GEOG 3400-Pop Geog-syllabus

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Geography 3400-001 – Population Geography
4 semester credit hours

Spring Semester 2008

Course taught by: Thomas Kontuly, Professor, Department of Geography, University of
Utah, telephone: 581-3610; e-mail: kontuly@geog.utah.edu. Office hours: Monday and
Wednesday 1:15 to 3:00PM.

When registering for GEOG 3400-001 students will sign up for a 3 credit hour lecture /
discussion section and for a 1 hour Lab section. The Lab sections will be conducted in
one of the two computer labs on the second floor of the OSH building and in the Marriott
library.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE
GEOG 3400-001 (4). Recommended Prerequisite: GEOG 1400 – Human Geography.
Fulfills the Upper Division Communication and Writing (CW) Requirement. This course
is a study of the changing size, characteristics, and geographic distribution of the
population. The causes and consequences of these dynamics are examined. Changes in
migration, urbanization, and population growth and their impact on economic planning
are emphasized. While the global population trends provide the context, we will
concentrate on the U.S. and Utah.

OTHER INFORMATION
Last day to drop (delete) this class: January 16, 2008
Last day to withdraw from this class: February 29, 2008

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations to meet the expectations of
this course are encouraged to bring this to the attention of the instructor as soon as
possible. Written documentation of the disability should be submitted during the first
week of the semester along with the request for special accommodations. To do so,
contact the Center for Disabled Student Services, located in room 162, Union Building,
581-5020.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT SYLLABUS STATEMENT

* Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Penalties may include
failure of an assignment, the entire course, and/or the filing of
formal charges with appropriate university authorities. Academic
misconduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating,
misrepresenting one’s work, and plagiarism:
* Cheating involves the unauthorized possession or use of
information in an academic exercise, including unauthorized
2

communication with another person during an exercise such as an
examination.
* Misrepresenting one’s work includes, but is not limited to,
representing material prepared by another as one’s own work or
submitting the same work in more than one course without prior
permission of all instructors.
* Plagiarism means the intentional unacknowledged use or
incorporation of any other person’s work in one’s own work offered
for academic consideration or public presentation.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
1) Develop an understanding of the size and geographical distribution of the human
population over time. Learn the various theories of population growth and the
limitations of these theories. Understand the contributions of fertility, mortality,
and migration to population change at the local, national, and global levels.
Identify and understand the demographic trends shaping the future. Determine
the implications of various projected demographic trends on future economic
policies. Learn the major sources of demographic data and their limitations.
2) Enhance ability to read and critically evaluate scientific literature. Improve
ability to express clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, scientific
findings and evaluations of the scientific ideas of others.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE COURSE
In addition to learning discipline-specific information, students are expected to practice
all of their well-developed academic skills including the following: 1) using critical
thinking skills to assess the validity and applicability of information we discuss, 2)
getting the most out of the papers you read, 3) finding information on your own, 4)
sharing your thoughts and insights with the group in every class period, and possibly
most importantly 5) developing your own research questions.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

This course fulfills the University of Utah Upper Division Communication/Writing (CW)
requirement. With regard to this requirement, the University Student Guide states: “This
requirement prepares students to speak and write clearly within the standards of practice set
by the discipline. It provides students advanced instruction in speaking and writing so that
those skills continue to develop throughout the educational program. It may be fulfilled by
taking an approved upper-division communication/writing course identified by the student’s
major department.”

To meet the criteria delineated for these standards, all students in the class must meet the
following requirements:
(a) Written critiques of scientific literature
(b) Discussion leader assignment
3

REQUIREMENT DETAILS

Critiques: Your instructor will lead two discussions at the beginning of the course. Students
will be required to read a scientific paper for each of these discussions, and will submit a
critique for each of the papers the week following the discussion. One Lab class will be spent
discussing how to read articles critically and how to write a critique. A detailed grading
scheme will be provided.

Discussion Leader: After learning how to write a critique, each student will be required to
work in a team of 3 people to lead a discussion. The team will select a research paper from
the list (handout) and will give a brief (15 minutes) presentation providing background and
outlining questions raised in the selected assigned reading. All presentations will be done
using PowerPoint. A class will be held in the CSBS Computer Lab explaining how to use
PowerPoint. It will be the job of the presenting group to stimulate a discussion and part
of the grade will be based on the success of the discussion. A one-page critique will be
handed in one week after the presentation. This summary will critically review the article
discussed.

Participation: The success of this course is largely dependent on student participation.
Students will get far more out of this class if they make an effort to do the readings, think
critically about the papers we discuss and actively participate in class. A small part of each
student’s final grade will be based on their participation during lectures and discussions.

Posters: A comprehensive research poster on a given topic will be submitted. Topics will
include recent and controversial topics in Population Geography. Students will work alone
and topics will be selected in one of the Lab classes. Instructions on how to prepare the
poster using PowerPoint and deadlines are provided in other Lab classes. One Lab class will
be spent in the library with a research expert providing instruction on how to research poster
topics. You will be required to independently find two references on the topic and write a
brief description of how those papers will be useful for your topic and poster preparation.
Part of another Lab class will be spent learning how to prepare an outline for the poster- this
will include how to write proper references. Students must submit an outline of their poster,
and these outlines will be returned with comments to provide guidance for the final product.

Mid-Term Exams: Two equally weighted mid-term exams will be given to evaluate
students’ knowledge of important concepts in Population Geography.
4

GRADING
If for any reason you cannot submit work at the designated time, you must contact Professor
Thomas Kontuly before the date due. Otherwise you may receive an "E" grade for the work.
Call 581-3610 to leave a message on my office phone, or email me if an emergency comes
up. I DO NOT ACCEPT EXTRA CREDIT WORK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

Grading for Geog 3400 will be based on the following:
(a) Written scientific paper critiques (3 @ 10%) 30%
(b) Discussion leader assignment 15%
(c) Discussion participation 10%
(d) Poster 15%
Poster annotated reference list 5%
Poster outline 5%
(e) Two mid-term exams on the dates indicated
(2 @ 10%) 20%
Total 100%

COURSE MATERIALS:
1) Peters and Larkin, Population Geography: Problems, Concepts, and Prospects,
8th Edition, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, 2005. Available for purchase at the
University Bookstore.
2) Additional materials available either online or E-reserve.

GENERAL PLAN FOR THE COURSE:
We will generally follow the structure of the text, but supplement it with materials
primarily from the Population Reference Bureau and the Bureau of the Census. The first
section of the course will present the big picture issues for the course. These will include
general concepts and themes. The balance of the class is an explanation of the
demographic patterns and trends characterizing the past and shaping the future. We will
spend class time in lecture and discussion.

University of Utah Attendance Policy

The University expects regular attendance at all class meetings. You are not
automatically dropped from your classes if you do not attend. You must officially
drop your classes by the published deadline to avoid a "W" on your record.

You are responsible for satisfying the entire range of academic objectives, requirements
and prerequisites as defined by the instructor. If you miss the first 2 class meetings, or
if you have not taken the appropriate requisites, you may be required to withdraw
from the course.
5

TENTATIVE SEMESTER SCHEDULE
JANUARY 7: COURSE OVERVIEW
Course Objectives. Grading and Schedules. Major Concepts and the Big Picture.
Peters and Larkin Chapter 1: Population Growth and Change
“Population: A Lively Introduction,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 4, 2007. Available
online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins/2007/PopulationALivelyIntroductio
n.aspx

January 9: Major Concepts and Big Picture
Peters and Larkin Chapter 1: Population Growth and Change
“Population: A Lively Introduction,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 4, 2007. Available
online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins/2007/PopulationALivelyIntroductio
n.aspx

Lab 1 (week of January 7 – 11)
How to: write a critique & lead a discussion

January 14: Major Concepts and Big Picture
Peters and Larkin Chapter 1: Population Growth and Change
“Population: A Lively Introduction,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 4, 2007. Available
online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins/2007/PopulationALivelyIntroductio
n.aspx

January 16: U.S. Population Growth
“What Drives U.S. Population Growth?” Population Bulletin, Vol. 57, No. 4, 2002.
Available online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx

Lab 2 (week of January 14 – 18)
Introduction to Discussion Papers and Poster Topics

January 21 – No class – holiday

January 23: U.S. Demographic Trends in the 20th Century
“Population Size and Geographic Distribution,” Chapter 1 from Demographic Trends in
the 20th Century, U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002.
“Age and Sex Composition,” Chapter 2 from Demographic Trends in the 20th Century,
U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002.
“Race and Hispanic Origin,” Chapter 3 from Demographic Trends in the 20th Century,
U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002.
Available online: http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/censr-4.pdf
6

Lab 3 (week of January 22 – 25)
Instructor led discussion of the critique of a research paper. Introduction to Discussion
Papers and Poster Topics. PAPER SELECTION FOR DISCUSSION LEADER AND
POSTER TOPIC DUE.

January 28: U.S. Demographic Trends in the 20th Century
“Population Size and Geographic Distribution,” Chapter 1 from Demographic Trends in
the 20th Century, U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002.
“Age and Sex Composition,” Chapter 2 from Demographic Trends in the 20th Century,
U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002.
“Race and Hispanic Origin,” Chapter 3 from Demographic Trends in the 20th Century,
U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002.
Available online: http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/censr-4.pdf

January 30: Immigration to the U.S.
“Immigration Shaping and Reshaping America” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 2,
2003. Available online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins/2006/ImmigrationShapingandResha
pingAmerica.aspx

Lab 4 (week of January 28 – February 1)
Making posters & learning PowerPoint.
Marriott Library – Room 1735 – Doing Research.

February 4: Immigration to the U.S.
“Immigration Shaping and Reshaping America” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 2,
2003. Available online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins/2006/ImmigrationShapingandResha
pingAmerica.aspx

February 6: Demographic Trends Shaping Utah’s Future
Pam Perlich and Ross Reeve, “The Coming Boom in Utah’s School Age and College
Age Populations,” Utah Economic and Business Review, Vol. 62, Numbers 9 and 10,
2002. Online: http://home.business.utah.edu/bebrpsp/Papers/
Pam Perlich, Immigrants/Foreign Born Population, 2004 Economic Report to the
Governor, Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, pages 167-174, January 2004.
Online: http://home.business.utah.edu/bebrpsp/Papers/
Pam Perlich, Utah Minorities: The Story Told by 150 Years of Census Data, Bureau of
Economic and Business Research, 2002. Online:
http://home.business.utah.edu/bebrpsp/Papers/

Lab 5 (week of February 4 - 8)
CRITIQUE 1 DUE. Instructor led Discussion 2.
7

February 11: Demographic Trends Shaping Utah’s Future
Pam Perlich and Ross Reeve, “The Coming Boom in Utah’s School Age and College
Age Populations,” Utah Economic and Business Review, Vol. 62, Numbers 9 and 10,
2002. Online: http://home.business.utah.edu/bebrpsp/Papers/
Pam Perlich, Immigrants/Foreign Born Population, 2004 Economic Report to the
Governor, Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, pages 167-174, January 2004.
Online: http://home.business.utah.edu/bebrpsp/Papers/
Pam Perlich, Utah Minorities: The Story Told by 150 Years of Census Data, Bureau of
Economic and Business Research, 2002. Online:
http://home.business.utah.edu/bebrpsp/Papers/
Study Guide for Exam 1 Distributed

February 13: Exam 1
Lab 6 (week of February 11 - 15)
CRITIQUE 2 DUE.

February 18: Holiday – no class

February 20: Demographic Data
Peters and Larkin Chapter 2: Population Data
Tutorial to the American Fact Finder: http://factfinder.census.gov/
Overview of Census Geography: http://www.census.gov/geo/www/reference.html
Cynthia Brewer and Trudy Suchan, Mapping Census 2000: The Geography of U.S.
Diversity, Bureau of the Census, 2000. Online:
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/atlas.html

Lab 7 (week of February 19 - 22)
Student led Discussions 1 & 2.

February 25: Population Composition and Distribution
Peters and Larkin Chapter 3: Population Distribution
Population Handbook, International Edition. Population Research Bureau, 1999.
Available online: http://www.prb.org/pdf/PopHandbook_Eng.pdf

February 27: Population Composition and Distribution
Peters and Larkin Chapter 3: Population Distribution
Population Handbook, International Edition. Population Research Bureau, 1999.
Available online: http://www.prb.org/pdf/PopHandbook_Eng.pdf

Lab 7 (week of February 25 - 29)
Student led Discussion 3 & 4.

March 3: Theories of Population Change
8

Peters and Larkin Chapter 4: Theories of Population Change
Ronald Lee, “The Demographic Transition: Three Centuries of Fundamental Change,”
Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 14, Number 4, 2003. Available in electronic
journals from Marriott Library: http://www.lib.utah.edu/dbaccess/sersol/jnlsJ.html

March 5: Theories of Population Change
Peters and Larkin Chapter 4: Theories of Population Change
Ronald Lee, “The Demographic Transition: Three Centuries of Fundamental Change,”
Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 14, Number 4, 2003. Available in electronic
journals from Marriott Library: http://www.lib.utah.edu/dbaccess/sersol/jnlsJ.html

Lab 8 (week of March 3 - 7)
Student led Discussion 5 & 6. Poster title & Reference list due.

March 10: Mortality Patterns and Trends
Peters and Larkin Chapter 5: Mortality Patterns and Trends
Some Trends and Comparisons of United States Life Table Data: 1900-1991, NCHS,
1999 and available online at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/lifetables/life89_1_3.pdf
U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 1989-91: Volume II State Life Tables Number 45, Utah,
May 1998. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Center for Health
Statistics,
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/lifetables/life89vt.pdf

March 12: Mortality Patterns and Trends
Peters and Larkin Chapter 5: Mortality Patterns and Trends
Some Trends and Comparisons of United States Life Table Data: 1900-1991, NCHS,
1999 and available online at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/lifetables/life89_1_3.pdf
U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 1989-91: Volume II State Life Tables Number 45, Utah,
May 1998. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Center for Health
Statistics,
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/lifetables/life89vt.pdf

Lab 9 (week of March 10 - 14)
Student led Discussion 7 & 8. Study Guide for Exam 2 Distributed.

March 17 & 21 – no classes – Spring Break
March 24: HIV/AIDS Pandemic
“Facing the HIV/AIDS Pandemic,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 57, No. 3, 2002. Available
online: http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx

March 26: Fertility Patterns and Trends
Peters and Larkin Chapter 7: Fertility Patterns and Trends
Morgan, Philip. “Is Low Fertility a Twenty-First Century Demographic Crisis?”
Demography, Volume 40-Number 4, November 2003, 589-603. Available in electronic
journals from Marriott Library: http://www.lib.utah.edu/dbaccess/sersol/jnlsD.html
9

Lab 10 (week of March 24 - 28)
Student led Discussion 9 & 10. Poster Outlines Due.

March 31: Exam II.

April 2: Fertility Patterns and Trends
Peters and Larkin Chapter 7: Fertility Patterns and Trends
Morgan, Philip. “Is Low Fertility a Twenty-First Century Demographic Crisis?”
Demography, Volume 40-Number 4, November 2003, 589-603. Available in electronic
journals from Marriott Library: http://www.lib.utah.edu/dbaccess/sersol/jnlsD.html

Lab 11 (week of March 31 – April 4)
Student led Discussion 11 & 12.

April 7: Migration and Mobility
Peters and Larkin Chapter 8: Migration and Mobility
“International Migration: Facing the Challenge,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 57, No. 1,
2002. Available online: http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx
Pam Perlich, Utah Minorities: The Story Told by 150 Years of Census Data, Bureau of
Economic and Business Research, University of Utah, 2002. Online:
http://home.business.utah.edu/bebrpsp/Papers/

April 9: Migration and Mobility
Peters and Larkin Chapter 8: Migration and Mobility
“International Migration: Facing the Challenge,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 57, No. 1,
2002. Available online: http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx
Pam Perlich, Utah Minorities: The Story Told by 150 Years of Census Data, Bureau of
Economic and Business Research, University of Utah, 2002. Online:
http://home.business.utah.edu/bebrpsp/Papers/

Lab 12 (week of April 7 - 11)
Student led Discussion 13 & 14.

April 14: Urbanization and Environment
Peters and Larkin Chapter 9: Population and The Environment
Peters and Larkin Chapter 10: Population and The Food Supply
Martin Brockerhoff, “An Urbanizing World,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 55, No. 3,
2000. Available online: http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx
DeSouza, Williams, and Meyersen, “Critical Links: Population, Health, and the
Environment,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 3, 2003. Available online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx

April 16: Urbanization and Environment
10

Peters and Larkin Chapter 9: Population and The Environment
Peters and Larkin Chapter 10: Population and The Food Supply
Martin Brockerhoff, “An Urbanizing World,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 55, No. 3,
2000. Available online: http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx
DeSouza, Williams, and Meyersen, “Critical Links: Population, Health, and the
Environment,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 3, 2003. Available online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx

Lab 13 (week of April 14 - 18)
Final Posters Due.

April 21: Urbanization and Environment
Peters and Larkin Chapter 9: Population and The Environment
Peters and Larkin Chapter 10: Population and The Food Supply
Martin Brockerhoff, “An Urbanizing World,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 55, No. 3,
2000. Available online: http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx
DeSouza, Williams, and Meyersen, “Critical Links: Population, Health, and the
Environment,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 3, 2003. Available online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx

April 23: Urbanization and Environment
Peters and Larkin Chapter 9: Population and The Environment
Peters and Larkin Chapter 10: Population and The Food Supply
Martin Brockerhoff, “An Urbanizing World,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 55, No. 3,
2000. Available online: http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx
DeSouza, Williams, and Meyersen, “Critical Links: Population, Health, and the
Environment,” Population Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 3, 2003. Available online:
http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins.aspx