Instructor: Dr. Greg Henry
Office: Room 231, Geography Building
Phone: 604-822-2985
Email: greg.henry@geog.ubc.ca
Office hours: After class or by appointment.

Course description and objectives
This course is designed to acquaint students with the physical, biological, historical, political, economic and cultural characteristics of the Arctic, with an emphasis on the Canadian Arctic. The Arctic regions are undergoing rapid climate change and increasing industrial development. These changes have major implications for the indigenous peoples of the Arctic, relations among the Arctic countries and the regulation of the climate. Canada is an Arctic country, with tundra landscapes covering more than 1/3 of the land surface; however, this region is generally poorly known by “southern” Canadians. We will examine both the general characteristics of this vast area, and the inherent diversity. The last major change in the political geography of Canada was the division of the (old) Northwest Territories in 1999 to create Nunavut, the Inuit-dominated territory in the eastern Arctic and the (new) Northwest Territories in the western Arctic comprised of a more diverse number of First Nations. Land claims by First Nations in the north continue to shape the geography. The economies of the North depend largely on resource extraction and are at the whim of world markets. We will explore the history and the challenges faced by the northern peoples. The Arctic is also a barometer for global change; predicted climate warming due to human-enhanced emissions of greenhouse gases will be earliest and most intense in the high latitudes: in fact, changes are already being observed. The effects of climate change in the Polar Regions were the major focus of the International Polar Year (IPY: 2007-2009). The circumpolar countries bordering the Arctic Ocean share a common climate and similar issues, although important historical and socio-economic differences. We will explore some of these circumpolar issues and the recent history of international cooperation in the Arctic. For these and many other reasons, the Arctic makes an important subject of study.

Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for this course, although introductory courses in both physical and human geography or equivalent courses are strongly recommended. The course is intended for upper year undergraduate students (3rd and 4th year). You must receive permission from the instructor to take the course if you not in the 3rd or 4th year of your program. Students in their 1st year may not take the course.

Course format
The course will be taught through lectures, discussions, and audio-visual presentations. Students are expected to supplement the lectures with readings provided for each of the topics covered during the course. Readings will be placed on the course web site.  Note there is no textbook for this course.

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Recommended texts:
(copies will be on reserve in the Geographic Information Centre, Room 112, Geography Building)

Bone, R. M. 2003. The Geography of the Canadian North: Issues and Challenges. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press Canada, Toronto. This text can be ordered through the UBC Bookstore or through online stores.

Pielou, E.C. 1994. A Naturalist’s Guide to the Arctic. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Young, S.B. 1989. To the Arctic: An Introduction to the Far Northern World. John Wiley & Sons, Toronto.

Other reading
Serials and journals include: Arctic, Arctic Anthropology, Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, Northern Perspectives, Polar Record, Polar Research, Polar Geography.

Government Documents: federal government, Nunavut Territory, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory. Most government documents are available online.

Arctic Council documents and programs, including the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) are found online and deal with circumpolar issues in the polar regions of the eight Arctic countries: www.arctic-council.org/ and www.acia.uaf.edu/.

In addition, there are many resources available on the Internet. Some of these will be highlighted in the lectures and listed on the course web site.

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Evaluation
The course mark will be based a midterm and final exam, and a major term paper. Students must pass the final exam to pass the course. Examinations will be given on published dates only. Re-writes will be granted only with valid medical or other excuses. Documentation will be required.

Submission of written assignments and term paper: All assignments and the term paper are to be submitted electronically in a format compatible with Microsoft Word. Assignments will be graded and returned to the student by email. Send assignments to greg.henry@geog.ubc.ca. Put Geog 497 at the beginning of the subject heading in all emails.

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Course topics

Academic policies
Academic Dishonesty: Please review the “Academic Regulations” in the UBC Calendar for the university policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. Also visit and go to the students’ section for useful information on avoiding plagiarism and on correct documentation Special Accommodations: The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the Disability Resource Centre. The University accommodates students whose religious obligations conflict with attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodations on these grounds. Students who plan to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will be accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the course drop date. Other information: Students should retain a copy of all submitted assignments (in case of loss) and should also retain all their marked assignments in case they wish to apply for a Review of Assigned Standing. Students have the right to view their marked examinations with their instructor, providing they apply to do so within a month of receiving their final grades. This review is for pedagogic purposes. The examination remains the property of the University.

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