GEA-3600 Summer A: Geography of Africa
Instructor: Di Yang
This course presents Geography of Africa from an environmental and economic development perspective. We start by understanding how Africa formed, its landscape, its climates and how people evolved to interact with the environment. There will be a focus on wildlife conservation. The course also discusses dynamic issues facing contemporary African societies and the challenges that people and nations of this vast continent are working to resolve, introducing ideas about economic development, politics and governance. Issues of health, demography, gender, and culture are also covered. Through lectures, assigned readings and videos, and reflective writing exercises we will study environmental and resource issues, the impact of historical events on development, education and culture, population distribution, social organization, rural and urban structures, industrialization, business and trade, and prospects for the future.