A systematic survey of the geographic regions of the world.  In
 each region the physical, human and cultural geography will be
 examined.

Course objective:

 At the end of the course the student should have an understanding
 of the nations of the world, their location, economies, and major geographic
 features.  General world geography should help prepare students
 for the EXCET exams in general education, history, and social sciences.

Instructor:  Dr. Gene J. Paull
 
 

Office:	M-0, R. 112A, 882-6693
Office hrs.	M - 9:30-10:30 AM, 3:00-4:00 PM, W- 9:30-10:30 AM, 5:30-7:00 PM, TTh - 9:30-10:30 AM, 1:30-3:00 PM
E-mail	gene.paull@utb.edu
Home page	http://blue.utb.edu/paullgj

Course mechanics:

Four lecture exams, drop lowest  - 300 pts.
Map quizzes  - 100 pts.
Attendance - 25 pts.  -

Total possible - 425 pts.

Your point total will be divided by the maximum number of possible points resulting in a percentage:

A = 383 points, B = 340 points, C = 298 points, D = 255 points

UNDERGRADUATE SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
(Applies to new and returning UTB/TSC students registered for classes
 in the 2007-2008 academic year)

UTB/TSC monitors academic progress every fall and spring semester to identify those students who are experiencing difficulty with their courses.  Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is based upon two components:  GPA of 2.0 or higher and successful course completion of at least 70% of course work attempted. Students remain in good standing with the university and Financial Aid when both criteria are met.  Students who do not maintain these required minimum standards will be placed on probation or suspension as appropriate.  The complete Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and the Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid policy can be found in the current Undergraduate Catalog

Textbook:

 de Blij, H.J. and Muller, Peter O
      2006 Geography:  Realms, Regions, and Concepts, 11th edition.
       New York: Wiley.

Attendance:

Attendance may taken; you are responsible for all material covered in class.

VIRTUAL RESERVE ROOM!

Click here on http://blue.utb.edu/paullgj/geog1303/reserveroom.html to find valuable course information.  There will be an old exam file, notes, and geography links.

Important links - Websites –  CIA – cia fact book
  Weather Channel - http://www.weather.com
 

Important dates:

Last day to withdraw with a W - Monday, October 29, 2007
Final exam -   Monday, December 17, 2007, 11:00 AM

Exam policies:

Exams begin promptly at the beginning of each assigned class period.  No exams will be issued once the first student has left classroom upon completion of their exam. Failure to take the exam will result in a grade of 0 (zero).

Make-up exams may be permitted under mitigating circumstances. Arrangements for a make-up must be made prior to the official commencement of the exam in question.

Final Exams:
The final exam will begin promptly per printed UTB/TSC course schedule. No final exam will be issued once the first student has left classroom upon completion of their exam.  Failure to take the final exam will result in a grade of 0 (zero).

                             DO NOT BE LATE FOR THE FINAL!

Policy on Cheating

Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic activities. Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from UTB/TSC. “Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.” Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of UTB/TSC, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.

a.Cheating includes:

       1. copying from a test paper of another student, engaging in written, oral, or any
                   means of communication with another student during a test, or giving aid to or
                   seeking aid from another student during a test;
               2. possession and/or use during a test of materials that are not authorized by the
                   person giving the test, such as class notes, books, or specifically designed
                   “crib notes;”
               3. using, obtaining, or attempting to obtain by any means the whole or any part of
                   an unadministered test, test key, homework solution, or computer program
               4. collaborating with or seeking aid from another student for an assignment without
                   authority;
               5. substituting for another person, or permitting another person to substitute for
                   one’s self, to take a test; and
               6. falsifying research data, laboratory reports, and/or other academic work offered
                   for credit.any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the
                   attempt to commit such act.

b.Plagiarism includes the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift,or obtaining by any means another’s work, and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own academic work offered for credit.

c.Collusion includes the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic
assignments offered for credit or collaboration with another person to commit a violation of any
provision of the rules on scholastic dishonesty.

Syllabus statement on disabilities:

Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who wish to request academic adjustments in this class should notify the Disability Services Office early in the semester so that the appropriate accommodations may be made.  In accordance with federal law, a student requesting academic adjustments must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Services counselor.  For more information, call or visit the Counseling Center at Tandy 205 (956-882-8292).
 
 

I.  Introduction
 
Physical and human geography
Climates of the world 
Population distribution
Geographic regions

II.  Europe
 
Landscape and history
Western Europe 
Southern Europe
Eastern Europe
 

III.  North America

Urban geography
North America - Physical Geography
United States
Canada
Regions of North America
 

IV.  Russia

History and geography
Russian republics
Heartland vs. Rimland
The Caucasus
 

V.  The Islamic World

 Definition       pp. 318-322
 Civilization       pp. 322-325
 Islam        pp. 326-332
 Petroleum       pp. 333-337
 Regional geography      pp. 338-371

VI.  Middle America

 Mesoamerica      pp. 184-191
 Mainland vs. Rimland     pp. 192-195
 Caribbean       pp. 213-221
 Mexico and Central America    pp. 205-212

VII.  South America

 Prehistory       pp. 222-228
 Culture areas      pp. 229-230
 Urban geography      pp. 231-233
 Regional geography      pp. 234-253
 Brazil        pp. 254-263

VII.  Sub-Saharan Africa

 Physical geography      pp. 264-269
 Medical geography      pp. 270
 Agriculture       pp. 271-274
 Historical geography     pp. 275-285
 Regional geography      pp. 286-317
 Sub-Saharan Africa     pp. 346-370

FINAL EXAM! Monday, December 17, 2007, 11:00 AM

Dr. Gene Paull Home Page
Geography 1303 Course Outline
Geography 1303 Reserve Room