Political Geography - Index

Instructor: J. Lopez-Jimenez, Ph.D.

Telephone:

507-389-1890

507-382-0497

Office:

218 I Armstrong Hall

Electronic mail:

jose.lopez@mnsu.edu

Office Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

If I am not in my office, please call

507-382-0497

Required Textbook:

Kaplan, Robert D. 2013.

The Revenge of Geography.

Random House.

Catalog Description

Spatial problems and structure of governments, focusing on countries of the world and their geographic internal order. Covers such topics as boundary problems, strategic locations, and geopolitical explanations of international and internal relations and conflicts.

Course Objectives

This course provides students with an introduction to the basic concepts of political geography. It is designed to familiarize students with topics about the political organization of our world.

The course is designed in part to reflect the interests of the students taking it. We examine how does political conflict vary by region. In addition, course participants are expected to identify the reasons of why do independent countries cooperate and compete with each other.

Expected Outcomes

At the end of the semester, the participants of this course should be able to:

1. Outline different geographic analysis methods that help people understand religious conflict, war, and political instability.

2. Integrate diverse theories that explain current global affairs about borders, territoriality, and the global economy.

Graduate Level Outcomes

1. Design geographic research that helps people understand religious conflict, war, and political instability.

2. Measure levels of religious, ethnic, and political tension that have the potential of becoming regional armed conflict.

3. Appraise research literature pertinent to contemporary geopolitics.

Course Requirements

Students should complete the reading of the relevant textbook material before the day of an exam or quiz.

It is the responsibility of the individual student to review the course content materials (book chapters and Power Point class notes) well in advance, and to be prepared to take regular quizzes.

Exam questions may be multiple-choice, matching, or true/false questions. They will cover materials discussed in your text. Your performance in the following five areas will determine your final course grade:

Exam 1 - 13% of course grade (49 points)

Exam 2 - 13% of course grade (49 points)

Exam 3 - 16% of course grade (60 points)

Exam 4 - 9% of course grade (35 points)

Homework + Quiz - 49% of course grade  

Throughout the semester, quizzes will be given every week. This is to measure your comprehension of the materials presented on your book.

These quizzes do not serve as punitive action; they are designed to assess your learning experience.

These short examinations are a small portion of the assignment/quiz grade, not exam grade.

Course Policies and Rules

Past experience indicates that grades correlate with regular and thorough review of course materials and the completion of chapter readings, and an absence on a test day is detrimental to one's grade.

Make-up exams will only be given in verifiable cases of hardship or illness (you need to provide a note from the physician, court, or police department to demonstrate a legitimate reason for missing a test).

Under special circumstances, I will give you additional time to complete a test. If you did not complete a test on time, I would give you a make-up exam if you provide a documented valid excuse.

Valid excuses include

• personal illness, as verified by a valid medical excuse;

• death or critical illness in the immediate family;

• participation in a university-sponsored activity;

• military service;

• law enforcement or public safety service.

If you examine MSUM’s Student Handbook (the “Students’ Responsibilities” section), you will find that:

“Individuals will respect and foster the academic endeavors of others. Minnesota State Mankato exists to promote learning, and as such, students must behave in such a way so as to allow the process of learning to take place by group or individual. Examples of violations include but are not limited to: harassment of a faculty member; disrupting teaching or learning... intentionally altering, inhibiting, or stealing another person's research...”

Disrespectful e-mails or hostile phone calls won't be tolerated and I will ask disruptive students to quit the course. A student may be dropped from a course by the administration if disrespectful behaviors persist and I recommend this action. Raised voices, temper tantrums, and offensive e-mails will not change my 26-year-old policy. I give occasional quizzes during the semester. Please check the course calendar regularly.

Reading Schedule: