Instructor: Alan P. Marcus

Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

E-mail: amarcus@geo.umass.edu

Office Hours (Location: Shade Tree Lab – Next to the Faculty Club and behind Morrill Science Buildings): TEL: (413) 577-2258

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

· To introduce students to the main themes of human geography

· To understand at all the different ways of looking at the world as a geographer

· To encourage individual interests of world cultures, places, and the environment

· To gain an understanding of the various problems confronting the world today

· To introduce students to current events as a source for learning

· To help students strengthen critical thinking skills

· To encourage active involvement by students in the geographic learning process

· To encourage students to speak up and give feedback in class

· To help students develop an appreciation for the vast world we live in today

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the discipline of human geography. We will study the themes and concepts of human geography through the current issues and, the large questions which guide them. Lectures and reading will focus on the geographic aspects of cultural diversity, population issues, states vs. nations, development, urbanization and the human transformation of the earth. We will cover major subdivisions of human geography including cultural geography, population geography, economic geography, social geography, urban geography and political geography. (Gen.Ed. SB, G)

Readings

Required Textbook package (NOTE: Texbook and Atlas come as a package). Available at the UMass Annex and Jeffrey Amherst Bookstores:

Fellman, Getis and Getis. 2004. Human Geography: Landscapes of Human Activities, 8^th Edition. Boston + Allen, John L. 2002. Student Atlas of World Geography, 3^rd Edition

Methods of Instruction:

Lectures, class presentations, assignments, guest-lecturers, discussions, documentary films, textbook & article readings.