Global Studies (GLST) 200

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, Global Studies, and Environmental Studies programs, but it is also suitable for students with interest in studying the geographical regions of the planet or in acquiring better background understanding of contemporary world events. It is designed for learners with little or no previous university experience. There are no prerequisites for this course.

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: Middle America: Collision of Cultures

Unit 6: South America: Continent of Contrasts

Unit 7: Sub-Saharan Africa: Realm of Reversals

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

Unit 9: South Asia: Resurgent Regionalism

Unit 10: East Asia: China and Its Sphere

Unit 11: Southeast Asia: Between the Giants

Unit 12: The Austral and Pacific Realms and Polar Futures

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	Assignment 2	Assignment 3	Assignment 4	Exam	Total
10%	15%	15%	25%	35%	100%

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

Course Materials

Textbooks

Other Materials

All other materials are available online.

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. The two ways in which you may gain access to these programs are described below.

1. You may view The Power of Place online at: http://www.learner.org/resources/series180.html. All the programs are available.
2. You may borrow The Power of Place series on DVDs at no charge from the Athabasca University Library. The DVDs are packaged in two sets, programs 1 to 12 and programs 13 to 26, however, you are advised to order both sets at the beginning of the course; programs from the second set will be needed by week 4 of the study schedule. Please contact the Library Information Desk immediately to arrange for the DVDs to be mailed to you (see the section of the Student Manual titled “Library Services”). The Library staff will explain the Library's system for circulating DVDs and books to students.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the GLST 200 challenge registration, you must achieve an overall course grade of “D” (50 percent) or greater to pass.

Assignment	Exam	Total
35%	65%	100%

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form