Department of Geography

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

University of the Philippines, Diliman

PLACES AND LANDSCAPES IN A CHANGING WORLD

GEOGRAPHY 1
COURSE OUTLINE – 1S AY2014-2015 3 units

Instructor: JONATHAN M. VILLASPER

Schedule: WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
Consultation Hours:
(WFR) 830 – 10 PH 408
10am – 5pm TTh (Rm 406, CSSP Faculty Center)
(WFU)10 – 1130 PH 408
(WFW-1) 1 – 230 PH 204
Email: jmvillasper@gmail.com
Phone: 981-8500 loc 2374
Prerequisite: NONE
Mobile: (0917) 568-7891

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Overview of the diversity of interconnections of peoples and places in a globalizing world as mediated by cultures, politics and
historical developments.

COURSE GOALS:

1. Make students more aware of the different aspects of the places that are part of their daily experience as well as foster a better
understanding of the interconnections between these places and the world beyond our national borders

2. Instill among the class participants a better appreciation of geographic theories, concepts, and methods in various disciplines

3. Make students conscious of current Philippine conditions while encouraging them to have a better understanding of the benefits
and costs of globalization

4. Encourage students to think critically and to clearly express their views and opinions both in class and in written assignments.

DAY TOPIC ACTIVITY

1 Course Orientation

Geography: Why Are Things Where They Are?

2 1. Why Geography? Lec

2. What is Geography?
3. Topics in Geography
3 4. Geographic Concepts

The Geographer’s Tools

4 1. Understanding Maps Lec

Parts of a Map
Map Projections
Types of Maps
5 2. GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing Lec
Geographic Information Systems
6 Mapping from Above the Earth: Global Positioning Systems and Satellite Imaging

Case Study: Applied Geo-tagging Technology for Transparency and Accountability in

Government

Environmental Geography

7 1. Principles and Perceptions of Nature Lec

Environmental Determinism, Possibilism, and Probabilism
2. Human-Environment Interactions 1: People at Risk (Disasters)
8 3. Human-Environment Interactions 2: Changing Landscapes (Land Cover Changes)

Case Study: Land Cover Changes in the Laguna Lake and Its Effect on Water Quality

9 4. Biogeographic Concepts and Habitat Conservation

10 5. Urban Heat Islands

11 GIS Lab: Exploring Disaster Risk in the Philippines and Around the World Lab Activity
 Finding Nature Within and Around the Concrete Jungle: Wildlife in the City OCLA

Urbanization, Economic Growth and Core-Periphery Relations

12 1. Urbanization and Urban Sprawl Lec

2. Settlement Forms, Zones and Land use Models
3. Concepts and Theories in Economic Geography
13 4. Production and Location
14 5. Core-Periphery Patterns and Relations
6. Core-Periphery Relations in the Information Age and the Geography of Subcontracting
15 7. The Changing Geography of Poverty and Derelict Spaces: Poverty Incidence in the
Philippines
16 8. The Ugly Head of Urbanization: Solid Waste Management in Metro Manila
17 9. Green Spaces in the Urban Environment and “Remnant” Wildlife in the City

18 GIS Lab: Identifying Suitable Sites for Solid Waste Disposal Lab Activity

19 MIDTERM EXAM

Political Geography Lec

20 1. Concept of Nation and State

2. Shapes of States (Compact, Elongated, Prorupted, Fragmented and Perforated)
3. Boundaries
Types (Cultural and Physical)
Types (Imposed, Natural)
Dividing Antarctica and Space
International Maritime Boundaries
21 4. Geography and the Power of Nations
Territory, Resources, Defense
Pivot Theory
5. The West Philippine Sea
22 6. The Geography of Conflict
The Geography of Conflict in Mindanao

Case Study: The Use of Satellite Remote Sensing in the Military (Spies Above) Film Viewing

23 GIS Lab: Issues and Elections: Issue-based Party Lists and Election Results Lab Activity

Population Movements and Displacements

24 1. Concepts in Population Lec

2. Patterns of Population
25 3. Concepts in Migration
a. Push and Pull Factors
b. International and Internal Migrations
26 4. Patterns of Migration
World Migrations, Filipino Diaspora and the Geography of OFWs
The Geography of Dislocation and Internally Displaced People Lec

Cultural Geography

27 1. The Concept of Culture

2. The Physical Environment and the Elements of Culture: Food, Housing, Sports, Language, Lec
Religion, Art, Clothing…
3. Globalization and Culture: The Loss of Tradition and More…
28 4. Geography of Language
5. Geography of Religion

29 GIS Lab: Exploring Ethnicity and Religion in the Philippines Lab Activity

30 FINAL EXAM
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:

Your performance will be evaluated using the following criteria:

COMPONENTS TRANSMUTATION

ITEMS PERCENTAGE POINT PERCENTAGE EQUIVALENT

Exams (2) 40 97 – 100 1.00
Assignments 20 93 – 96 1.25
Class participation 20 89 – 92 1.50
Attendance 10 85 – 88 1.75
Field Trip 5 81 – 84 2.00
Miscellaneous 5 77 – 80 2.25
TOTAL 100 73 – 76 2.50
69 – 72 2.75
In the event that one of the criteria is withdrawn from the 65 – 68 3.00
computation, its corresponding percentage will be 61 – 64 4.00
recomputed/redistributed as agreed upon by the members of the
Below 61 5.00
class.
with unfulfilled requirements
INC
(20% of requirements)

REFERENCES:

We will be using aa variety of references for this class but will mainly be supplemental readings. Know and Marston will be the official
text book.

Knox, P. L., & Marston, S. A. (2001). Human Geography: Places and Regions in a Global Context. Prentice Hall.

Burrough, P. (1994). Principles of Geographic Information Systems for Land Resources Assessment. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Dent, B. D. (1996). Cartography: Thematic Map Design. Wm. C. Brown Publishers.

Galang, A. P., Reyes, D. T., de la Cruz, E. L., Oliva, M. M., Pinpin, L. C., Mesina, S. R., et al. (2003). Seven Lenses: Or Environmental
Principles As If Adults Mattered. Makati: Bookmark Inc.

Healey, M. J., & Ilbery, B. W. (1990). Location & Change: Perspectives on Economic Geography. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Juanico, M. B., & Agno, L. N. (1987). Physical Geography. Manila: Goodwill Trading Co. Inc.

Lillesand, T. M., & Kieffer, R. W. (2000). Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation. New York: John Wiley and Sons Inc.

Lloyd, P. E., & Dicken, P. (1977). Location in Space: A Theoretical Approach to Economic Geography. New York: Harper and Row,
Publishers Inc.

McKnight, T. L. (1990). Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

Ministère de l’Écologie, du Développement et de l’Aménagement durables. (2008). Emerging Cities: Keys to understanding and
acting. ISTED.

Rubenstein, J. M. (1992). The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. NewYork: MacMillan Publishing Company.

The World Bank. (2010). Mindanao, Philippines: Behind the Veil of Conflict. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

THOMPSON, R., & STARZOMSKI, B. M. (2007). What does biodiversity actually do? A review for managers and policy makers.
Biodiversity and Conservation, 1359–1378.

CLASS GUIDELINES:

1. Be courteous. TURN OFF OR PUT YOUR MOBILE PHONES ON SILENT MODE during class.

2. University rules on absences and tardiness, as indicated in the University Students’ Manual, apply in this class.

3. If you have been declared absent for the session, you are encouraged to still come to class BUT I won’t repeat the
lecture or procedure for you.

4. My personal mobile number is only for emergency situations. Also, you may only contact me via that number from
8am to 8pm.

5. I DO encourage email consultations.