Geography of Major World Areas

Code:

GEOGR030

Acronym:

GGEM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Geography

Instance: 2010/2011 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Geography

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
GEOGR	57	Study Plan (2008/2009 - 2011/2012)	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

-Research, process and interpret the main sources of information used in the analysis of rural spaces, particularly statistical, documental and bibliographic information.
-Apprehend the typological diversity of world areas and their particularities.
-Understand some of the problems of the contemporary world, its diversity and mutability.
-Understand places and regions as components in a global system and their local manifestations.
-Comprehend the value of different cultures and societies.
-Understand the interactions between global processes and their local manifestations.
-Relate the capacity of transformation of spatial organisation with differing degrees of scientific and technological development.

-Develop team work, share ideas, methods and strategies, in an environment of interactivity, with a view to developing competences in defining intervention strategies at different scales.

Program

1. The Contemporary World System:
1.1. the bolstering of globalisation and new spatial dynamics
1.2. the local in a global world

2. A Polycentric World
2.1. Geopolitical and geostrategic background
2.2. The emergence of new power centres
2.3. the (re)emergence of regional conflicts

3. A Fragmented World
3.1. Spaces of global flows and agents
3.2. Driving spaces of global flows: global cities and macro-regions

4. A World of Contrasts
4.1. Inequality in population distribution: the North-South divide
4.2. Inequality in Development: employment, social exclusion, hunger, poverty and health

Mandatory literature

BROWN, L. et al (org); State of the Wold, The Woldwatch Institute, 2000
ADDA, J.; A mundialização da economia, Terramar Editores, 1996
LEITE, A. N. (org); Globalização, desenvolvimento e equidade, Fundação Caloust Gulbenkian e Publicações D. Quixote, 2000
ASCÓN, R. e al. (coord.); Gran Geografia Universal, Editions 62, 2000-2002
LÓPEZ PALOMEQUE, F. (coord); Geografia da Europa, Editorial Ariel, Barcelona, 2000
HARDY, S.; MEDINA-NICOLAS, L.; L'Amérique Latine, Temps, Nantes, 2005
CORDELLIER, S. (org.); Le nouvel état du monde, Éditions La Découverte, 1999
FOX, R.; ROWNTREE, K.; The geography of South Africa in a changing wold, Oxford University Press, 2000
BIRDSALL, S.S., FLORIN, J.W., PRICE, M.L.; Regional landscapes of the United States and Canada, John Wiley & Sons, 1999
Comissão das Comunidades Europeias; The social situation in the European Union, Bruxelas, 2003
ALVERGNE, Christek; TAULELLE, François; Du local à l'Europe. Les nouvelles politiques d'aménagement du territoire, Presses Universitaires de France, 2002
CEBRIÁN ABELLÁN, A.; Geografía de Iberoamérica, Albacete, Moralea, 2001
BRUNET, R. (coord); Géographie universelle, Paris, 2006
DOLLFUS, O.; A mundialização, Publicações Europa-América, 1998

Complementary Bibliography

EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY; Environmental signals 2002, Copenhaga, 2002
ROBINSON, G. M.; LOUGHRAN, R. J.; TRANTER, P. L.; Australia and the New Sealand, Arnold, 2000
DOWLER, E.; FINER, C. J. ; The welfare of food- rights and responsabilities in a changing wold, Blackwell Publishing, 2003
HABITAT, UNITED NATIONS CENTRE FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS; Cities in globalizing Wold-Global Report on Human Settlements, Easthscan Publications, Ltd., 2001
VIEGAS, J.M.L.; DIAS, E.C. (org.); Cidadania, Integração, Globalização, Celta Editores, 2000

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Theoretical and practical classes.
- The theoretical-practical component in the first phase of classes will focus on the programme’s contents, using audiovisual aids; a constructive learning environment will be fostered.
- Practical classes in which students can apply the knowledge acquired and in work groups.
- The assignments aim to explore different subjects and the most pressing world problems and will be developed with tutorial supervision.
-The student will acquire methodological, technical, scientific and relational skills in order to develop a project, questioning reality and being propositive in resolving/minimising the various problems of world regions.
- A field trip is planned for May.

Software

Microsoft Office Word
Microsoft office Excel

keywords

Social sciences > Geography > Human geography
Social sciences > Geography > Economic geography
Social sciences > Geography > Regional geography

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	68,00
	Trabalho escrito	20,00
	Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
	Trabalho escrito	30,00
	Exame	2,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
	Estudo autónomo	32
	Total:	32,00

Eligibility for exams

Minimum of 75% of class attendance, except in the cases foreseen in the regulations in force
The student must obtain a grade of at least 9.5 to pass the subject.
Attendance is compulsory in both theoretical, practical and tutorial classes, and is an integral part of assessment.

Calculation formula of final grade

Minimum of 75% of class attendance, except in the cases foreseen in the regulations in force
Final marks result from the exam on theoretical contents, together with marks obtained in the practical assignment developed throughout the semester. The practical marks will only be considered if the students pass the theoretical part. The practical part includes fieldwork. Tutorials are clearly a fundamental part of assessment.
The final average mark will be calculated as follows:
- Theoretical component: 60%
- Practical component: 30%
- Oral presentation, debate, participation: 10%

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

- In accordance with the regulations in force.
- Exchange students can do an assignment on one of the themes instead of the exam. Students will be tutored by the teacher.
- Student workers have to do a practical assignment as part of their assessment, under tutorial supervision.

Classification improvement

- In accordance with the regulations in force.

Observations

Language of Instruction: Portuguese
Bibliography: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese