Overview
Geography 200: World Regional Geography is a junior-level course designed to provide students with a systematic introduction to the major geographical regions of the modern world. The course starts by exploring the opportunities and pitfalls in using maps and different scales of analysis, surveying broad global trends, and critically engaging with the concept of globalization in geographic analysis. The course then investigates how these trends are playing out in major regions of the world: North, Middle, and South America; Europe; Russia and Central Asia; North Africa and Southwest Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia; East Asia; Southeast Asia; Australia and New Zealand; the Pacific realm; and the Polar regions.
This course will guide students through an analysis of the physical geography, links and barriers, demographic patterns, economic assets and liabilities, and the human potentials and prospects of each region. It will also introduce students to the methods and perspectives of the discipline of geography, focusing on the relationships between human societies and their natural and built environments.
GEOG 200: 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 a 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 to World Regional Geography
Unit 2: The North American Realm
Unit 3: The Middle American Realm
Unit 4: The South American Realm
Unit 5: The European Realm
Unit 6: The Russian and Central Asian Realm
Unit 7: The North African and Southwest Asian Realm
Unit 8: The Sub-Saharan African Realm
Unit 9: The South Asian Realm
Unit 10: The East Asian Realm
Unit 11: The Southeast Asian Realm
Unit 12: The Austral Realm, Pacific Realm, and Polar Regions
Learning outcomes
GEOG 200 has four major learning outcomes. After completing this course, students will be able to:
- Explain world and global events from a regional perspective.
- Differentiate the world’s major realms and regions in terms of a variety of characteristics including physical setting, population distribution, cultural diversity, economic assets and liabilities, political geography, and levels of development.
- Critically examine the concept of globalization and its discontents using key geographical concepts.
- Critically analyze structures of settler colonialism and Indigenous political movements responding to settler colonial structures globally.
Evaluation
To receive credit for GEOG 200, you must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent)on both the midterm and the final exam and an overall grade of at least D (50 percent) for the course.
You will be evaluated on your understanding of the concepts presented in the course and on your ability to apply those concepts. Your final grade in the course will be based on the marks achieved for the following activities.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 20% |
| Assignment 2 | 20% |
| Assignment 3: Part 1 | 10% |
| Assignment 3: Part 2 | 20% |
| Midterm Exam (covers Units 1 to 6) | 15% |
| Final Exam (covers Units 7 to 12) | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Nijman, J., Shin, M., & Muller, P. O. (2020). Geography: Realms, regions, and concepts (18th ed.). Wiley.
Other Resources
All other materials are available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you 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 about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the GEOG 200 challenge registration, you must achieve an overall course grade of D (50 percent) or greater to pass.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment | 50% |
| Exam | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form