DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY YEAR FOUR

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY YEAR FOUR GEOG 451 INTRODUCTION TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT I (3,1,3) To introduce students to various development theories, analytical tools and planning models within the context of the region. The concept of development and theories of development and under-development would be considered alongside generalised factors of development and theories of regional development. Issues such as the structure of dependence, Regional domination theory, sub-national development planning, Growth Pole and Core-periphery models and their application in development planning in developing countries will be studied. GEOG 452 INTRODUCTION TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT II (3,1,3) The course aims at guiding students to explore in-depth regional development issues. It will focus on the following: the concept of a region, planning theory, regional planning models and development plans, institutional and organisational structures for regional development and methods of regional analysis including data for regional analysis, Gravity model and other spatial interaction models. A field work trip to one of the Regions in Ghana to study the problems of regional development in the region. GEOG 453 SPATIAL ORGANISATION OF HUMAN SOCIETIES I (3,1,3) The focus is on spatial organisation particularly how spatial structures and processes are coordinated to bring about optimum use of space to achieve the highest possible interaction at the least cost. Approaches to the study of spatial organisation, spatial interaction, evolution of spatio-cultural patterns and spatial organisation of modern agriculture would be some of the themes to be covered. Students will be introduced to the delimitation of cultural groups/areas on the basis of political organisation, religion, social studies, standard of living and technology, perception in spatial organisation and spatial diffusion of innovation. GEOG 454 SPATIAL ORGANISATION OF HUMAN SOCIETIES II (3,1,3) The course will introduce students to the concept of urbanization, evolution of settlement and its role in African development, organisation of rural space, introduction to cultural geography, evolution of spatio-cultural patterns in Africa, the growth pole theory, the central place theory and the inter relationship among population, resources, environment and development. The course will also give students insight into cultural convergence and divergence the influence of the developed world on Africa, patterns of spatial organisation as they relate to development in the developed and developing world. DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY 2009/2010 Page 1

GEOG 455 POVERTY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (3,1,3) The main objective of this course is to introduce undergraduates to the basic concept and understanding of poverty including absolute, relative, complex approaches, approaches to the measurement of poverty, Participatory Poverty Assessment, the causes and effects of poverty and poverty reduction strategies. It focuses on the various dimensions of poverty and their effects on the rural people. Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, Poverty reduction strategies under the District Assemblies and NGOs in Ghana shall be assessed. GEOG 456 RURAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES (3,1,3) This course will focus on the general overview of the policies and experiences in rural development in sub-saharan Africa and other parts of the world. The approach is comparative and draws on examples from countries from Africa, South East Asia, and Latin America. It seeks to broaden student s knowledge in global perspectives on rural development and poverty alleviation. Technologies for rural development and management of rural resources for increased productivity in other countries would be covered. GEOG 457 INDUSTRIAL GEOGRAPHY (3,1,3) To introduce students to theories of industrial location and how such theories apply to developing countries including Ghana. The Scope of Industrial Geography, industrialisation in the development process of countries particularly LDCs, industrial location theory, the role of government in industrial activity, and the export processing zone concept (EPZ). Students will be introduced to the role of projects in the development process and to help equip them with the necessary skills for project identification, preparation and project analysis. GEOG 458 INDUSTRIALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT (3,1,3) This is a sequel to Geog 457. The course is designed to help students to understand the spatial aspect of industrial development and how it affects the trend of industrialization in developing countries including Ghana. The economic forces, which determine industrial location pattern, geographical factors which determine industrial location pattern, state/government industrial location polices, regional distribution of industries in Ghana, the Role of Project Analysis in Manufacturing; Investment Decisions among others. DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY 2009/2010 Page 2

GEOG 459 MEDICAL GEOGRAPHY (3,1,3) Medical Geography is to predispose the student to the spatial patterns of health and disease. It is to equip the student with the tools for describing, explaining and predicting the aetiology, occurrence, transmission and effects of disease in spatial variation and patterns. Students are to be exposed to the basic tools and principles for analyzing health data. GEOG 460 HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT (3,1,3) To examine the interrelationships between health and development using specific examples from developing countries and to examine the causes and developmental impact of selected diseases. The socio-cultural and economic factors that impinge on development are to be examined in their spatial perspectives. Students are also to be predisposed to policy analysis in addressing the health and development problems in developing countries. GEOG 461 POPULATION GEOGRAPHY (3,1,3) To give students a clear understanding of the concepts of the organisation of space from the point of view of population, the issue of spatial organisation and development and relevance of population dynamics with special reference to their spatial implications. Data production methodology; spatial measures and techniques of population analysis:- a brief review; population characteristics: composition, fertility, mortality and population growth, migration. Students will also be introduced briefly to the concept of population projections and their relevance to population issues. GEOG 462 POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT (3,1,3) As a follow up to the basic issues introduced in semester one, students will be assisted to gain knowledge about world population trends and their interrelationships with social and economic change, with special consideration of spatial characteristics. These will include population growth/distribution and resources; spatial patterns of population and their relevance for development. The link between population, the environment and development. Population policies. Advanced demographic analysis and techniques of population analysis. Detailed population studies of: special problems and special regions (Ghana, Africa etc.) GEOG 455 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (3,1,3) The course seeks to give students the general overview of the environment, the global environmental debate, ecosystem management and environmental ethics, DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY 2009/2010 Page 3

environmental risk management, environmental education, ecotourism, environmental policy and development and the threat of global warning GEOG 456 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (3,1,3) This course will focus on the human impact on the natural environment, urban environmental problems, the principles and tools of environmental management, environmental management system (EMS), and forest management in Ghana and formulating and implementing environment programmes. GEOG 465 GEOGRAPHY OF TOURISM (3,1,3) The main objective of this course is to introduce undergraduates to some of the basic principles, concepts and models associated with Leisure Recreation and Tourism (LRT) studies. It is also aimed at examining the empirical status of some of these theories. Specific topics to be treated include the following: definition of tourism and who is a tourist. Tourism, its multidisciplinary nature, motivators and determinants of tourism, factors that promote and restrict tourism development, systems theory and development (i.e. strategic planning models), impacts of tourism social, economic and physical impacts of tourism on societies and their ecological set ups. GEOG 466 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE THIRD WORLD (3,1,3) The main objective of this course is to examine the various paradigms of tourism development in developing countries. It also examines efforts of developing countries towards tourism development and tourism impact studies and its assessment. The following topics shall be treated: Tourism development in the third world, the diffusionist paradigm and theory, the dependency theory in tourism development, the concept of tourism area cycle of evolution, tourism development in Ghana, regional distribution of tourism resources, tourism development planning in Ghana, tourism impact assessment. GEOG 467 TRANSPORTATION GEOGRAPHY (3,1,3) This course introduces undergraduates to transportation and the organization of human society. It also looks at theories and models of transportation development and transportation planning. Students shall also be introduced to network formulation and analyses, transport economics and technology and transport development. Specific topics include, definition of transportation geography and its DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY 2009/2010 Page 4

role and practical importance in the geographical system, Historical development of the various modes of transport, Models and Theories in transportation geography, network analysis, principles of transportation planning, introduction to transport economics. GEOG 468 TRANSPORT AND DEVELOPMENT (3,1,3) This course examines the interrelationships between transportation networks and the concepts of development. Urban and rural transport systems would be examined and Ghana s transport system studied. It will also focus on the contributions of improved transportation and the links between transport and development, tourism, urbanization, regional integration, international trade, transport and information communication technologies (ICTs). GEOG 469 URBAN GEOGRAPHY I (3,1,3) To give students insights into the origins, scope and development of Urban Geography and the distribution and structure of towns; the emergence, scope and development of towns; the origin of towns: Greek, Roman and Medieval Africa; urbanization in Western Europe, North America & Africa; the location and spacing of towns; the central place theory & rank size rule; urban structure and functions, and urban populations. GEOG 470 URBAN GEOGRAPHY II (3,1,3) To give students more insight into the nature of towns. Occupation characteristics of towns (urban economic functions): Basic and non-basic concept; the main sectors of the urban economy; urban land use; urban problems: urban amenities (supply & demand); urban environmental pollution, atmospheric, water and slums; traffic in towns; urban renewal; urban influence on the fringe & hinterland; the role of towns on development; maps and diagrams in urban studies and urbanisation and cities in selected regions in Africa. GEOG 489 / 490 DISSERTATION (0,12,6) (3 Credits per Semester). Final Year students are expected to conduct research, under supervision, on a given topic in her/his area of specialisation as part of the requirements for the award of the BA Degree. The topic, which needs to be approved by the student s supervisor, must be such that the study is development oriented. DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY 2009/2010 Page 5

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