Rural Geography - Index
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Rural Geography
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General Information
Instructor: J. Lopez, Ph.D.
Telephone:
507-389-1890
507-382-0497
Office:
218 I Armstrong Hall
Electronic mail:
jose.lopez@mnsu.edu
Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuesday and Thursday
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
If I am not in my office, please call
507-382-0497
What is Rural Geography?
This course introduces students to theoretical frameworks for analyzing processes of economic, environmental, and social change in rural areas. Essentially, the class is a geographical analysis of rural regions. In addition, the participants of this course are introduced to diverse topics pertinent to regional development. Human geographers study numerous issues about economic change and the physical characteristics of rural areas, and this course is a great opportunity to familiarize our students with these themes. For this reason, basic geographical principles for studying agrarian economies and societies are presented in this seminar.
Lectures
Lectures will focus on selected concepts dealing with rural development, modernization, and environmental change.
Course Objectives
Students who participate in this seminar will have the opportunity to contrast the most critical challenges that diverse rural communities are facing in different regions. In addition, our students will compare different research methods necessary to analyze issues pertinent to regional development.
Expected Outcomes
At the end of the semester, the participants of this course should be able to:
1. Compare the main agricultural systems of diverse geographic regions.
2. Classify rural economies and productive activities.
3. Identify the strengths and weakenesses of various rural development programs.
4. Categorise rural economic, environmental, and demographic patterns.
Exams
Exam questions may be definitions, multiple-choice, matching, or true/false questions. They will cover materials discussed in your text. Your performance in the following four areas will determine your final course grade:
Exam 1 - 20% of course grade
Exam 2 - 20% of course grade
Final Exam - 20% of course grade
Assignments, and Quizzes - 40% of course grade
Course Policies and Rules
It is my policy that disrespectful behavior, lack of consideration towards the participants of the course, tardiness, or any disturbance on your part will influence my decision regarding your final grade.
Attendance is not mandatory, but you are highly advised to attend. If you want to succeed in this course, you should come to every session. While about 90% of the material covered by the lectures could be found in the course book, some topics are not sufficiently covered by the text.
Even though attendance is not mandatory, points will be deducted for those students who leave class early, especially on days that test and quiz grades are returned (permission to leave early is required). I prefer that you are absent instead of having to witness students leaving the classroom disrespectfully.
Past experience indicates that grades correlate with attendance and an absence on a test day is detrimental to one's grade.
Please, consult any of your classmates for notes or handouts distributed during lecture if you miss a class session. Do not visit my office asking for old handouts. My duties during office hours are to clarify concepts and answer questions pertinent to tests or assignments, not tutoring (private instruction).
Under special circumstances, I will make electronic notes and Power Point slides available (you are expected to make an office appointment with me, and bring a PC-formatted disk or an USB flash drive so you can copy the lecture files). If you were absent, I would give you copies of the class notes or a make-up quiz 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 item number two lists the following policy:
“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; excessive noise that disrupts classes, studying or University activities; other activities that seriously disrupt the educational process; intentionally altering, inhibiting, or stealing another person's research.”
Cell phone use (of any kind – voice, texting, calculator, or photography…) is prohibited during class. Phones must be turned off or at least set them not to make noise during class time.
The following activities are not to be engaged in during class because they are disruptive and detract from the learning focus of the course: listening to distracting electronic devices such as MP3 players, I-Pods, CD players, Walkman radios, electronic games, pagers, Facebook/My Space surfing, internet, faxing, or web browsing. In essence, all students are required to turn off laptop computers before class starts to avoid distracting activities. Reading the newspaper or other materials not related to the course is not permitted during the lecture. Audio or video recording of lectures is not permitted.
Side conversations are discourteous to classmates, instructors, and guests. Conversations between classmates while I instruct won't be tolerated and I will ask disruptive students to leave the classroom if I deem it necessary. 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 rude behavior will not change my 24-year-old policy.
Class time will be reserved for the definition of concepts, discussion of topics, and explanation of analytical techniques. Office hours are devoted to answering your questions.
There may be in-class assignments or quizzes, which are a portion of your course average grade. I give these occasional quizzes during the last 15 minutes of the session, throughout the semester. I am not obligated to announce most quizzes in advance.
Quizzes and assignments may differ in value (points) depending on their complexity. Do not expect that an elementary assignment will have the same worth as a more complicated exercise.
Late or 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 your absence). Projects or exercises turned in late after the original assignment has already been graded and returned will be worth zero points. There will not be any make-up quizzes or group activities. However, if you miss only one quiz, that zero won't be included during the calculation of the final grade (remember you have only one chance!).
The course is lecture format, not cooperative learning. Geography is a different type of science that involves very specific facts and theories. Basically, come to class, listen to the lecture, and take notes. Stop me (politely!) if I go too fast or if you have a question. The type of participation that I expect from you could be asking good questions, providing helpful facts during the discussion of concepts, and clarifying ideas that might be considered complex by other students.
The syllabus serves as a guideline and is subject to change, depending on circumstances as the semester progresses.
If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the Disability Services Office at (507) 389-2825.
Class Schedule: Topics
Week 1 Origins of Agriculture
Week 2 Agricultural Revolutions
Week 3 Africa's Rural Geography
Week 4 Environmental Issues
Week 5 North America's Rural Geography
Test 1 - February 16
Week 6 Latin America's Rural Geography
Week 7 Europe's Rural Geography
Week 8 Rural Economic Geography
Week 9 Energy Issues - Part I
Week 10 Rural Labor Force
Test 2 - March 28
Week 11 Agricultural Systems
Week 12 Energy Issues - Part II
Week 13 Global Issues
Week 14 Tourism, Eco-tourism and Green Development
Week 15 Review
Final Exam - May 2, 10:15 am
Grading Criteria
4 points (A+)
3.75 points (A)
3.5 points (A-)
3.25 points (B+)
3 points (B)
2.75 points (B-)
2.5 points (C+)
2.25 points (C)
2 points (C-)
1.75 points (D+)
1.5 points (D)
1.25 points (D-)
0 points (F)