This course introduces salient contemporary US urban topics as seen from and analyzed by a geographic perspective. Topics include migration, urban sprawl, city services, gentrification and urban redevelopment, school districts, parks housing, financing, and others. The course examines key issues, problems, and debates facing diverse US urban communities, and will address the possibilities for citizen engagement in their resolution. Fulfills the Gen Ed US Citizenship requirement.
Focuses on the historical development, contemporary character, and alternative futures of cities in both developing and developed regions. The spatial, social, economic, and political processes of major world cities are studied and contemporary urban problems are discussed. Fulfills Gen Ed Global Dynamics requirement.
An introduction to the history, purpose, and objectives of planning with emphasis on urban and regional planning, planning processes, techniques, and legislation.
Examines the relationship between urbanization and the larger social and economic contexts within which city growth occurs. Surveys a range of theoretical perspectives on the internal socio-economic structure and built environment of cities, including the contributions by Chicago School, neoclassical, marxist, and postmodern theorists. Emphasis also placed on relevant environmental, social, and political problems of cities. Primary focus is on North American cities, but includes cross-cultural comparisons.
This course examines how space and political activities are related. Major topics will include: history of political geographic thought; geopolitics; nationalism and identity; the territorial state; regionalism; conflicts; borders and frontiers, and electoral geography, at a range of scales.
An examination of erosion, deposition, and sediment transport processes associated with flowing water, landforms associated with fluvial processes, and landscape evolution in areas dominated by fluvial dissection and deposition. Field trips may be required.
This course provides an advanced review of the ongoing restructuring of the geography and organization of the capitalist global economy. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary issues (such as industrial restructuring or the financial industry), and specific regions (such as Kentucky or China). Competing theories (classical, neoclassical, and marxian) and empirical analysis aimed at explaining these pattern and processes are discussed and applied.
A broad survey of methods and methodological debates of research in human/physical geography. Emphasis on contemporary research examples.
An analytical review of the evolution of geographic thought, in terms of concepts, methodologies and scholars, emphasizing the basic literature through a series of topics.
Introduction to teaching, with particular focus on pedagogical issues in geography courses. Intended to provide students with background sufficient to enable them to assume full responsibility for university and college level courses.
