Selected Regions

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Return to Course
Print Guideline
Course
GEOG 1190
Discontinued
No
Course code
GEOG 1190
Descriptive
Selected Regions
Department
Geography and the Environment
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
202220
PLAR
No
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Contact hours

Lecture: 4 hrs/week 

or

Hybrid Format: 2 hrs/week in class with 2 hrs/week online

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Hybrid
Learning activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: lectures, labs, field work, DVDs/videos and animations, individual and/or team projects, small group discussions, and map and air photo analysis.  Where the course is offered in a hybrid format, students will complete a significant portion of the course material (for example, 40-50%) online and outside of the classroom in a self-directed manner.

Course description
This course introduces the physical, historical, social and economic geographies of a selected region of the world. Topics may include the concepts and methods of regional geography, the physical environment, indigenous peoples, history of occupation, cultural characteristics, demographic change, place-based identities, nationalism, use of resources, urban-industrial characteristics, current issues and future challenges. This course is often suitable for use in Douglas College field schools.
Course content
1. Introduction
  • Approaches to the study of regional geography
  • Definition of the region under study

2.  The Physical Setting

  • Location
  • Geology and landforms
  • Climate
  • Hydrology
  • Soils and biogeography
  • Natural hazards
  • Natural resources
  • Neighbouring regions and states
3. Cultural Geographies
  • Occupation by human beings
  • Environmental impacts
  • Cultural traits
  • Identity and nationalism
  • Geopolitical history and turning points

 4. Population and Social Geographies

  • Population distribution and demographics
  • Rural settlements
  • Urban development
  • Immigration and multiculturalism
  • Cities and sustainability

 5. Economic Geographies

  • Economic history
  • Modern economies
  • External economic relations and globalization

 6. Current Issues and Future Challenges

  • Use of resources
  • Government policies
  • Geopolitical change
  • Ecological challenges
  • Contested spaces

 7. Review of Major Themes

  • Characterizing the region
  • Regionalism and nationalism
  • Global context

 

1. 

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, the successful student will be able to:

  1. Describe and explain fundamental approaches to regional geography and integrate its concepts and techniques.
  2. Describe regional physical and human characteristics and their interactions.
  3. Analyze and make informed assessments of contemporary issues and future challenges.
  4. Create, interpret, analyze and utilize maps to identify and illustrate spatial trends.
  5. Communicate effectively using oral, graphical, written and quantitative methods.
Means of assessment

Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific criteria during the first week of classes.

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Journal  20%
Map exercises  20%
Term project         15%
Mid-term exam  20%
Final exam 25%
Total 100%
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

A textbook or an instructor's Course Reader appropriate to the region will be selected and updated periodically.

 An example of resources used for the Belize Field School includes the following.

Clawson, D. & Tillman, B. (2017). Latin America and the Caribbean (6th ed.). London: Oxford University Press.

Jackiewicz, E. and Bosco, F. (Eds.). (2020). Placing Latin America: Contemporary Themes in Geography (4th ed.).  Lanham. MD; Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

 

An example of resources used for the Iceland Field School includes excerpts from the following books, videos and websites.

“Njal’s Saga”. Trans. Cook, R.  London: Penguin Classics.

Byock, J. (2001). Viking Age Iceland. New York: Penguin Books.

City of Reykjavík Department of Planning and Environment. (2014). Reykjavík Municipal Plan 2010 – 2030. Reykjavík: City of Reykjavík Department of Planning and Environment.

Gaiman, N. (2018). Norse Mythologies.  New York: W. W. Norton and Company

Guðmundsson, Á. (2017). The Glorious Geology of Iceland’s Golden Circle. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Hjálmarsson, J. (2007). History of Iceland From the Settlement to the Present Day.  Reykjavík: Forlagið

Ingebritsen, C, Neumann, I., Gstöhl, S., and Beyer, J. (Eds). (2006). Small States in International Relations. Seattle: University of Washington Press.

Laxness, H. (2008). The Fish Can Sing. New York: Vintage International.

Mathiesen, A. (Ed.). (2014). Scarcity in Excess: The Built Environment and the Economic Crisis in Iceland. Reykjavík: Actar

Statistics Iceland. (2018). Iceland in Figures: 2018. Reykjavík: Statistics Iceland.

Stefánsson, J. (2007). Heaven and Hell. London: Quercus.

Whittaker, D. and Thorsteinsson, G. (2015). The Iceland Watch: A Land That Thinks Outwards and Forwards. Cirencester; Mereo Books.

Willson, M. (2016). Seawomen of Iceland: Survival on the Edge. Seattle: University of Washington Press

Videos and Films:

(2000). Sagas and Daily Life in the Icelandic Commonwealth, Part II. [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-4583/.

BBC News. (2011).Witness History: The Cod Wars. [Audio Podcast] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-4583/.

Websites:

Icelandic Institute of Natural History. (n.d.) Vegetation of Iceland. Retrieved from https://en.ni.is/flora-funga/vegetation

Icelandic Institute of Natural History. (n.d.) Fauna of Iceland. Retrieved from https://en.ni.is/fauna.

Landmælingar Íslands (Land Survey of Iceland). (n.d.) Free maps of Iceland. Retrieved from https://www.lmi.is/en/okeypis-kort/