Lake Atitlan Volcanic Caldera
Guatemala, July 26, 2005

Instructor - Dr. Gene J. Paull      Office - M-0, R. 114a
     Office hrs.:  MWF - 9:00-9:50 AM, TTh 2:00-4:00 PM
     E-mail - gene.paull@utb.edu
     Phone - (956) 882-6693    

Important dates -

Last day to drop without a recorded grade - Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011

Last day to drop with a W - Friday, October 28, 2011
    Final exam - Wednesday, December 9, 2011, 11:00 AM

Course Objective

     The purpose of Geography 3333 is to provide the student an in depth
 understanding of the countries located south of the U.S.-Mexican border.
 The course involves more than a physical description of the natural
 and cultural environments of Latin America.  The student should have
 an appreciation of the historical antecedents of the modern countries
 and current social and political issues which dominate the area.  The
 emphasis will be human/social geography of Latin America as
 opposed to physical geography.

     E-mail - gene.paull@utb.edu
     Home page - http://blue.utb.edu/paullgj

       Conference of Latin American Geographers - current research in
              Geography of Latin America
       Lonely Planet Travel Guides - back country travel
       Miami Herald - daily news coverage about Latin America
       Moon Publications Travel Guides - back country travel
       South American Explorers- has lots of links for the adventurous
              traveler
Prensa Libre - Guatemala City Newspaper
La Jornada - Mexico City Newspaper
Borderland Beat - News about northern Mexico/SW U.S.
Blog del Narco - Probably best source for current information along the border
El Mllenio
Revista Proceso
El Bravo - El Periodico de Tamaulipas

Textbook:  Blouet, Brian W. and Blouet, Olwyn M. (editors)
      2010 Latin America and the Caribbean:  A Systematic
      Regional Survey.  New York:  John Wiley and Sons.

     All students will be required to present a project for the class and should cite 10 published sources.  A bibliography of relevant books will be given to each student as a reference aid.  The topics can include any topic relating to current or historical geography.  A sample list of possible topics follows:  

European migration to Argentina
  Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon
Caribbean genetic diversity
Ethnomusic - Caribe, Andean, Mexico
Spanish Jewish settlements in colonial northeast Mexico
Central America mara gangs
Economic and political impacts of narcotics trade in Colombia and Mexico
  Spanish Conquest and depopulation in colonial Mexico
  Language and ethnic diversity in southern Mexico
  Revitalization movements and political insurrection in Central America
  Tropical agricultural systems in Costa Rica
  Volcanic activity in the eastern Caribbean
  Race and ethnic identity in the Eastern Caribbean/Central America
  Population geography and overpopulation in Latin America
  La Huasteca - indigenous groups
  Peasant/political movements in southern Mexico
  Indigenous diets and nutrition
  Folk music of a specific region of Latin America
  Specific aspects of Precolumbian societies
  Population growth along the United States-Mexico border
  Crime and violence in Latin America
Kidnappings and drug violence in Mexico
Indigenous groups of northern Mexico
Venomous reptiles of northern Mexico
Haiti - ethnic history, seismic activity
Importance of futbol (soccer) in Latin America - social implications
"La Violencia" Colombia
Indigenous political movements in Peru and Bolvia
Peruvian prison system
Latin America migration - internal and international
The Brazilian Favela
Geography of narco cartels

The presentation should be 30 minutes in length and a bibliography submitted to the instructor. The instructor needs to be notified by October 4, 2010.  The presentation dates will be during the month of November, 2010.  In addition graduate students will have to write a research paper to accompany the presentation.  The paper should be written in the style of an academic journal and should include a literature cited section.

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From the Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs

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.  

Introduction
     Physical Geography of Latin America,  Blouet - pp. 1-50
     Mainland vs. Rimland
Colonial Latin America, Blouet - pp.  51-97
     Native population at contact
     Population decline
     Race formation
     Films - Tikal, Copan
     Films - Bolivia and Dominican Republic
Agricultural systems, Blouet - pp. 206-211
     Film - Slash and Burn Agriculture

Population geography,   Blouet - pp. 127-160
Urban geography of Latin America,   Blouet - pp  161-198
Peasant societies in Latin America
Latin America and political geography
     The Insurgent State
     Film - Fire in the Mind

Regional geographies - Mexico and,   Blouet, pp. 235-310
     Central America
     Film - Appeals to Santiago
Regional geography - West Indies,   Blouet - pp. 310-366
Regional geography - Andes,   Blouet - pp. 367-400
     Film - Fiesta of Q'olloriti
Regional geography - Brazil,   Blouet - pp. 437-458
     Film - Brazil
Regional geography - Argentina and Chile,   Blouet - pp. 459-504
     The Dirty War
     Film on Argentina