Geog400

GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Course Description: Geog. 400 - 5 Hours Credit (3 - 1.3 hours classes), GEC Course

Geographical analysis of North America; Spatial patterns and processes associated with resources, economic structure, population, urbanization, income, and ethnicity at national, regional, and urban scales. Some topics to be investigated are listed at the end of this outline.

Instructor: Dr. Robert D. Klingensmith Office: 2064 Founders Hall

Phone: (740) 366-9275

Text: Tom L. McKnight, Regional Geography of the United States and Canada

Evaluation:

The students will, depending on the class size, be responsible for at least two short oral presentations and one paper. In addition it is anticipated that the students will take an exam at mid-term and the end of the course.

Tentative Course Outline:

Week Topics

1 - The North American Continent (overview)
- The Physical Environment (climate, vegetation, and geology)
- Population (review of settlement patterns, were did the American people come from)
- Chapters 1,2,3

2 - The North American City (historical development, patterns, growth in the current century)
- Regions of the United States and Canada (looking for spatial pattern)
- Chapters 4 & 5

3 - Oral reports on articles related to U.S. or Canadian Geography
- The Atlantic Northeast (fishing and other natural resources, Newfoundland, tides in the Bay of Fundy, tourism)
- Chapter 6

4 - French Canada (the land tenure pattern, dualism in Canada, Quebec City and Montreal)
- Megalopolis (looking at the world's largest urbanized region, profile of New York City)
- The Appalachians and the Ozarks (coal industry and mining)
- Chapters 7, 8 & 9

5 - Mid-Term Exam
- The Inland South (decline of cotton)
- The Southeast Coast ( The Sun Belt)
- Chapters 10 & 11

6 - The Heartland (the industrial heartland of North America, concentration of industry within the region, corn belt)
- Chapters 12

7 - Student Reports

8 - The Great Plains and Prairies (ranching and wheat)
- The Rocky Mountains (the highland climates, tourism and Rocky Mt. National Park)
- The Intermontane West (water and the arid climates)
- Chapters 13, 14 & 15

9 - The California Regions (environmental problems)
- The Hawaiian Islands (volcanic activity in the islands)
- The North Pacific Coast (migration)
- Chapters 16, 17 & 18

10 - The Boreal Forest
- The Arctic
- Chapters 19 & 20
- Exam 2

Finals - Final Exam

Updated: 2/13/02
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Week	Topics
1	- The North American Continent (overview) - The Physical Environment (climate, vegetation, and geology) - Population (review of settlement patterns, were did the American people come from) - Chapters 1,2,3
2	- The North American City (historical development, patterns, growth in the current century) - Regions of the United States and Canada (looking for spatial pattern) - Chapters 4 & 5
3	- Oral reports on articles related to U.S. or Canadian Geography - The Atlantic Northeast (fishing and other natural resources, Newfoundland, tides in the Bay of Fundy, tourism) - Chapter 6
4	- French Canada (the land tenure pattern, dualism in Canada, Quebec City and Montreal) - Megalopolis (looking at the world's largest urbanized region, profile of New York City) - The Appalachians and the Ozarks (coal industry and mining) - Chapters 7, 8 & 9
5	- Mid-Term Exam - The Inland South (decline of cotton) - The Southeast Coast ( The Sun Belt) - Chapters 10 & 11
6	- The Heartland (the industrial heartland of North America, concentration of industry within the region, corn belt) - Chapters 12
7	- Student Reports
8	- The Great Plains and Prairies (ranching and wheat) - The Rocky Mountains (the highland climates, tourism and Rocky Mt. National Park) - The Intermontane West (water and the arid climates) - Chapters 13, 14 & 15
9	- The California Regions (environmental problems) - The Hawaiian Islands (volcanic activity in the islands) - The North Pacific Coast (migration) - Chapters 16, 17 & 18
10	- The Boreal Forest - The Arctic - Chapters 19 & 20 - Exam 2
Finals	- Final Exam