GEOG 5350 - Geography of Latin America

• Students will be able to identify and compare the ethnic and economic diversity of the regions and countries of Latin America and explain how Latin America was “created” through geopolitical processes and racial identification.
• Students will be able to describe the relationship of Latin America to other world regions and economies, especially Africa, China, and the United States.
• Students will be able to identify patterns of population change in Latin America, explain how population change is related to development, and relate these changes to theories that explain demographic change.
• Students will be able to identify and describe the physical processes and natural hazards of Latin America and how they shape its developmental outcomes.
• Students will be able to describe the most important environment and development issues in Latin America, including mining, deforestation, and various outcomes from global climate change.
• Students will be able to identify, describe and demonstrate an empathetic understanding of numerous complex problems such as the war on drugs, migration, and globalization that affect people in Latin America.
• Students will be able to critically assess and challenge the colonial and neocolonial origins of narratives about Latin America and ask more informed and complex questions about Latin American countries and cultures.
• Students will be able to identify and articulate their biases and assumptions embedded in their preconceived notions about the culture and developmental issues characterizing Latin America.
• Students will be able to demonstrate curiosity and respect about Latin American culture in their verbal and non-verbal communications and develop an empathetic and shared understanding of cultural differences with Latin Americans.
• Students will be able to design a question for a literature review, conduct the literature review, and communicate the main findings in written and oral form.