University Bulletin
Undergraduate Degree Programs
GEOG 429
(US)
Global Urbanization (3) This course reflects critically on a number of issues related to global urbanization, including the culture and political economy of urban space.
GEOG 429
GEOG 429 Global Urbanization (3)
(US)
(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.
A variety of perspectives has shaped our conceptions of cities and experiences of urbanity, and, as the above citations illustrate, these different perspectives are not always consistent with each other. Not only do our experiences of cities change depending upon geographic and historical contexts, but so do our analytical frameworks for explaining them. This course reflects critically on these different perspectives through an examination of some of the central questions and problems that have figured in the comparative study of global urbanization. Issues to be discussed include: theories of urbanism and the city; the political economy of urban space; the cultural meanings of urban space; the intersection of gender, race and class in the construction of urban space and experience.
The course is organized around a mixed seminar-lecture format. Students should complete all readings on the day they are scheduled and be prepared to participate in class discussion and group project assignments. Each student is required to prepare two questions from the assigned readings everyday. At the beginning of each session, several students will present their questions to the class, and the class will discuss the questions and related issues. There will be three in-class examinations, consisting of essay and short answer questions.
Note : Class size, frequency of offering, and evaluation methods will vary by location and instructor. For these details check the specific course syllabus.