AJL17059 American Geographies

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Jeffrey Alan Smith, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Jeffrey Alan Smith, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( AJ01002 Practical English II || AJL01002 Practical English II ) && ( AJ07002 Intro. to American Studies II || AJL07002 Intro. to American Studies II )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
A survey of the physical, political, historical, social, and cultural geographies of the United States. The course will examine the various states and regions of the U.S. in some detail, focusing on the topics hidden under the five geographies mentioned. Students should acquire a good working knowledge of many aspects of American studies that are not focused on in other courses in the department. Emphasis will be placed on students demonstrating knowledge acquired in the course.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to identify the 50 states of the U.S. using a map and correctly identify each state capital. Students will be able to identify on a map the major cities and geographic features (lakes, rivers, mountains) of the U.S. Students will be able to identify and discuss the major factors that have impacted the development of American cities, the economy, demographics and transportation networks. Students will have an enhanced knowledge of American geography.
Syllabus
  • Průřez fyzickým, historickým, sociálním a kulturním zeměpisem Spojených států. Kurz pokud možno podrobně zkoumá různé státy a oblasti USA a zaměřuje se témata, která jsou ukryta za pěti zmíněnými zeměpisnými přístupy. Studenti by měli získat dobrý přehled o řadě aspektů amerických studií, kterým na katedře nejsou věnovány specializované kurzy. Důraz je kladen na to, aby studenti demonstrovali znalosti, jichž v kurzu nabyli.
  • Week 1 -- Course introduction. System of measures
  • Week 2 -- The United States: The United States: An Overview; Physical Geography: The Land, Part I: Landforms, Glaciation
  • Week 3 -- The United States: An Overview; Physical Geography: The Land, Part II: Earthquakes, Volcanoes
  • Week 4 -- The United States: Physical Geography: Rivers, Lakes and Oceans
  • Week 5 -- The United States: An Overview; Physical Geography: Ecozones
  • Week 6 -- Natural Geography: Climate
  • Week 7 -- Economic Geography: "The Fruited Plain" or American Agriculture
  • Week 8 -- Social Geography: American Cities
  • Week 9 -- READING WEEK
  • Week 10 -- Social Geography: American Cities, Suburbs, Exurbs....
  • Week 11 -- Social Geography: Segregation
  • Week 12 -- Population Geography and Demographics
Literature
  • MITTLEMAN, Earl N. An outline of American geography. [Washington?]: United States Information Agency, 132 s. info
  • The Heath anthology of American literature. Edited by Paul Lauter. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath, 1990, xxxix, 261. ISBN 0-669-12065-0. info
  • MULLER, Gilbert H. The McGraw-Hill reader. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982, xx, 675. ISBN 0070439788. info
  • Jefferson, Thomas. 1787. Notes on the State of Virginia.
  • Muir, John. 1894. The Mountains of California
  • Momaday, N. Scott. 1969. The Way to Rainy Mountain
Teaching methods
A 1.5 hour seminar per week, with videos shown during some sessions.
Assessment methods
Seminar. Assessment will be based on a written exam at the end of the semester. The details of the exam will be discussed in class. This test will cover both the readings and the materials presented in class.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Teacher's information
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/24-25/course/view.php?id=298
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/AJL17059