| Schedule |

Course Materials
Textbook (required): The World Economy: Resources, Location, Trade and Development. 5th ed. Frederick Stutz & Barney Warf, 2007.

Course Web Page: www.elmhurst.edu/~geo
Check this on a regular basis and as the instructor requests. It will be the primary way he provides you with information about schedule changes, assignments, study guides and so on.

Economic geography attempts to answer a number of basic questions about economic activity using the spatial perspective. These questions include: Where is economic activity located?  Why is economic activity located where it is?  Where are human and natural resources located and how are they used by different societies?  What gives some states an economic advantage over others?  These questions can be answered using descriptive and theoretical methods and models and by viewing economic activity systematically and regionally. This course will introduce students to the extremely broad field of economic geography using these varied approaches and give them a chance to actually "do" economic geography

 Course Objectives
The overall objective of this course is to help students understand the many relationships between geography and economics, especially economic activity within and among societies at varying scales.  The principal focus of economic geography is to answer the questions presented above by using the spatial perspective.  Specific objectives of this course are as follows:

1. To understand the basic relationship between geography and economic activity.

2. To understand why certain types of economic activities are located where they are and how these locations may have changed over time and why.

3. To understand why some societies, regions, peoples are "more successful" than others in regards to different economic activities and in economic development in general.

4. To understand why there is such variation spatially within and between states, regions, etc. regarding economic activity.

5. To understand the major theories and concepts which have shaped economic geography as an academic discipline.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the relationships between geography and economics and provide examples of these relationships.

2. "Do" economic geography by writing an economic geography that is both descriptive and analytical. 

3. Apply the major concepts and theories learned in class to a real world economic geography at various scales. 

4. Relate concepts learned in other geography (and non-geography) courses to economic geography.

Assignments & Grading
The final grade which you earn will be based upon the total number of points that you accumulate during the term. Points may be earned from the following:

Geography Concepts Review Quiz		50	5%
Two one hour exams @ 75 points		150	18%
Final exam		150	18%
Term Project		350	41%
Class Preparation, Participation		150	18%
TOTAL POINTS		850	100%

NOTE: All grading will be done as objectively as possible, however, in cases of qualitative assessment, evaluation will be based on the professor’s judgment.

Quizzes & Exams (41%)
The exams are designed to fairly assess your understanding of the material dealt with in this course. Having two exams and a final instead of only a mid-term and final affords each student more opportunities to achieve a satisfactory level of success and to improve their performance over time if necessary.

Term Project (41%)
The term project for this course will involve you doing an economic geography of one of the 50 U.S. states.  This economic geography will be both descriptive and analytical and will involve data collection, presentation, analysis and explanation.  Specific instructions for this assignment will be forthcoming before too long.

Class Participation & Preparation (18%)
Students will be assessed by the professor on their level of participation and preparation for class. Included in this evaluation will be how much students participate in class discussions, ask and answer questions, their attendance, tardiness (or lack thereof) and attentiveness and personal conduct in class. Point assessment for this part of the student's performance will be determined by the professor at the end of the semester during the determination of final course grades.

Code of Academic Integrity
It is the responsibility of each student to know and understand the Academic Integrity policy of EC.  There are general campus-wide definitions of academic honesty as well as departmental regulations.  It is important that students educate themselves on this matter since sanctions for academic dishonesty may be severe.  Thus, EC students should act honestly in all academic work!

For specific information and guidelines concerning EC's Code of Academic Integrity, please consult the "E-Book" which is available from the college.

 American Disability Act Policy Statement
The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this course, please contact the Director of Advising at 103 Goebel Hall (617-3450).

Policy on Electronic Devises in Class

Please turn off all cell phone and other electronic devises while in class.  Do not engage in the use of any electronic devices during class including lap top computers.  Thank you.

 Attendance Policy

• Students are expected to be present at classes and examinations unless prevented by serious illness, by an emergency or by participation in college-sponsored activity, by service with the U.S. military or a death in the family (see p. 44 of EC catalog). Note that these are the only acceptable excuses for missing a scheduled exam. The professor determines whether an excuse is legitimate or not.

• If students are prevented from being present at announced tests by one of the three previously mentioned circumstances, they will be permitted to make up the tests and should contact the course instructor to complete arrangements (per class make-up policy, see below)

Make-Up Policy
In accordance with the college's attendance policy (as stated in the EC Blue Book), students may make up exams and quizzes under certain specific/unique circumstances. The following guidelines apply to this make-up policy.

1. If a student knows in advance that they will miss a test/quiz they must notify the professor before the scheduled test date and make arrangements for a make-up exam.

2. If a student misses a test unexpectedly, they should notify the professor either by e-mail or phone on the day of the test or as soon after the scheduled test time as possible.

3. It is always the student's responsibility to contact the professor about make-up arrangements.

4. Students should arrange with the professor to make up a test as soon after the scheduled date as is possible. If a week (five days) passes without the student contacting the professor or taking a make up test, they will not be allowed to make up that test.

5. If a student misses the scheduled make-up time they will not be allowed to make up the test at all.

6. The format of the make-up exam will be different than the in-class version of the exam although it will cover the same material.