This course is designed to acquaint the student with the essentials of population 
study from a geographer's perspective. Students will learn where to obtain 
pertinent data and how to analyze it in a meaningful way with maps and statistics. 
Further, the course will include theoretical issues and reasons underlying
population change and distribution, as well as government policies which may alter
population trends. Relative to practical applications, you will become familiar with
techniques which can be used for government planning, business marketing, and for
other purposes.


This course meets the following General Education Abilities by accomplishing the
specific learning objectives listed below:

Communicate effectively through writing.  This is met by a series of writing 
assignments associated with supplemental reading and data analysis.
 
Communicate effectively through speech.  This is met by oral presentations, 
discussion leading, and classroom participation.

Critical Thinking is central to the learning objectives of this class, and is
developed through homework assignments, lecture, classroom discussion, and inquiry-
based learning efforts.

Moral Reasoning (Ethics) is an important element of this course, as it explores 
issues of carrying capacity and quality of life, population pressure on natural 
resources, and ethical aspects of trans-national migrations.  Moral reasoning is 
developed through lectures, writing assignments, classroom discussion, and inquiry-
based learning activities.

Introduction: The Fields of Geography and Population
The Spatial Distribution of Population
   Data Sources
   Measures and Indices
Population Growth: Trends and Theories
Population Estimates and Projections
Geographic Aspects of Fertility and Mortality 
Population Redistribution
   Internal migration
   International migration
Demographics and Population Composition
America’s Changing Population Geography
   Rapid Growth Counties in the U.S.
   Depopulating areas in the U.S.
Global Population Trends
   Growth of Mega-cities
   Rural-Urban Redistribution
Population and the Environment 
World Population: Major Issues for the 21st century