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GEOG 2010 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

GEOG 2010 - World Regional Geography

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course surveys the developed and developing regions of the world. Regional cohesion and differentiation will result from the concepts of space/location, place, human environment interaction, movement/diffusion and regions. 

Course Outcomes:

The primary education goal of this course is to provide information that enables the student to understand the various geographical regions of the world, their boundaries, physical characteristics, natural resources, climate, cultural differences, and related issues. Other goals of this course include increasing the student’s awareness of the strategic importance of each region of the world and the political outlook and economic potential of each. As a result of successfully completing this course the student will be able to demonstrate general knowledge of general to specific geographic principles. More importantly the student will be able to view the world from a different perspective. Specifically, seeing the world through non-American eyes. Outcomes are summarized as follows:

  1. Recognize, describe, and explain social institutions, structures and processes and the complexities of a global culture and diverse society.

  2. Think critically about how individuals are influenced by political, geographic, economic, cultural and family institutions in their own and other diverse cultures and explain how one’s own belief system may differ from others.

  3. Explore the relationship between the individual and society as it affects the personal behavior, social development, quality of life of the individual, the family and the community.

  4. Examine the impact of behavioral and social scientific research on major contemporary issues and their disciplines’ effects on individuals and society. 

Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

None

Course Topics:
Chapter 1: Globalization & Diversity
Chapter 2: The Changing Global Environment
Chapter 3: North America
Chapter 4: Latin America
Chapter 5: The Caribbean
Chapter 6: Sub-Saharan Africa
Chapter 7: Southwest Asia & North Africa
Chapter 8: Europe
Chapter 9: The Russian Domain
Chapter 10: Central Asia
Chapter 11: East Asia
Chapter 12: South Asia
Chapter 13: Southeast Asia
Chapter 14: Australia and Oceania
Specific Course Requirements:

Each student should have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office software. A basic understanding of web browsing and web components will be helpful as well. A computer that runs a high-speed connection would be best, but a dial-up connection will still suffice. 

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

Geography for Life: National Geography Standards Geography Education Standards Project Washington D.C. 1994. [For Education Majors Only] 

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

The testing process will be a timed event and occur entirely online. There will be NO proctored exams. Exams will cover a predetermined set of material (i.e. chapters) and be delivered in an essay format and short answer. The exams will cover specified course topics. The grades for each exam will be returned to the student within a reasonable timeframe. 

Grading Procedures:

The outcome objectives for this course will be determined by the student’s retention of material from:

  • Textbook chapters

  • Discussions

  • Homework Assignments

  • Exams

The exams for this course will reflect the pertinent aspects covered in each chapter, as well as material the instructor deems most integral to a sound geography education. Proficiency in the course will be determined by the student's performance on exams and homework assignments. 

Grading Scale:
Point RangeAssigned Grade
90-100%A
80-89%B
70-79%C
60-69%D
under 60%F

 

Assignments and Projects:

Your homework assignments this semester include:

  • National Atlas

  • Collision at Cajamarca

  • Careers in Geography

  • Ethnographic Interview

  • 8 textbook quizzes (see the companion Web site maps)

All of this material will become 30% of the student's total score. 

Class Participation:

Students MUST participate in all interactive aspects of the course if interaction is part of the course design. For example, students must communicate with the instructor and other students via message post if a discussion is slated for that day's topic. Students must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements. The instructor will send weekly updates as it warrants. The student is expected to check e-mail often and communicate any problems with the instructor. The student is expected e-mail queries to the instructor, and if the instructor deems those queries pertinent to the class as a whole, will carbon copy the class in the reply. 

Late Policy:

The online calendar will reflect the due dates for assignments the student should check ahead of time. The student is expected to plan ahead and be available to submit work at the appointed time. Missing these due date is not an option for students. A window of ample time will be built into the course. If the student has problems meeting these dates, then the student should reconsider classes in an online environment. 

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021