Regional geography 1900-1-GREG
As part of the lecture, the natural determinants of human economic activity in various natural environmental conditions will be presented, along with theoretical and practical issues related to the assessment of the natural environment for human economic purposes, illustrated with examples from selected regions. Thematic issues in the regional overview include: Europe, Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (Russia), East Asia (China), Southeast Asia (Indonesia), the Middle East (Israel), North Africa and Sub‑Saharan Africa, North America (Canada), South America (Andean countries, Brazil), and New Zealand.
During the practical classes, the following topics are covered: the role of regional geography in the contemporary world and in research; defining and delimiting a region using selected examples; the concept of a region as a unit of analysis and action; the natural environment as a determinant of human activity; and factors shaping spatial ranges, illustrated with examples of crop cultivation.
Methods for achieving learning outcomes: a written exam (covering the lecture component). Failure to pass the practical classes prevents the student from taking the lecture exam. Only if the exam is passed with a positive grade (at least a satisfactory grade) is it possible to receive a final grade, calculated as follows: the grade from the practical classes constitutes 45%, and the grade from the lecture constitutes 55% of the final course grade.
Methods for achieving learning outcomes in the practical component include: active participation in classes and preparation of five assignments (Assignments 1, 2, 3, and 4 – weight 1; Assignment 5 – weight 1.5). Assignments must be submitted (in the case of written work) or presented (in the case of oral presentations) two weeks after they are assigned. Every additional two weeks of delay results in the loss of 1 point for the assignment. A total of 50 points can be earned (a pass requires 30 points). Additional points may be awarded for active participation (1 extra point for a class with high activity confirmed by the instructor). One absence from practical classes may remain unexcused.
Estimated number of hours a student must devote to achieving the defined learning outcomes:
Lecture: 2 ECTS (50 hours) – including 30 hours of direct contact with the instructor (class participation). Student’s independent work: 20 hours, including 5 hours of reading the literature and 15 hours of exam preparation.
Practical classes: 1 ECTS (25 hours) – including 15 hours of direct contact with the instructor (class participation) and 10 hours of independent student work, preparing partial assignments (presented during classes or submitted in written form).
Main fields of studies for MISMaP
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Directional effects: K_W01, K_W02, K_W03, K_U07, K_K04
Educational outcomes:
After completing the course, the student should:
- know the definitions and the diversity of concepts in regional geography;
- indicate the basic criteria for delimiting geographical regions,
- have knowledge of the dependency methods - natural environment and human economy on the example of selected regions
- indicate the place and importance of regional geography in contemporary geographic research
- to characterize the geographical regions of the world in terms of natural and economic dependencies.
After completing the course, the student should acquire the following skills:
- assess the effects of various natural factors on human management in various types of environments;
- demonstrate awareness of the latest concepts in regional geography;
- demonstrate knowledge of the methods of measuring / assessing phenomena included in the regional geography.
Assessment criteria
Failure to pass the exercises makes it impossible to take the exam from the lecture. Only in the case of a positive exam grade (minimum grade is sufficient), it is possible to obtain the final grade calculated as follows: the tutorial grade is 45%, and the lecture grade is 55% of the final subject grade.
The grade for the exercises is issued on the basis of the sum of points for 5 exercises performed during the classes (10 points for each). Exercises are given two weeks after their task (every two weeks of delay means a loss of 1 point).
Lecture: written exam, conducted remotely in the academic year 2020/2021.
Practical placement
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Bibliography
Fouberg E.H., Moseley W.G., 2015, Understanding World Regional Geography, Wiley.
Gilbert A., 1988, The new regional geography in French and English-speaking countries, Progress in Human Geography, 12, 2, 208-228.
Kałuski S., 1997, Granice polityczne, naturalne i sztuczne - anachronizm czy aktualny problem, Prace i Studia Geograficzne, t. 19.
Kondracki J., 1995, O geografii regionalnej, Przegląd Geograficzny, LXVII, z.1-2.
Murphy A.B., O’Loughlin J., 2009, New Horizons for Regional Geography, Eurasian Geography and Economics, 50, 3, 241–251. DOI: 10.2747/1539-7216.50.3.241
Pudup M., 1988, Arguments within Regional Geography, Progress in Human Geography, 12, 3, 369-390.
Weber W., Yannas S., 2014, Lessons from vernacular architecture, London/New York: Routledge.
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes: