ENVI 204 Regions of America (Not offered 1997-98)

A survey of the geography and economics of major regions in the United States, drawing on several fields within the academic discipline of geography-physical geography, biogeography, economic geography, cultural and historical geography-and elementary principles of regional economics. It will cover both large regions (e.g., New England, Pacific Northwest, Industrial Midwest, etc.) and smaller ones (e.g., river basins, city-regions, parts of states). Topics include: the shaping of regional differences by physical geography, history, culture (including literature and the arts), and economic specialization and structure; regional environmental issues as they stem from those same factors; the concern that places and regions are losing their special identity due to national homogenization.
Evaluation will be based on several exercises using maps and data, one hour exam, a final exam, and class discussion. This course complements Economics 201T, Cities. Economics 201T differs in emphasizing cities and their suburbs rather than large regions, in being a tutorial, and in having an Economics prerequisite. Open to first-year students. No prerequisites. Satisfies one semester of Division II requirement.

R. BOLTON