Geography 201-501
Introduction to Human Geography
Course:
Tuesday/Thursday || 8:00-9:15 || HELD 100
Instructor:
Dr. John Lauermann || [email protected]
Office hours:
Eller O&M 803D || 12:00-2:00 Tuesday/Thursday & by appointment
Course Description
This course introduces students to human geography. Geography is about spatial relationships: the ways
in which places are connected to each other, and how people interact with the built/natural environment
that surrounds them. Lectures and readings are used to introduce: (1) core concepts in geography like
place, space, landscape, region, and scale; and (2) thematic approaches to human geography (e.g.
economic, urban, or political geographies). We will engage with themes like:

Uneven global patterns of industrialization and regional development.

Urbanization and the built environment.

States, nations, geopolitics, and imperialism.

The geographies of culture and belief systems.

Human interactions with the built and natural environment.
Learning Objectives
The student will be able to achieve the following learning objectives in this course.

Define fundamental terms and key concepts in human geography

Locate major settlement patterns, economic regions, and cultural divisions across the globe and
explain how they developed geographically

Explain the origins of urban settlements and their relationship to one another and to the
countryside

Identify demographic changes and how they alter economic and political development across
the globe

Identify major processes that create political and cultural difference and how they shape
regional conflicts and environmental change

Identify how cultural practices and belief systems shape the landscape

Apply concepts in geographical information science to problems in human geography

Compare and contrast the processes of economic development in different regions

Compare and contrast the impact of globalization (economic, cultural and environmental) on the
core, periphery and semi-periphery
Required Materials
Course Text
Paul Knox & Sallie Marston (2015) Human Geography: Places and Regions in Global Context. Pearson
Edition: 7th Edition, Modified Mastering Geography with Pearson eText – with Access Card
(ISBN 9780134279619 [bookstore edition] or ISBN 9780321987600 [if you buy elsewhere])
Course Technology
Please bring a mobile device or laptop computer for class participation. We will use the Top Hat app
(http://tophat.com) for attendance and in-class participation.
Direct URL:
https://app.tophat.com/e/078160
Course code:
078160
Labs and other study materials are hosted on Mastering Geography (masteringgeography.com). To
register you will need an access code and the code for this course.
Access code:
Comes with your textbook, or can be purchased separately.
Course code:
MGEOGLAUERMANN85870
Evaluation
Exams: 65%
Your learning progress will be evaluated with two exams, a midterm (30% of course grade) and a final
(35% of course grade). On exam days you will only need a pencil and a scantron sheet, and nothing else.
Please follow the exam rules announced in class. If you are late, you will have to wait until all of the
seated students have begun the exam. You will then be seated and provided with an exam.
Assignments: 30%
These activities are designed to help you understand the concepts discussed in lecture and provide you
with some hands-on examples of how to apply human geography concepts and methods. The
assignments will be either delivered via Mastering Geography or our in-house server. Each assignment is
due on the date listed in the Course Schedule (by 11:59pm). No late assignments will be accepted. You
are required to read all the material associated with the assignments, and this material may appear on
the exams.
Attendance/Participation: 5%
Lecture attendance is required. My lectures are based on the reading assignments, and I will assume you
have read the assigned material. If you know that you will be late or have to leave lecture early, please
sit by the doors so that your exit does not disturb your colleagues. Using Top Hat, I will take attendance
and conduct in-class quizzes.
Grading Scale
The grading scale follows the University’s grading system; final grades may be curved according to class
performance.
A > 90
B 80 - 89.9
C 70 - 79.9
D 60 – 69.9
F < 59.9
Course Policies
Academic honesty: The Aggie Code of Honor is simple: “Aggies do not lie, cheat, or steal, nor do they
tolerate those who do.” (http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/) Instances of academic dishonesty will be referred
to the Honor System Office.
Attendance: Attendance is required; I monitor attendance using Top Hat. Your participation grade will be
the percentage of the attendance and possible points earned during class. For example, if I run a TopHat
check in 20 class meetings and you have documented participation/attendance in 15 meetings, you will
earn 75% of the attendance points. If you have documented full participation in all 20 meetings, you will
earn 100% of the attendance points.
The University also has a policy on excused absences (http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07). If these
apply please notify me as soon as possible over email; I may also request additional documentation.
Class announcements will be sent to your tamu.edu email addresses and/or posted on the course
eCampus webpage.
Classroom conduct: Please show respect for your colleagues with regular, prepared, and on-time
attendance and participation. This means doing the readings and assignments, contributing to the
conversation, and not engaging in distracting/disruptive behavior (showing up late, packing up early,
texting, speaking rudely, etc.).
Late submissions are not accepted, unless there is a documented conflict like emergencies or universitysanctioned travel. If these extenuating circumstances apply please notify me as soon as possible over
email; I may also request additional documentation.
Special accommodations: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute
that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this
legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides
for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact Disability Services, currently located in the Disability Services building at
the Student Services at White Creek complex on west campus or call 979-845-1637. For additional
information visit http://disability.tamu.edu.
Course Outline
Date
Topic
Readings/Assignments
1/17
Key concepts
Chapter 1
1/19
Key concepts
Chapter 1
1/24
Key concepts
Chapter 2
1/26
Key concepts
Chapter 2
1/31
Population Geography
Chapter 3
2/2
Population Geography
Chapter 3
2/7
Population Geography
Chapter 3
2/9
Economic Geography
Chapter 8; Lab 1 due (Population Geography)
2/14
Economic Geography
Chapter 8
2/16
Economic Geography
Chapter 8
2/28
Cultural Geography
Chapter 7; Lab 2 due (Economic Geography)
3/2
Cultural Geography
Chapter 7
3/7
Cultural Geography & midterm review
Chapter 7
3/9
Midterm exam, 8:00-9:15
3/14
3/16
Spring break
3/21
Human-environment interactions
Chapter 4; Lab 3 due (Cultural Geography)
3/23
Human-environment interactions
Chapter 4
3/28
Human-environment interactions
Chapter 4
3/30
Political Geography
Chapter 10; Lab 4 due (Human-environment)
4/4
Political Geography
Chapter 10
4/6
No class / Instructor at a conference
4/11
Political Geography
Chapter 10
4/13
Urban Geography
Chapter 11; Lab 5 due (Political Geography)
4/18
Urban Geography
Chapter 11
4/20
Urban Geography
Chapter 12
4/25
Urban Geography
Chapter 12
4/27
Final exam review session
Lab 6 due (Urban Geography)
5/5
Final exam, 1:00-3:00