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Courses
200. Introduction to Geography. This course, which is a review of
the history and current orientations of human and environmental geography,
is designed for geography concentrators or prospective concentrators. Other
interested students are welcome to enroll with consent of instructor. It
includes a critical review of representative pedagogic works and selected
reading of recent periodical and monographic literature. M. Mikesell.
Autumn.
201/301. Cultural Geography. An examination of the two main concerns
of this field of geography: (1) The logic and pathology revealed in the
record of the human use and misuse of the earth, and (2) the discordant
relationship of the world political map with more complicated patterns of
linguistic and religious distribution. M. Mikesell. Winter.
219/319. Historical Geography of the United States. This course examines
the spatial dynamics of the frontier, regional development, the social character
of settlement patterns, and evolution of the cultural landscapes of America
from pre-European times to 1900. An all-day field trip is part of the course.
M. Conzen. Autumn.
220/320. United States in Geographical Perspective. Students make a
systematic analysis of contemporary regional organization of American society
and its economy, emphasizing the dynamics that explain the locational distribution
of people, resources, and economic activity and the settlement pattern.
The course examines the regional restructuring of industry and services,
transportation, city growth, and cultural consumption. M. Conzen. Winter.
227/327. Urban Structure and Process (=SocSci 251, Sociol 227/361). This
course reviews competing theories of urban development, especially their
ability to explain the changing nature of cities under the impact of advanced
industrialism. Analysis includes a consideration of emerging metropolitan
regions, the microstructure of local neighborhoods, and the limitations
of the past American experience as a way of developing urban policy both
in this country and elsewhere. G. Suttles. Autumn.
233/333. Chicago as a Social System. This is an analysis of the growth
of Chicago into a major metropolis. The approach is based on an interdisciplinary
perspective and on the use of humanistic and literary sources. We examine
the characteristics that the city has in common with other big cities and
focus on the special features of the city. We also analyze contemporary
institutions and Chicago's economic base. The course emphasizes current
problems the city faces and includes an assessment of alternative strategies
for guiding social and political change. Students are encouraged to undertake
fieldwork observation, archival research, or critical evaluation of contemporary,
past, or recent research on Chicago. G. Suttles. Not offered 1996-97;
will be offered 1997-98.
235/335. Urban Geography. This course examines the spatial organization
and current restructuring of modern cities in light of the economic, social,
cultural, and political forces that shape them. It explores the systematic
interactions between social process and physical system, with emphasis on
ways in which human action and motive shape and are shaped by the contingent
circumstances of place. We cover basic concepts of urbanism and urbanization,
systems of cities (including central-place theory), urban growth, migration,
centralization and decentralization, land-use dynamics, physical geography
and urban morphology, and planning. Finally, we focus on American cities
with brief comparisons to European and non-Western urban contexts. M.
Conzen. Not offered 1996-97; will be offered 1997-98.
237. Fantastic Voyages in the Ancient World (=ClCiv 237, Hum 237). This
course surveys ancient Greek and Roman geographical literature that describes
actual and imaginary lands and journeys. Readings (in translation) are drawn
from the mythological and fictional travel narratives of Homer, Pindar,
Appolodorus, and Lucian; philosophic utopias and cosmogonies of the pre-Socratics,
Plato, and Plutarch; and the ethnography of Herodotus, Hanno, Tacitus, Pliny,
and Strabo. Discussion emphasizes the psychic as well as physical dislocation
of fictional travelers, the methodological considerations of abstract speculation
versus regional exploration, changes in schematic representations of the
world, and questions of bias, ethnocentrism, and geographical determinism.
A. Mori. Autumn.
253. Seminar: Problems in the Human Geography of the Middle East. This
course includes a review and cartographic demonstration of habitat types,
modes of livelihood, and ethnic distribution, followed by student reports
on selected aspects of human geography. M. Mikesell. Spring.
254/354. Ancient Landscapes: Environmental Change, Geoarcheology and Off-Site
Archeology (=NEArch 355). PQ: Third- or fourth-year standing and
consent of instructor. The main focus of this course is on examples
drawn from the Old World and Near East; some New World material is also
included. Topics relevant to archeology, anthropology, geography, and environmental
studies are covered. T. Wilkinson. Winter.
255/355. Biogeography (=BioSci 255, EvBiol 455). PQ: Common Core
biology or consent of instructor. This course examines factors governing
the distribution and abundance of animals and plants. Topics include patterns
and processes in historical biogeography, island biogeography, geographical
ecology, areography, and conservation biology (the design and effectiveness
of nature reserves). Staff. Winter.
261/361. Roots of the Modern American City (=EnvStd 261). This course
traces the economic, social, and physical development of the city in North
America from early industrialization to the present. Emphasis is on evolving
urban systems and the changing spatial organization of people and land use.
An Illinois field trip is included. M. Conzen. Not offered 1996-97; will
be offered 1997-98.
266/366. Urban Economics (=Econ 266, PubPol 245). PQ: Econ 201.
This course deals with the economics of spatial processes and structures
within the city: residential location, employment location, and spatial-temporal
change. The following topics are also considered: spatial aspects of the
public economic activity within a city; relationships between central cities
and their suburbs; externalities in cities; and the geographical structure
of Third World cities. G. Tolley. Autumn.
267/367. Metropolitan Development and Planning (=PubPol 267, Sociol 247).
PQ: Third- or fourth-year standing. This course focuses on metropolitan
development patterns and the interplay of geopolitical, economic, and social
changes in U.S. cities after 1950. Intergovernmental relations and urban
planning concepts and institutions are also explored. Selected policies
for economic development, land-use management, housing, education, transportation,
energy, and the environment are analyzed in a regional context. D. Holleb.
Spring.
282. Introduction to Maps and Mapping. This course provides an introduction
to cartographic practices including map preparation, compilation, construction,
drafting techniques, and design. Lab sessions required. Staff.
Autumn.
284/384. Advanced Cartography and GIS. PQ: Geog 282 or equivalent.
This course covers the development of cartographic and computer-based
geographic information system techniques applicable to student research
topics. Staff. Winter, Spring.
291. Undergraduate Tutorial. PQ: Consent of instructor. Available
for either Pass or letter grade. This course is designed for
individual study of selected geographic problems. Staff. Autumn, Winter,
Spring.
293. Readings in Geographic Literature in French. PQ: Reading knowledge
of French and consent of instructor. Available for either Pass or
letter grade. M. Mikesell. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
294/394. Readings in Nature and Culture. PQ: Geog 200 or consent
of instructor. This course is an opportunity for research and discussion
on the logic and pathology revealed in evidence of the human use and misuse
of the earth. M. Mikesell. Autumn.
295/395. Readings in Culture and Nationality. PQ: Geog 200 or consent
of instructor. This course examines the role of language and religion
in the integration of nation-states and of examples of cultural dissidence
and cultural conflict. M. Mikesell. Winter.
298. Readings in Special Topics in Geography. PQ: Consent of instructor.
Must be taken for a letter grade. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
299. Senior Seminar. PQ: Open to geography concentrators with fourth-year
standing. Must be taken for a letter grade. This course is designed
for development of the bachelor's thesis. M. Conzen. Winter.
410. American Landscapes I: 1850-1904 (=ArtH 263/363, Hist 270/370). PQ:
Any 100-level ArtH or ArtDes course, or consent of instructor. This
course treats changes in the natural and human-made environment, focusing
on the settings American designers, builders, architects, and their clients
developed for work, housing, education, recreation, worship, and travel.
Lectures attempt to relate specific physical changes to social values, aesthetic
theories, technological skills, and social structure. N. Harris. Autumn.
411. American Landscapes II: 1929-1960. This course is a sequel to American
Landscapes I; it may be taken independently. N. Harris. Not offered 1996-97;
will be offered 1997-98.
417. Seminar: History of Geography. PQ: Consent of instructor. M.
Mikesell. Winter.
418. Seminar: Historical Geography. PQ: Consent of instructor. M.
Conzen. Spring.
424. Urban Landscapes as Social Text (=Sociol 332). PQ: Consent of
instructor. This seminar explores the meanings to be found in varieties
of urban landscapes, both in the context of individual elements and composite
structures. These meanings are examined in relation to three fundamental
approaches that can be identified in the analytical literature on landscapes:
normative, historical, and communicative modes of conceptualization. Students
pursue research topics of their own choosing within this general framework.
M. Conzen, G. Suttles. Autumn.
470. Seminar: Problems in Teaching Geography. PQ: Consent of instructor.
This class is an opportunity for students seeking a teaching career
to prepare appropriate materials for a course devoted to topics of personal
interest. It includes preliminary discussion of the objectives of geographical
education and the problems entailed in planning courses of general and specific
character. Students prepare and present for critical review a syllabus,
reading list, examination, and sample class. M. Mikesell. Spring.
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