plagiarism or academic dishonesty will also incur a grade of "zero" for the project or test).   
 
XI.       ATTENDANCE POLICY:
The instructor expects promptness and regular class attendance as a courtesy to himself and the other students.   The sharing of “geographic” experiences and viewing the several visual aids presented is critical to the totality of the educational experience in this class.  Attendance will be taken periodically throughout the semester and is a part of your overall grade for the course.  Only valid medical excuses accepted.
 
XII.     CLASS DISRUPTIONS: 

Please TURN OFF all laptop computers, cell phones (this includes text messaging), beepers, video games, blue tooth and blackberry paraphernalia and I-pods, I-phones,  before class starts.  The use of laptop computers has proven to be a disturbance to students (keyboard  noise) and a distraction (surfing the web during class while other students watched).  Continuous violation of this request will result in the student being barred from attending class. 

If you have to leave class for any reason take all your belongings with you and do not return as a courtesy to the class and the instructor. Going and coming while class is in session is unacceptable.
 
XIII.    SPECIAL NEEDS
Please contact the instructor immediately if you have or think you may have a disability or medical condition which may affect your performance, attendance, or grades in this class Accommodations are arranged on an individualized, as-needed basis through the KSU disAbled Student Support Services.
 
XIV. COURSE OUTLINE:
 
Dates                                   Topics                                                                 Readings
 
08/18         Introduction to the Cultural Geography                                          Chapter  1
08/20         Themes in Cultural Geography                                                      -------------
08/25         Many Worlds (Cultural Landscape)                                              Chapter  2
08/27         Video:  “Hong Kong Family”                                                        -------------
09/01         Population Geography                                                                  Chapter  3
09/03         Geodemography; (Video: World Population),                               -------------       
09/08          Immigration (Video: Migrant’s Heart)                                           -------------
09/10         Geography of Language. (Map Quiz #1)                                     Chapter  4                  
09/15         Family Geography Project due; Ethnic Geography                    Chapter  5
09/17         Video:  Global Tourism                                                                -------------
09/22         Political Geography                                                                      Chapter  6
09/24         No class- Library Research Day                                              ------------
09/29         International Politics                                                                     -------------
10/01         Hour Exam #1     (Chapters 1-6)                                                -------------
10/06         Bibliography and Outline Due; Geography of Religion              Chapter  7
10/08         Video:  Within These Walls                                                          -------------
10/13         Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism                                                           -------------
10/15         Agricultural Geography                                                                Chapter  8                  
10/20         Geography of Food Production;  (Map Quiz #2)                        -------------
10/22         Economic Geography                                                                   Chapter  9
10/27         Geographic Factors of the Industrial Culture                               -------------
10/29         Urbanization Geography                                                               Chapter 10
11/03         History of Urbanization                                                                -------------
11/05         Urban Cultural Mosaic                                                                 Chapter 11
11/10         Future Perspectives in Cultural Geography; (Map Quiz #3)          Chapter 12
11/12         Cultural Diffusion and Globalization                                              -------------                   
11/17         Term Papers Due; Presentation of Research                              -------------
11/19         Presentation of Research                                                              -------------
11/24         Presentation of Research                                                              -------------
11/26         Fall Break – No Classes                                                               -------------
12/01         Presentation of Research                                                              -------------
12/03         Presentation of Research                                                              -------------
 
12/08   FINAL EXAM  - Tuesday at  9:30 AM (two hours)    (Chapters 7-12)
 
Note:   The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus and outline (except for the final exam) as circumstances of the course and weather dictate.     

 
XV. REFERENCES:
 
Abler, Ronald et al (1971).  Spatial Organization: The Geographers View of the World.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
 
Douglas, Ian, Huggett, Richard and Robinson, Mike (eds).  (1996).  Companion Encyclopedia of Geography : the Environment and Humankind. 
         London: Routledge.
 
The Encyclopedia of the Peoples of the World (1993).  Amiram Gonen (ed). New York: H. Holt.
 
Gritzner, Charles F. Jr. (1966).  "The Scope of Cultural Geography,"  Journal of Geography 65:4-11 (January).
 
Hartshorne, Richard (1939). The Nature of Geography.  Washington, D.C.: Association of American Geographers.
 
The Journal of Cultural Geography. The only English language journal devoted exclusively to Cultural Geography.  Published  semi-annually by the 
           Department of Geography, Bowling Green, OH.  Volume 1 was published in 1980.
 
Landscape.  An interdisciplinary journal devoted to the cultural landscape.  Volume 1 was published in 1951.
 
McGuigan,  Jim (ed.). (1997).  Cultural Methodologies.  London : Sage.
 
Meinig, D.W. (ed).  1979.  The Interpretation of Ordinary Landcapes.  New York:  Oxford University Press.
 
North American Culture. A publication of the North American Cultural Society focusing on cultural patterns of  North America.  Department of Geography,
          Oklahoma State University.  Volume 1 was published in 1985.
 
Tuan, Yi-Fu (1976). "Humanistic Geography," Annals of the Association of AmericanGeographers. 66:266-276.
 
Tuan, Yi-Fu (1974). Topophilla: A Study of Environmental Perception, Attitudes  and Values.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
 
Whole Earth Review. (1988). Volume 58 (Spring). A special section on cultural geography, " A Wedding of People and Place," pp. 2-47.
 
Zelinsky, Wilbur  (1992) The Cultural Geography of the United States (Edition A revised)  Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice Hall.