Instructor: Jack Kranz

Office Hours: via email

This online course begins on 3/15/10 and ends on 4/24/10. The course online site will be available at bb.canyons.edu. Instructions on accessing the course may be found at the URL indicated below.

Welcome to my "GO" Program Cultural Geography 102 online course! I will assist you to succeed, and I expect that you will make every effort to do the same. This course is fully online; there are no on-campus meetings. Online instruction is asynchronous meaning that you may log into the course at anytime, 24/7. However, just like in a traditional "on-ground" class, you are responsible for completing and submitting assignments, quizzes, etc. within designated "windows" of time. It’s a good habit, and one that will help insure successful completion of the course, if you take the initiative to log in daily to look for announcements, reminders, and messages from me, etc. Keeping up is important. Be sure that you do not fall behind. I have a no makeup policy insofar as missed course responsibilities are concerned, so keeping in tune with what is expected of you and when something is due is very important.

Please be mindful that a "GO" Program course moves very rapidly. We have only five calendar weeks to deal with course content that is normally presented and available to be assimilated over a semester-long period. Not to worry! You can do this successfully if you are well-organized and determined to do your very best. Before you begin this course, be certain that "your get-up and ‘go’ has not got up and went."

This section of Geography 102, Cultural Geography, will emphasize both overt as well as more subtle patterns with respect to the spatial analysis (understanding the influence of place, site, location) of various aspects of human populations and the patterns exhibited by them. The course is built on the examination of existing or potentially occurring interrelationships that derive from the human presence within the Earth’s physical environment.

More specifically, course content focuses on:

the imprint of the human species on the physical landscape

the geographical aspects (location, distribution, frequency, and a real extent) of the distribution of the human species

aspects of human diversity (e.g. culture, language, religion, geopolitics) that influence human spatial patterns

the impact(s) of globalization on human spatial patterns

Based on the themes and topics that occur within the textbook chapters and selected outside readings (news sources, magazine and journal articles) we will discuss, among other matters, how human populations:

cope with population growth

are affected by and impact on the physical environment

exhibit distinct and sometimes incompatible cultural, social, and religious practices

manage and misuse natural resources

seek and redistribute natural resources in order to participate in global economic exchanges (i.e. "world economies")

foster and/or become involved in geo-political tensions and conflicts

To become engaged in this course and to insure significant learning, you should be aware of current world events, both human-related and naturally- occurring that impact on and interface with the planet’s natural physical environment. Whenever intellectually possible, you will attempt to assess the outcome(s) or potential outcome(s) of these events in terms of sustaining a viable Earth/human relationship in the future.

Rubenstein, James M. Contemporary Human Geography, 1st ed. Oxford, Ohio: Pearson/Prentice Hall, c2010.

QUIZZES and ASSIGNMENTS
Quizzes and assignments will be given to make sure that you are reviewing your class notes, keeping up with your assigned reading, and importantly, that you are thinking. Quizzes will be taken from the course materials including discussion forums.

"See you" all in March! Feel free to email me if you have any questions, concerns, and etc. regarding this course, its content, and your successful participation and learning experience.

JK