GEOG 462 3 Credit Hours

Transport & the Space Economy

This information is for second semester 2017/2018 academic year

Teacher responsible

Dr. Ernest Agyemang

Office: Room C21, Department of Geography & Resource Development

Office Hours: Wednesdays, Time: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Availability

This course is available open to all visiting students but only as a second semester course.

Course content

The course examines the role of transport systems in the development of nation states in particular and wider geographical regions in general. Efforts are made to do comparative analysis between what obtains in the developed and developing worlds. Attention is also given to the role of transport in urban and rural system dynamics in developed and developing countries. The key case studies are Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil and the rest of the world.

Teaching

2-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week.

The format will consist of lectures, demonstrations, and discussions. Student participation is vital to the success of the course and may contribute to grades. Each major topic is followed by a tutorial to enhance students’ understanding of topics treated. Completion of tutorials is highly encouraged.

Formative coursework

There will be at least one major interim assessment (IA) and a final exam at the end of the semester. Punctuality and regularity are required of students and teaching assistant. Consistent attendance is necessary to fully comprehend the course material, and there will be plenty of opportunities to participate in this class. In general, "participation" includes many kinds of contributions: asking questions in class, contributing in positive and intelligent ways to in-class discussions, coming to see the lecturer during office hours with questions or comments, sending the lecturer emails about interesting news stories or articles, and so forth.

Indicative Reading

Hoyle, B.S. (ed.)(1973). Transport and Development. Geographical Readings, pp. 9-30. The MacMillan Press Ltd.

Rodrigue, J-P, Comtois, C. & Slack, B. (2009). Chap. 3 ‘Transportation & the economy, pp. 83-91.In the Geography of Transport Systems, (2nd Ed.) New York: Routledge.                                                                                                                                                 

Thirlwall, A.P. (2006). Growth and Development with special reference to Developing Economies. pp. 17-19. 8^th Ed. Palgrave, MacMillan.

Taaffe, E., Morrill, R.L. & Gould, P. R. (1963) Transport Expansion in Underdeveloped Countries: A comparative analysis. Geographical Review, Vol. 53, No. 4, pp.503-529. http://www.jstor.org/stable/212383

Dickson, K. B. (1971). A historical geography of Ghana. Cambridge University Press

Konadu-Agyemang,K., Saku, J.C. & Haasch, J.M. (2006).Transportation Development in Ghana Revisited, African Geographical Review, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 85-106, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2006.9756194

Assessment and Grading

1. Interim Assessment

1. Spot quizzes (Due: unannounced; Weighting: worth 10 Marks)
2. Group Term Project (Length:  Not more than 5 pages excluding references; Due: Week 10; worth 20 marks)

2. Final Examination

Two and one half (2½) hours examination paper with two (2) sections and six (6) questions each worth 23⅓ %. Choose three (3) questions with at least one from each section.

Grading Scale: