CONTENT:  This course examines the geographic theories and principles related to the basic elements of distribution, structure, functional relationships, and regional setting of urban centers.  Focus is on world cities, the world city paradigm, and developing world urban problems. The course operates in a seminar mode, with assigned readings and a research paper, and regular meetings (usually every 3 weeks) during the semester. To enroll in this course, students must submit a 2-3 page research proposal that details a topic the student wishes to research.    Prerequisite:  Graduate student standing and completion of Geog 500.   3 hours.

OFFERED:  Spring Semester (approximately every two years).  Offered in the Spring 2004 semester.

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Sample Syllabus: 

GEO 580 Seminar in Urban Geography Spring 2003

Class meets M 4pm to 6 pm EST 306 (Conference Room)
Professor: David J. Keeling Office EST 304, Phone x 4555
Office Hours: By appointment.
EMAIL: david.keeling@wku.edu

PURPOSE:

** This course is designed as a directed seminar in Urban Geography issues. Students must submit a project proposal before enrolling in the course. During the semester, we will address the various theoretical and empirical issues that shape a variety of urban challenges for planners, researchers, and practitioners. Combining book readings, journal articles, videos, slides, and discussions, students gain an appreciation of the complexity of the urban form, an understanding of the dynamics of urban life, and the role of urban centers in the emerging global economy. The course aims to provide a theoretically and empirically informed understanding by students of some of the key processes that are shaping the structure and experience of cities in the 21st century.

OBJECTIVES:

** By the end of the course, students should have a sense of some of the social and economic influences shaping the development of urban systems; an understanding of the social and economic processes associated with creating order and disorder in the urban environment; and a knowledge of how people interact and make sense of the cities in which they live. In each of these overlapping areas, students are exposed to both theoretical and empirical examples within urban geography.

READING:

** Suggested background reading available at the library:
(1) Knox and Taylor (1995) World Cities in a World-System (paperback). Cambridge. HT330 .M37 1995 At the library reserve desk.
(2) The City Reader (1996) Legates and Stout. Routledge. HT151 .C586 1996 At the library reserve desk.
(3) Urban future 21: a global agenda for twenty-first century cities (2000) Peter Hall and Ulrich Pfeiffer. HT151 .H284 2000

ASSESSMENT:

** Four article/book reviews (15% each), Research Project (40%).
Grades are allocated as follows: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89.9%; C = 70-79.9%
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Class will meet on the following dates:
Monday January 13 - Introductory session
Monday February 3
Monday February 17
Monday March 10
Monday March 31
Monday April 14
Monday April 28
Monday May 5 - Final Research Project Due

This page last updated on 12/17/03.