GEOG 111 Human Geography

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES
Social, cultural, economic, and technological changes are bringing distant places of the world increasingly near, and our work, travel, and consumption ties us to people, ideas and products from everywhere on Earth. This course introduces students to some of the basic concepts, theories and practices of contemporary human geography that will, in turn, help us understand and appreciate the differences, similarities and relationships between places, from the local to the global.  In doing so, it meets many of the academic goals of UWEC and pursues the ideals of a liberal education. 

Students will quickly discover that human geography involves much more than colored pencils and blank maps.  As critical thinkers, our goal is to move from simple recall and memorization toward the highest levels of thinking. Geography is the intellectually exciting and practically relevant examination of the spatial and environmental-societal relationships surrounding us.  We will survey the traditional sub-fields of human geography as we learn geographic ways of thinking to aid us in understanding the people and places around us.  We are on the way to becoming geographically informed people.

To enhance our understanding of space and scale, cultures and regions, and the interdependence of people and places – that is, to stimulate our geographic imagination – class sessions will consist of lectures, complemented by videos, slides, electronic handouts and readings, news accounts and other Web resources and materials.

For effective learning, readings ought to be completed by the time they are presented in class. Assignments will not be accepted late and exams cannot be made up.   Only under extenuating and verifiable circumstances will exceptions be made.