University of Washington
GEOGRAPHY 597:  Intro Graduate Tutorial
Autumn 2004  (2 credits)
Contents of this syllabus:
Objectives
Requirements
Grading
Schedule
Additional resources
CONTACT  INFO
The course meets for nine Thursdays (30 September through 4 December), from 2:00 - 3:30, in Smith Hall 409.  The instructor is Professor JW Harrington, whose office is in 408 Smith Hall, and who can be reached with an e-mail to jwh@u.washington.edu (to ask a question or ask for a meeting).


OBJECTIVES
The course has two equally important objectives:

  1. To acquaint new Geography graduate students with key resources for their programs:
  2. To improve new students' comfort and facility with self-representation.



REQUIREMENTS
Toward that end, there are three, simple requirements:

  1. Attend the weekly meetings.
  2. Skim 1-2 articles suggested by each faculty member who joins us each week.  These are in file folders by the telephone in the Commons (Smith 411).  The purpose is to determine what questions you might have for each visiting faculty member, during the seminar meeting.
  3. Rewrite the "Statement of Objectives" with which you applied to our graduate program, to reflect:  what you've read and learned since last winter (include some references), your knowledge of the UW faculty, and conversations with at least two faculty members.  This should be turned in and discussed on 9 December.

GRADING
The course is graded with only "Credit" or "No Credit."  The course's two credits will be granted to any student who attends all of the scheduled meetings (with some possibility of prior excuse of up to two sessions) and revises his/her Statement of Objectives in consultation with at least two faculty members.


SCHEDULE

Thursday 30 September
A further introduction1 to the UW Libraries:  Anne Zald: Allen Library Auditorium (see this map)

Thursday 7 October
Course introduction;  self introductions

Thursday 14 October
Kim England, Doug Mercer2, Craig ZumBrunnen
Readings will be assigned and made available

Thursday 21 October
Mark Ellis, Dick Morrill
Mark's home page (linked above) describes his research projects with links to publications and other writing.

Thursday 28 October
JW Harrington, Steve Herbert2 ,Tim Nyerges
Readings will be assigned and made available

Thursday 4 November
Lucy Jarosz, Vicky Lawson, Jonathan Mayer
Readings will be assigned and made available

Thursday 11 November
Veterans' Day holiday

Thursday 18 November
Bill Beyers, Katharyne Mitchell, Tim Nyerges
Readings will be assigned and made available

Thursday 25 November
Thanksgiving holiday

Thursday 2 December
Michael Brown, Kam Wing Chan3, Matt Sparke
Readings will be assigned and made available

Thursday 9 December
Suzanne Withers
discussion of each others' statements and plans
 


ADDITIONAL  RESOURCES
Read over the online graduate rules, and the guide to departmental funding.


NOTES
1.  From Anne Zald:  "If we do go ahead and schedule a session specifically for Geog 597 we could make it more specific than the orientation session will be - how to use specific databases in more detail; searching specifically for works by UW Geography faculty to demo features, the need to use multiple databases; more info about the content and function of various info resources; involve the GFIS staffer to provide info about the funding information service, etc."
2.  Steve Herbert and Doug Mercer teach 'til 2:20, and thus will arrive at 2:30 or a little later.
3.  Kam Wing Chan has a Faculty Senate meeting at 2:30, and thus will join us from 2:00 to 2:20 or so.

copyright James W. Harrington, Jr.
revised 9 November 2004