GEOG 220Perspectives on Human Geography

3 credits · Geography · Penn State

Why are some countries richer than others? How do consumption patterns in one part of the world affect `far flung' peoples and environments? How does global warming shape land use patterns and rates of hunger across different regions, and what are the political implications of these patterns? Why do rich economies around the world increasingly depend on the recruitment of low-wage immigrant workers, both "legal" and "illegal"? How do race and gender shape access to services, housing and employment in many large cities? In what ways does drone warfare change the nature of state power in the 21st century? These kinds of questions are ones that animate the work of human geographers. The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the breadth of contemporary human geography. We will explore both the range of topics that geographers study, and some of the key concepts and methods used to study geographic topics. Major themes will investigate how cultural, economic, political, and environmental interactions relate to geographic processes. These general topics will be explored through a detailed examination of case studies in the United States and across the globe