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Department of Geography & Urban Planning
University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI 54901
U.S.A.
bowenj@uwosh.edu
Telephone: (920) 424-4103
Fax: (920) 424-0292

Geography 311

[Indicative only -- Refer to the syllabus for a specific semester for the actual course details.]

Course Abstract

The major objective of this course is to explore geographic patterns of economic activity. These dynamic patterns are evident in the spatial organization of production, distribution, consumption, and finance. In this course, you will learn the concepts, theories, and methodologies used by geographers to analyze economic change. You will be able to apply this knowledge to interpret changes in the global economy and to assess the impact of those changes upon specific places.

In this course, we will explore the geography of people. We will examine the spatial patterns that describe both the mundane and the fundamental features of our lives, from shopping to language, from politics to garbage. We will try to identify the forces that give rise to those patterns and look at how they have changed over time.

Required Text
Frederick Stutz and Barney Warf. The World Economy: Resources, Location, Trade & Development. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Grading:
Exam #1: 80 points
Exam #2: 80 points
Retail Location Project: 70 points
Globalization Project: 110 points
Field Trip Report: 20 points
Reading Quizzes (4): 20 points
Class Participation: 20 points

There will be two exams. The second exam is not cumulative. Each exam will contain a mixture of true/false, multiple choice, problem-solving, and short answer questions.

In the first of two major projects, you will use a variety of different kinds of data to choose and defend a plausible location in the Fox Valley for a retail facility of your choice. And for your final project, you will examine the impact of globalization on the geography of an industry or on a region of your choice.

Schedules permitting, we will make a class field trip to two nearby paper plants and each student will be required to write a brief report relating what he or she learned during the field trip to the material presented in class.

There will be several quizzes based on the reading assignments.

Last updated:
January 28, 2008