Geog 185 Syllabus
Geog 185 Syllabus
Geog 185 Syllabus
Email: kcsaguin@up.edu.ph
Course Description: Ecological, spatial and social approaches in understanding the geographic aspects of diseases, health and
health care systems. The course is handled in both lecture and seminar formats.
Course Objectives: At the end of the semester, students are expected to:
1. Understand geographic perspectives on diseases, health, care and well-being
2. Develop critical skills in thinking geographically about medical and health issues
3. Appreciate the role and relevance of geographic approaches in investigating medical and health issues.
Course requirements:
Exams (30%): Two exams will cover all lectures and required reading materials discussed and assigned in class. Exam items will
be in essay and/or short answer formats.
Research Proposal (40%): With a partner, you will develop a research proposal on any topic in medical and health geography. In
close consultation with me, developing the proposal entails identification of a topic, abstract and an initial list of articles (5%),
and submission of a literature review (10%) halfway through the semester. The final proposal (20%) will also be presented (5%)
at the end of the semester. You may access the journals Health & Place and Social Science & Medicine for possible topics.
Class Facilitation (10%): Students will facilitate one seminar session. Facilitation tasks include introducing the topic, providing
relevant context, formulating discussion questions and promoting participation from students during the seminar session.
Class Participation (20%): Students are expected to participate in class discussions, particularly during the seminar sessions.
Grade Equivalents: 1.0 = 96-100% 1.25 = 90-95%
= 67-69%
2.75 = 64-66% 3.0 = 60-63%
1.5 = 85-89%
4.0=55-59
1.75 = 80-84%
5.0 = 0-54%
2.0 = 75-79%
2.25 = 70-74%
No grade of INC will be given
2.5
Course Readings:
Most of our readings will be taken from the two volumes below. These and other materials are available through UVLe.
Brown, T., McLafferty, S., and Moon, G. 2010. A Companion to Health and Medical Geography. Wiley-Blackwell, MA.
rd
Meade, M.S. and Emch, M. 2010. Medical Geography, 3 edition. Guilford Press: New York and London.
UVLe Access:
I will use the UVLe system (uvle.upd.edu.ph) to manage the course. Please make sure you have access to UVLe. Use the key
geog185 to enroll yourself in the course. Inform me immediately if you cannot gain access to the course on UVLe.
Class Policies:
Attendance and tardiness: You are allowed a maximum of 6 excused/unexcused absences. Please present medical forms for
excused absences. Please come to class on time. All late submissions will be deducted 10% of total score per day.
Academic Honesty: I do not tolerate any form of dishonesty, whether cheating, plagiarism or submitting other peoples work.
Class Behavior: Please practice common courtesy during class hours (e.g., keep phones in your pockets and your laptops in your
bags; refrain from reading for other classes and from engaging in non-class conversations).
Other Issues: Feel free to email me or meet me during office hours if you have any other concerns or problems.
2
Course Outline:
DATE
21 Jan
23 Jan
28 Jan
30 Jan
4 Feb
6 Feb
TOPIC
Part 1: Introduction
Introduction
Film
Health and Medical
Geography
Health and Medical
Geography
Part 2: Diseases
Human Ecology of
Disease
Human Ecology of
Disease
11 Feb
Spatialities of Disease
13 Feb
Spatialities of Disease
18 Feb
20 Feb
Spatialities of Disease
Spatialities of Disease
27 Feb
Ecologies of Disease
4 Mar
Ecologies of Disease
6 Mar
Ecologies of Disease
11 Mar
Ecologies of Disease
13 Mar
Exam 1
Part 3: Health
Political Ecologies of
Health
Political Ecologies of
Health
Landscapes of
Health/Despair
18 Mar
20 Mar
25 Mar
27 Mar
Cultural Geographies
of Health:
Embodiment
8 Apr
Governing un/healthy
populations
DUE DATE/FACILITATOR
Lecture
FAC: c/o KS
Lecture
Lecture
FAC 1:
Lecture
FAC 2:
Lecture
FAC 3:
Lecture
Due: List of 10 journal articles
FAC 4:
Lecture
FAC 5:
FAC 6:
Lecture
FAC 7:
Lecture
Due: Final topic and abstract
10 Apr
Un/healthy bodies
15 Apr
Public Health:
neighborhoods
17 Apr
Public Health:
inequalities
22/24/
29 Apr
6 May
Research break
8 May
13/15/
20May
Presentation of
research proposals
Exam 2 (take home)
FAC 8:
Lecture
FAC 9:
Lecture
Due: Literature review
FAC 10: