THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

GEOGRAPHY 202

FALL 2007

 

Instructor: Dr. Roth

Office and office hours:
     133 Cook Hall
     2:00‑3:00 T Th; 2:00-3:00 M; 9:00-10:00 W; or by appointment

Telephone: 831-5443/5558
E-mail: rroth@radford.edu 

 

Course Content:  This course presents and explains the distribution patterns of the major elements of the physical, historical, and contemporary cultural geography of Virginia. The major goal of this course is that students gain an understanding of the physical and historical processes which have created the present landscapes of Virginia.

 

Course Format:  This is a lecture course. A variety of in-class and online activities and exercises will supplement the basic lecture format.

 

Outline:

 

Introduction.  Geographic perspectives:  The five themes in geography.  Maps.  Regions.

 

Physical geography.  Physiographic provinces.  Landforms.  Geologic history.

 

Climate.  Past, present, and future.

 

Hydrology.  Rivers, lakes, and wetlands.  Groundwater.  Watersheds.  Quantity and quality issues (water supply, stormwater management, the Chesapeake Bay).

 

Natural resources.  Forests, soils, minerals, and natural communities.  Issues:  Land use, habitat loss/fragmentation, exotic invasive species.  Habitat restoration, green infrastructure.

 

Historical geography of Virginia.  Pre-European cultural landscapes and settlement patterns.  Early colonial Virginia.  From independence into the 21st century.

 

Cultural landscapes of modern Virginia.  Urbanization patterns and demographics; growth and no-growth areas.  Infrastructure:  pipelines, powerlines, transportation, power generation, waste management.  The influence of public policy on settlement patterns.  Industrial and post-industrial landscapes; brownfields and greenfields.

 

Political geography.  The organization of government: Counties, towns, cities, census units, and political districts.

 

Industry.  A regional perspective.  Virginia and the Internet.  Coal mining.  Agriculture.

         

Texts and required readings:  Readings and supplemental maps are available via WebCT/Blackboard and the Internet since there is no modern textbook available for the course.  Homework assignments and in-class exercises will help students apply concepts and learn to map and analyze spatial data.

 

Tests and assignments: There will be a midterm and a final exam. Exams will typically have a mapping component and at least one essay question. A term paper will also be required.  There will be a short online quiz on most readings.  Quizzes, like exams, will be announced in advance.  Make-ups of quizzes and exams are not allowed unless arranged in advance or with a doctor's note.  There will also be occasional in-class exercises and graded homework assignments.  If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out whether there is an assignment.  Late submissions will be penalized.  Quiz and exam dates will be posted in advance on the WebCT calendar.

 

Final grades will be calculated as follows:

 

Term Paper: 15%

Quizzes: 25%

Midterm: 20%

Homework:  15%

Final: 25% (11:00 section: 8:00 a.m. Wednesday Dec. 12; 1:00 section: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 11)

 

Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code. Refer to your Student Handbook for details.