Introduction to Urban Geography

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
GEOG 3361
Discontinued
No
Course Code
GEOG 3361
Descriptive
Introduction to Urban Geography
Department
Geography and the Environment
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
202010
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
35
Contact Hours
Lecture: 2 hrs. per week / semester Seminar: 2 hrs. per week / semester
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning Activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: 

  •  lectures
  •  small group discussions
  •  visual presentations – DVDs and videos
  •  individual and team projects and/or presentations
  •  field assignments
  •  practical in-class exercises
Course Description
Cities are the largest human artifacts, but how do they emerge and evolve? What are the similarities and differences between cities? Why is the Central Business District of some cities thriving while others decline? These and many other questions are examined by urban geographers. Geography 3361 will explore and analyze the various aspects, concepts and approaches of urban geography. The course will cover topics such as historic and contemporary urban development; spatial dimensions of the city; social and economic patterns; images of the city; inequality and the development of urban built environment. Canadian and global urban patterns and future developments will be explored.
Course Content
  1. Introduction
    a)     The nature of urban geography and paradigm shifts
    b)     Definition of urban centres/cities
  2. Historic Development of Cities
    a)      Ancient and Classical cities
    b)      Medieval and baroque cities, including colonial variations
    c)       Industrial and Modern cities
    d)      Post-industrial and emerging cities
  3. Cities and Economic Development
  4. Systems of Cities
    a)      Central Place Theory and other models
  5. Internal Structure of the City
    a)      Classic models of the city
    b)      Contemporary models of the city
    c)       New urban order, gentrification and the inner city
    d)      Suburbanization and land use conflicts
    e)       Planning issues
  6. Land use, urban transportation and housing
    a)      Institutional processes, politics and the development industry
  7. Social aspects of urbanization
    a)      Gender
    b)      Ethnicity
    c)       Other social processes (class, race and age)
  8. City as Image and Perception
  9. Urban Ecological Issues
  10. World Urban Patterns and Processes
  11. Urban Futures
  12. Conclusion
    a) Urban geography in a globalizing world
Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

  1. Collect, display and analyze geographical data using a variety of techniques.
  2. Explain the concepts and models of the development, function and distribution of cities.
  3. Analyze the internal structure of cities using appropriate techniques, models and theories.
  4. Examine and explain the impact of class, gender, ethnicity and other characteristics on the perception of and interaction with urban spaces.
  5. Compare and contrast the development of cities in North America and the rest of the world.
  6. Describe the origin and historic development of North American cities.
  7. Analyze the processes of suburbanization and gentrification and their contemporary characteristics.
  8. Describe the development and implications of the urban built environment and landscape.
  9. Explain how public and private sector organizations influence the planning and development of cities.
  10. Assess the challenges confronting developing or peripheral cities and possible solutions.
  11. Conduct and properly report on field based research.
Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific criteria during the first week of classes.

 

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Assignments  10%
Field assignments          10%
Tests  55%
Term project  20%
Participation   5%
Total 100%

 

 

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

 

Texts will be updated periodically. Typical examples are:

Fyfe, Nicholas R. and Judith T. Kennedy, eds (2005) The Urban Geography Reader, New York, Routledge

 

Hall, Tim, (2006) Urban Geography, 3rd ed. Routledge

 

Knox, P and L. McCarthy, (2012) Urbanization: An Introduction to Urban Geography 3rd ed. Prentice Hall.

 

LeGates, Richard and Frederic Stout, eds, (2011) The City Reader 5th ed. Routledge

 

Pacione, Michael (2005) Urban Geography: A Global Perspective 2nd ed., New York: Routledge 

Prerequisites

GEOG 1100