CQUniversity Unit Profile
GEOH11001 Introduction to Human Geography
Introduction to Human Geography
All details in this unit profile for GEOH11001 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit provides an introduction to the themes, approaches, and main subfields of human geography. In this unit, you will explore spatial patterns and processes of population, migration, health and disease, culture, identity and cultural landscape, urban systems, location of economic activities and sustainable development. You will examine these through case studies drawn from Australia and around the world.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2021

Online
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online discussion forum
Weighting: 20%
2. Report
Weighting: 40%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Self-assessment

Feedback

Learning materials require periodic refreshing.

Recommendation

The unit has been substantially revised. The prescribed textbook has been replaced by selected readings provided in moodle and the weekly lecture notes have been updated. The unit lead will continue refreshing the learning materials.

Feedback from CQU Moodle Refresh

Feedback

Better arrangement of weekly learning and teaching activities.

Recommendation

The weekly learning and teaching (reading guides, learning activities etc) will be reorganised in accordance with requirements of the Moodle Refresh.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Discuss the key concepts and themes of human geography
  2. Identify and explain spatial patterns and processes of human activities at different scales
  3. Interpret maps, spatial data and geographic models for geographic inquiry
  4. Communicate geographic concepts, facts and ideas in a range of forms, including critical summaries, maps and reports.

n/a

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Online discussion forum - 20%
2 - Report - 40%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online discussion forum - 20%
2 - Report - 40%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Word Processing
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Jiaping Wu Unit Coordinator
j.wu@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 12 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Unit Introduction

Chapter

Weekly learning materials will provide on the unit's moodle site.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 19 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Population Geography 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 26 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Mobility and Migration

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 02 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Geographies of Globalisation and Disease

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 09 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Geographies of Cultural Difference and Diffusion

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 16 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 23 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Geography of Identity and Place

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 30 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Political Geography 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Map Report Due: Week 7 Friday (3 Sept 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Urban Geography 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Agricultural Geography and Rural Landscapes

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Geography of Industry and Services 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Geography of Development:  The Unequal World

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 04 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Doing Geography: Where Do We Go From Here? 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Paper Due: Week 12 Friday (8 Oct 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 18 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online discussion forum

Assessment Title
Online Discussion

Task Description

The assessment is to participate in an online discussion forum. It links to the learning outcome of ‘discussion and description of the key concepts and themes of human geography’. You are asked to write 4 posts and 2 responses to other fellow student’s posts. Each post should be 50–70 words in length. Detailed instructions and support are provided in the unit's Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Posts must be made during the period from week 1 to week 12. Posts submitted after week 12 (11:30pm, Sunday) will not assess.


Return Date to Students

All posts will be evaluated by the end of the term.


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

Your posts will be evaluated based on quantity (required number of posts and responses) and quality of the posts and their contributions to learning and discussion. Detailed marking criteria is provided on unit's Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Discuss the key concepts and themes of human geography


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Report

Assessment Title
Map Report

Task Description

The assessment is to explore the importance of maps in human geographic inquiry. It requires you to identify two different web sites from which you can access maps. You will download one map from each of the websites. The scale of the area represented by each map should be different. For example, one map is of a country and the other one should be of a region (or a community). The two maps can deal with the same or different themes of human geography. For each map, you need to explain what the map shows and determine how it contributes to your understanding of aspects of human geography. The report should should be 1,800 2,000 words in length.

Detailed instructions and support are provided on the unit's Moodle site. 


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (3 Sept 2021) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 9 Friday (17 Sept 2021)

Assessments will be marked and returned in two weeks after the due date or as soon as practicable.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Your reports will be assessed based on

  • Quality of maps chosen, including illustrations and appropriateness of the mapping subjects;
  • Interpretation of mapping information, including applications of relevant human geographic concepts to answer questions of what, where and why;
  • Competency of communications, including structure, English expression and citation.

A marking rubric will be provided in the unit's moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Discuss the key concepts and themes of human geography
  • Identify and explain spatial patterns and processes of human activities at different scales
  • Interpret maps, spatial data and geographic models for geographic inquiry
  • Communicate geographic concepts, facts and ideas in a range of forms, including critical summaries, maps and reports.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Social Innovation

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Term Paper

Task Description

The assessment is to write a term research paper. In this paper, you should identify and discuss the geographical dimensions of one or a combination of two or more of the following human geography topics: Population, migration, race, politics, land use, farming, urban and industrial space, development, health, globalisation, sustainability etc. The paper should have A CLEAR FOCUS and the scale of which can range from the local to the national, regional or global. The paper should be 2,200 – 2,500 words in length.

Detailed instructions and support are provided in the unit's Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (8 Oct 2021) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (22 Oct 2021)

Assessments will be marked and returned in the end of the term.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Your papers will be evaluated based on:
  • Depth and breadth of the research on the selected topics;
  • Evidence of applying geographical approaches to understanding of the topics, including use of maps and other visual and graphical data;
  • Knowledge and skills that have demonstrated in explaining geographic patterns and/or spatial relations;
  • Effective communication, including organisation, English expression and citation of the research paper.

A marking rubric will be provided in the unit's moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and explain spatial patterns and processes of human activities at different scales
  • Interpret maps, spatial data and geographic models for geographic inquiry
  • Communicate geographic concepts, facts and ideas in a range of forms, including critical summaries, maps and reports.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Social Innovation

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?