GEOG 261: Geography of World Population Issues
As you know this class depends on the WWW. Previous classes were fun but we did encounter some frustrations giving the in-class presentations. We never have enough time! Therefore your web pages will be due – posted on the website on April 17, 2006 . This will give time for you to examine each others sites and we will take five days to discuss them in class. This won’t be enough time but we will do our best.
The course paradigm is that we live in an urban system that connects essentially all parts of earth’s land surface into a hierarchical system of urban places. Further the present system is the result of the interaction between the expanding commercial/industrial city system based in the European core and its interaction with a range of regional urban systems that were administrative and commercial but not industrial. Thus the present pattern has economic, political and technological components that are modified in important ways by regional cultures.
I believe cities are the result of the interaction between the values and plans of community leaders and global forces of cultural change. Therefore we will examine the urban planning process in each of the areas we examine. We will spend a large fraction of the course on the urbanization of Europe and the development of European planning because these phenomena have had dramatic impacts on the cities in all parts of the world and the emerging global system of cities. The class periods will provide breadth; your research will provide you with deep understanding of places that have special interest for you.
Because I do not know everything about the cities of the world, we will share our knowledge and work to make the class enjoyable for everyone. Fortunately we have a textbook to provide us some guidance. I have made an effort to travel to many cities around the world so I will share my experiences and information with you. I also want to give each of you a chance to share your knowledge of cities around the world. Therefore please sign up for one of the times devoted to a place you have lived or visited. I will make every effort to work out an interesting session with those of you with experiences to share. I have also invited a few geography students who have studied abroad to share their experiences with us. If you know any international students who would like to discuss their home cities with us please let me know so I can invite them to participate.
In addition to taking two tests on the readings and lectures, your primary task will be to create a web site on a city OUTSIDE of the United States . The creation of a web site is essentially publishing your work. Work from previous years is on the department’s home page, so check them out as soon as you can. Petra Norlund will help you create and design your website. With her help you will be able to create your own home page and link it to the department’s home page, without experiencing too much frustration. However you will be totally responsible for researching your city.
In order to facilitate our work load we will meet as a combination seminar and lecture class. Our format will vary according to our material and task. It will be tricky with the large class, but we will try.