UMD at College Park - Geography Department                                    Meets: MTuWTh 9:00 – 12:30

Instructor: Dr. Mila Zlatic                                                                        Le Frak Hall,   Room: 1222

E-mail:  mz46@umail.umd.edu                                                             Office Hours: after class

                                                                                                 

 

Population Geography – GEOG 435

 

Syllabus – Winter 2006

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVE

 

To increase student awareness of local and global population change, to better understand the influences that population growth and change have on our lives, and to better understand population dimensions at various geographic scales. Basic concepts of population studies, demographic perspectives, future trends, and population issues are discussed. We identify what population events are occurring, why they are occurring, and haw we are coping with them. What are we doing to shape the future of demographic events? We explain future trends in population and discuss population projections are used by non-geographers. In addition to basic concepts, demographic events occurring at various geographic scales, and future trends in population, some attention is given to demographic analysis in social policy and political planning.

 

REQUIRED TEXT  

 

Gary L. Peters and Robert P. Larkin. (2004), Population Geography: Problems, Concepts and Prospects. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS

 

Web sources, articles and databases will be used to supplement the text and will be posted on WebCT

     

REQUIREMENTS

 

Class meetings, required readings, homework assignments, attendance, discussions, 3 exams, PowerPoint presentation of homework results, WebCT participation and on time posting of all homework assignments and PowerPoint presentation.

WebCT   

This course will be using WebCT - www.courses.umd.edu/studentmanuel. It is mandatory to get aquatinted with this tool. For further information go to the OIT web site: http://www.oit.umd.edu/pt 

 

GRADING

 

A grade will be based on three exams (40 percent), homework assignment (40 percent), PowerPoint presentation (10 percent) and class participation including attendance (10 percent). Participation consists of attendance and participation in discussions. Students are required to come to class prepared to discuss daily readings. They are expected to post all the required work on WebCT on time. There will be 10% (one grade) penalty for late posting. Students who do not appear in class to participate in discussions, do not post PowerPoint presentation on WebCT, do not give an oral presentation, or do not take a test will be given a score of "0" for each segment of the requirement.   There will be no final exam in this course. Final grade will be posted on TESTUDO 48 hours after the last exam. No personal e-mail enquires will be honored.

 

 

Task

Percentage

Grade

1.Attendance and participation in class discussions on assigned readings

2.Three Reports/Homework Assignments 

3.PowerPoint and oral presentation

4.Three Exams

 

 

10 %

40 %

10 %

40 %

 

A  (90 – 100)

B  ( 89 – 80)

C  ( 79 – 70)

D  (69 – 60)

F  (59 <  )

 

 

Make up / snow days

 

I will not be able to give a lecture on Tuesday, January 9. The make up day is Friday January12. The make up snow day is Friday, January 19

 

 

GENERAL HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS

 

·         Each homework has to consist of data (required information and structure will be provided by the instructor) and a written report –  minimum 3 – maximum 5 pages;

·         Assignment  has to be typed,  Font 12, 1” margin on each side, double-spaced text;

·         No cover page, no student name, no ID number, no course number, or instructor’s name on homework assignments;

·         Homework number (1, 2 or 3) has to be written at the top of the text on the first page followed by the TITLE;

·         No quotes allowed in the text (no exception);

·         Homework that does not fulfill all of the above requirements will be graded 10 percent lower. 

·         Late homework will be graded 10 percent lower.

 

Before submitting homework assignment make sure it has:

     

·         Evidence to support your main points followed by explanation;

·         Insure that each sentence leads logically and smoothly to the next;

·         Smooth transition from one paragraph to the next;

·         Do not use “I,” “you,” or “we” in the text;

·         No slang; correct spelling;

·         Compliance with basic grammar rules;

·         Proper source citation format has to be used;

·         Paper that does not show diligent attention to mechanical details (spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure), and reveal a careless approach to reading and writing will be downgraded automatically 10 percent.

 

 

 

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS

 

If you have a documented disability, you should contact Disability Support Services 0126 Shoemaker Hall.  Each semester students with documented disabilities should apply to DSS for accommodation request forms which you can provide to your professors as proof of your eligibility for accommodations.  The rules for eligibility and the types of accommodations a student may request can be reviewed on the DSS web site at http://www.counseling.umd.edu/DSS/receiving_serv.html.

 

 

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES

 

The University System of Maryland policy provides that students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs, students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to individual participation in religious observances.  It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance.  Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later than the end of the schedule adjustment period.

 

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY  
 
The University of Maryland has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council.  This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students.  The code prohibits students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents, and forging signatures.  The University Senate encourages instructors to ask students to write the following signed statement on each examination or assignment:  "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (or assignment).”
 

For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html

 

 

 

Course Outline and Tentative Class Schedule

 

Date                Topic                                                                                                  Readings

 

January 2        Overview of World Population                                                            Peters/Intro

                        Population Growth and Change                                                          Peters /Chapter 1

U.N. Predicts Much Slower Growth in Population/on WebCT           Colum Lynch http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg                                         

January 3        Population Data                                                                                  Peters /Chapter 2

 

January 4        Population Distribution and Composition                                           Peters /Chapter 3

www.unhchr.chf (see required texts for full reference)

 

January 8        Exam 1– on 1/10 - 9:00-10:00 - Chapters 1, 2, 3 lectures and web sources

                        Homework 1 due on 1/9

Demographic Theories                                                                       Peters /Chapter 4

                        http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/malthus/malthus.1.html

                                   

January 10      Mortality and morbidity (AIDS)                                                            Peters /Chapter 5

                                   

January 11      Fertility concepts and measurements                                                Peters /Chapter 6

                       

January 12      Remember: Make up day!!

                        Family Planning                                                                                 Peters /Chapter 7

The Origins and Evolution of Family Planning Programs in   

Developing Countries http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1276/

 

January 15      Martin Luther King Birthday (Campus closed)                     

                        Homework 2 due on 1/15

 

January 16      Exam 2 – on 1/16 – 9:00 – 10:00 - Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7 lectures and web sources

                        Migration and Mobility                                                                          Peters /Chapter 8

                        http://www.un.org/esa/population

                                               

January 17      International Migration                                                

                                                                                                                       

January 18      Population and the Environment                                                         Peters /Chapter 9

      Population and Food Supply                                                               Peters /Chapter 10

                        Homework 3 due on 1/20

 

January 22      Exam 3 - on 1/22 – 9:00 – 10:00 - Chapters 8, 9, 10 lectures and web sources     

                        Students’ PowerPoint presentations on homework findings