COURSE DESCRIPTION

Emphasizes the influence of geography on political systems and nation states. Discusses historic and current events including campaigns, wars, and treaties as functions of land, resources and energy requirements. Introduces the student to types and uses of maps.  Lecture 3 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

To illustrate the relationships between a country or region’s location and the political and economic factors arising from that location.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES

It is preferable, but not mandatory, that the student take a college level world history course covering events since 1900 prior to enrollment.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

A. To develop a better understanding of geographic location as a key influence on political and economic decisions.

B. To provide the opportunity for each student to complete a research paper on a historic or current event appropriate to political geography.

A. The role of globes, maps and charts in political geography

1. Advantages and limitations of globes
2. Selecting proper world map projections
3. Evaluating multinational boundaries

B. The influence of geography on political systems and nation states

C. Case studies of selected historic and current events as functions of land, resources and energy requirements

1. Ocean resources and boundaries
2. The partition of the Indian Sub-continent in 1947

D. Mineral resources and political geography

E. Energy resources and political geography

F. Transportation systems and political geography

G. International trade and political geography