1. Geography of Cultural Diversity Instructor:José Javier Hernández Ayala
Universityof Akron Office:Krouse CRH64B
3350:275:012 T & TH 12:05 – 12:55 p.m. E-mail:jjh87@zips.uakron.edu
Location:CAS 136 Office Hours:Tuesday/Thursday1pm-3pm
Course Description:This course evaluatesthe cultural elementsunique to various geographical regions
and attemptstoelucidate andunderstandwhydifferentpeople utilize resourcesdifferently. The course
stresses the diversity in cultures around the world and the problems/conflicts that such diversity can
produce. The American society is becoming increasingly multicultural; therefore it is imperative that
students develop an understanding of the cultures of their neighbors.
Course Objectives:Introduce studentstoCultural Geographyemphasizing the role of Geography in the
developmentof variousculturesaroundthe worldandwithinthe U.S.A., Foster and understanding and
appreciationof the multiplicityof culturesandcultural practices around the world, familiarize students
withhowcultural diversityaffectsregional conflicts,and encourage studentstotake stepstoread about
and research some of the cultural/conflict issues in our “global village”.
RequiredTextbook:Domosh,M., Neumann,R.P.,Price,P.L.,andJordan-Bychkov,T.G.,(2009). The
Human Mosaic:A Cultural Approachto HumanGeography. New York:W.H. Freeman(11th
Ed.)
CoursePolicies:
 Late Homework and Make-UpExams: A validexcuse will be accepted (medical,legal,police
report,and/ormeetingwiththe instructor)
 Classroom Etiquette:Electronicsandchatting = zerotolerance;youwill be askto getout of the
classroom, eatinganddrinkingok. Computersasa tool forclass OK.
CourseEvaluation:
 Performance:Attendance andParticipation@100 points;
 Midterm@ 100 points
 Presentation@100 points
 Final Exam@ 100 points
 Quizzes 4 @ 15 points = 60 points
CourseGrades:
 100-90 = A,89-80 = B, 79-70 = C, 69-60 = D, 59-0 = F
DisabilitiesStatement:If youhave a documenteddisabilityandrequire accommodation,please contact
the instructorto make arrangementsfornecessaryclassroomadjustments.
Sensitivityand Controversy:Duringthe course we mightencountersubjectsthatare bothsensitiveand
controversial.Iwill attempttoprovide bothsidesalwaysfairly.Iwill expresssometimesmyopinionthe

2. same way youwill endchoosingyours.Ijustaskyou to try to have critical thinkingandtolerance to
differentviewpointsandanalyze them.
Lecture Schedule (tentative andsubjectto change)
August 23 FIRST DAY/ MEETING EVERYONE
August 25
CH. 1 Human Geography: A Cultural ApproachAugust 30
September 1
September 6
CH. 2 Many Worlds: Geographies of Cultural DifferenceSeptember 8
September 13
September 15 Quiz 1
CH. 3 Population Geography: Shaping the Human MosaicSeptember 20
September 22
September 27
CH. 4 Speaking About Places: The Geography of LanguageSeptember 29
October 4 Quiz 2
CH. 5 Geographies of Race and Ethnicity: Mosaic or Melting PotOctober 6
October 11 MID TERM EXAM
October 13
CH. 6 Political Geography: A Divided WorldOctober 18
October 20
October 25 Quiz 3
CH. 7 The Geographyof Religion: Spaces and Places of Sacredness
October 27
November 1
November 3
November 8
CH. 8 & 9 Geography of EconomiesNovember 10
November 15 Quiz 4
November 17
CH. 10 Urbanization : The City in Time and SpaceNovember 22
November 29
Group PresentationsDecember 1
December 7 FINAL EXAM 2:00-3:55 P.M. CAS 136