The Geography of Virginia (GEOG380) class is taught at George Mason
University in the Fall semester via videotapes and the Internet. Learn
about the people and places of Virginia - not only the "where"
of Virginia, but also the "why" part of the story and what
makes Virginia special.
Especially if you live or work in Virginia, you should get to
know thine own state before claiming to have a well-rounded education.
Bored and frustrated when trapped in rush hour traffic? C'mon, get
a new perspective. Learn the stories about the Virginia roads and
rivers, the rocks and the animals, the cities and counties, the people
and the politics, and everything else you see outside the car window.
Yes, you'll still be stuck in traffic, but now the time looking out
the window won't be wasted... it's "research" instead.
Understanding some history puts into context the "southern"
characteristics of the northernmost state in the old Confederacy.
For example, the stores in Franklin County sell a lot of sugar, perhaps
because the Blue Ridge mountaineers might have a sweet tooth - but
then again, you need sugar to make moonshine... Of course, you already
knew that driving those jugs of moonshine to market led to the popularity
of NASCAR racing in the region, right?
If you experience the social graces of West End Richmond, you
know that "Upper South" is a cultural as well as a geographic
term. And even if you aren't living in Virginia during the next decade,
you'll celebrate two key events that link Virginia history and American
geography: the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson sending two other
Virginians (Lewis and Clark) to explore the Louisiana Purchase, and
the 400th anniversary of the initial English settlement at Jamestown.
You don't need to major in Geography at George Mason University
to enjoy and explore Virginia. There is no textbook, but you will
need the Virginia Atlas and Gazetteer from DeLorme. The "Geography
of Virginia" (GEOG303) class is taught via:
- Televised lectures broadcast on GMU-TV and available as pre-recorded
tapes from the Student Technology Assistance and Resource Assistance
(STAR) Center
- These Web pages and those at VirginiaPlaces.Org
- An e-mail listserver
- Selected readings
- Personal contacts with the instructor, as you request, for
face-to-face assistance
