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Courses

Global Studies (GLST) 200

World Regional Geography (Revision 2)

Revision 2 closed, replaced by current version.

Delivery Mode:Individualized study with video component*.

Credits:3

Area of Study:Social Science

Prerequisite:None.

Precluded Course:GLST 200 is a cross-listed course—a course listed under two different disciplines—with GEOG 200. GLST 200 may not be taken for credit by students who have obtained credit for GEOG 200.

Centre:Centre for Global and Social Analysis

GLST 200 has a Challenge for Credit option.

Course website

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Overview

GLST 200 is designed to provide a systematic introduction to the major geographical regions of the modern world. The course examines Europe, Russia, North America, the Pacific Rim, Central America, South America, Islamic North Africa and Southwest Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia. It provides an analysis of the physical geography, links and barriers, demographic patterns, economic assets and liabilities, and human potentials and prospects of each region. It also introduces the methods and perspectives of the discipline of geography, focusing on the relationships between human societies and their natural and built environments.

World Regional Geography is intended as a foundation course for students in Geography and Global Studies, but it is also suitable for students with interest in studying the geographical regions of the planet or in acquiring a background understanding of contemporary world events from a spatial perspective. The course is designed for learners with little or no previous university experience.

Outline

Unit 1: Introduction: World Regional Geography

Unit 2: Resilient Europe: Confronting New Challenges

Unit 3: Russia’s Fractious Federation

Unit 4: North America: The Postindustrial Transformation

Unit 5: Geographic Dynamics of the Western Pacific Rim

Unit 6: Middle America: Collision of Cultures

Unit 7: South America: Continent of Contrasts

Unit 8: North Africa / Southwest Asia: The Energy of Islam

Unit 9: Sub-Saharan Africa: Realm of Reversals

Unit 10: South Asia: Resurgent Regionalism

Unit 11: East Asia: China and Its Sphere

Unit 12: Southeast Asia: Between the Giants

Evaluation

To receive credit for GLST 200, you must achieve a grade of at least 50 per cent on the final examination and achieve a minimum course composite grade of “D” (50 percent). The weighting of the course assignments is as follows:

Assignment 1:
Mapping exercises and short answer questions

16%
Assignment 2:
Mapping exercises and short answer questions

16%
Assignment 3:
Mapping exercises and short answer questions

8%
Assignment 4:
Research essay

25%
Examination
35%
Total
100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

H. J. de Blij and Peter O. Muller, Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts, 12th ed. New York: Wiley, 2006. (This textbook will be referred to as the “de Blij and Muller text” or “de Blij and Muller.”)

Peter O. Muller and Elizabeth Muller Hames, Study Guide: Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts, 12th ed. New York: Wiley, 2006. (This will be referred to as the “Study Guide.”)

Howard Veregin, ed., Goode's World Atlas, 21st ed. Chicago: Rand McNally, 2005.

Other Materials

The course materials also include a student manual.

Materials Not Included in the Course Package

The twenty-six half-hour video programs in the series, The Power of Place, are required viewing for students in Geography 200/Global Studies 200. North American students can access these programs online or they may borrow the series on DVDs from the Athabasca University Library. Overseas students must have access to an internet server and computer that is capable of downloading and playing the video programs. The DVDs are not available to overseas students.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

Opened in Revision 2, January 7, 2008.

View previous syllabus

Last updated by SAS  09/10/2013 11:52:40