World Regional Geography

Institution: American University of Armenia (2016), University of Delaware (2009, 2010), Widener University (2008, 2009)

# of semesters: 5

# of students: avg. 25 per semester

Level: undergraduate


Note: Full course syllabus, select lecture slides, student assessments & assignments, and additional documentation can be provided upon request.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

World Regional Geography is an introduction to the discipline of geography and how the discipline makes sense of the vast complexity of cultures, economies, and environments around the world. This course is an introductory examination of global geography using the regional geography approach which gives context by breaking down continents into smaller geographical segments that share similar qualities - economics, culture, religion, environment, language, etc. - and allows for deeper understanding and better dialogue when discussing global issues. Upon completion, students should be able to describe variations in physical and cultural features of a region and demonstrate an understanding of their functional relationships. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This course introduces the discipline of Geography and the regional geographic approach for understanding our world. Central to this disciplinary perspective is an emphasis on the ways in which people and places interact across space and time to produce particular outcomes. This unique perspective is increasingly important today as technological innovations, the spread of political/economic ideologies, and the movement of people and goods across the globe have made most contemporary problems and solutions global in nature. Yet the interconnectedness of the world is not a new phenomenon. The majority of the world has, for centuries, been connected through exploration, trade, conquest, and colonization. It is therefore impossible to understand the contemporary configuration of global connections without first appreciating their historical roots.

This course aims to improve students’ geographic tools through a holistic approach to understanding the earth’s people, places, and processes. This requires a study of a wide array of topics including: physical geography, ecology, culture, politics, history, economics, and more to learn about regions of the earth. This will generate a personal appreciation for the fascinating, complex, and diverse connections between the world’s people, environments, and places.

This course enables students to develop an overview of the world’s geography through lectures, discussion, video presentations, and more. Students will study the spatial, cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions of each global region using the atlas as our guide. The course will examine the world and its major regional divisions and dissect these large geographical regions into smaller units (i.e., countries) to develop a more detailed understanding of its geographic qualities.

It is not the objective of the course to review all the world’s geographical regions. The course will examine as many world regions as time permits, avoiding an unnecessary rush to discuss the entire world. This approach allows for deep investigation and open dialogue that will fully develop the student’s analytical skills. Students will learn tools and skills that will enable them to deconstruct and analyze all regions - even those not discussed in class - for their own personal learning. To supplement gaps in regional discussions, students will undertake a project to include a paper and presentation (see ‘assessment’ and ‘project’ sections).

Each session may include a mixture of lecture, short videos, student presentations, in-class activities, and class discussion. In order to promote dialogue and discussion as a class, active participation is required (engaging in discussion, answering questions, working with peers, and completing assignments on time). Students must therefore come to lecture each day having read the required reading(s) and reviewed previous material so that everyone is prepared and able to thoughtfully contribute to each of our sessions. This will allow students to develop an understanding of the key geographic perspectives we will study in this course.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will emerge from the semester with the ability to:

    • Demonstrate how the regional approach simplifies the complexity of global studies.
    • Explain the role of globalization and the extent to which countries are becoming more diverse as well as more homogeneous.
    • Discuss the interconnections of the world’s regions.
    • Enhance their mental map of the world.
    • Identify and discuss significant contemporary issues.
    • Describe human-environment relationships.