Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | GEO-2020-VO01 - World Regions & Cultures

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Christopher Hardaway
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Philip Crossman

General Education Requirements

VSCS Social Sciences

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

Introduces students to major regions and countries of the world. The role of culture, history, and environment in current world affairs will be explored. World regional issues are examined in the context of globalization and the economic and cultural connections between people and nations.

Essential Objectives

1. Define world regions based upon environmental and cultural criteria such as climate, location, topography, language, religion, ethnicity, politics, economics, and natural resources.
2. Analyze maps showing cultural and other related phenomena and develop skills in reading and interpreting spatial data.
3. Identify basic cartographic features of world regions and selected countries and describe their major physical, cultural, and economic traits.
4. Discuss the concept of sustainable development in the context of selected countries.
5. Examine the historical development of the global economy and modern geopolitical world order.
6. Interpret places in terms of interaction between culture, technology, the physical environment, and their links with other places.
7. Describe environmental and human impacts associated with increasing industrialization and globalization on different world regions.
8. Demonstrate critical thinking about geographic information and the current events and ideas associated with it as presented in newspapers, on television, and on the Web.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Spring 2024 textbook details will be available on 2023-11-06. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

GEO-2020-VO01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

Discussion Posts and Replies -- Online

Instructor Videos -- Online

Film clips -- Online

Quizzes -- Online

Final Project -- Submit or upload online

Final Exam -- Submit or upload online

Evaluation Criteria

Discussion Posts (14 x 10 pts) 140 points

Discussion Replies (13 x 5 pts) 70 points

Quizzes (14 x 15 pts) 210 points

Final Project Thesis 10 points

Final Project Outline 10 points

Final Project 100 points

Final Exam 100 points

Total Points Available: 635

Class Participation can raise final grade up to two percentage points

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Missing more than three classes can jeopardize your ability to earn a satisfactory grade. If you were taking a ground course that would mean showing up for a meaningful portion of a class meeting. Attending an online course (like thisone) means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity.

Discussions are a critical part of the online course. Minimum requirements are posted (response and one reply), but continued discussion is encourage and will be graded more markedly as the course progresses.

Guidelines for Participation and Communication:-

-We will create a safe and respectful atmosphere for discussion

-treat others with consideration and respect

-understand that each person's personal experience is unique

-agree to keep specifics of class conversation within class

-respect others' experiences and point of view as well as your own

-adhere to high level of engagement and personal responsibility for learning, questioning, and making connections

-promote a conscious effort to stay away from false generalizations

Missing & Late Work Policy

Late assignments will be automatically deducted 10% for each day late down to a maximum of 40% of the awarded grade. Missing assignments will be awarded a zero. If there are extenuating circumstances you need to proactively contact me and the late charge may be adjusted.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity