GEOG 1023 - Human Geography

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture None Lab None
Course Description: In this course students study and compare characteristics of human populations and societies. The processes underlying and explaining the geographic patterns of human activities are also examined, as are real world examples from many disciplines and diverse world regions. Study areas include human population dynamics (population growth and distribution, migrations, settlement patterns, urbanization), cultural geography (world languages and religions, folk and popular cultures), political and economic geography (political organization of the world, territorial issues, the global economy, and comparing more and less developed world regions), and land use (agriculture and industry).
MnTC Goals
5 History/Social/Behavioral Science, 8 Global Perspective

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. Global Human Diversity
   1. Languages and Religions
   2. Ethnicity
2. Introduction: Geography and Human Geography
3. The Concept of Culture
4. The Concept of Spatial Interaction and Spatial Behavior
5. The Political Ordering of Space
   1. The state and The Nation State
   2. Boundaries
6. Urban Systems and Urban Structures
   1. World Urbanization
   2. World Urban Diversity
7. World Livelihoods
   1. Primary Activities
   2. Secondary Activities
   3. Tertiary Activities
8. World Population Studies
   1. World Population Distribution
   2. World Population Growth
   3. The Demographic Cycle
   4. Population Controls
   5. Population Prospects

1. employ methods used by geographers and other spatial scientists to describe, analyze, and compare basic demographic, cultural, political, economic, and settlement characteristics of human groups around the world
2. use pertinent concepts and theoretical constructs to provide explanations for patterns in the occupation of the earth and ways of life by human groups
3. illustrate the inter-connections and relationships across space and boundaries by individuals and societies in a globalizing world

05. 03. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.

05. 04. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.
Competency 2 (7-10)
08. 01. Describe and analyze political, economic, and cultural elements which influence relations of states and societies in their historical and contemporary dimensions.

08. 02. Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences.

08. 03. Analyze specific international problems, illustrating the cultural, economic, and political differences that affect their solution.

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