Geography 120: A Global Perspective

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Geography 120 A Global Perspective

• Professor Chris Benner
• Fall 2002

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Course Introduction

• Purpose of course To understand contemporary
  processes of urbanization and urban change
• Themes
• Global and Local
• Complex interplay of economic and social forces
• Any theory of the city must be, at its starting
  point, a theory of social conflict Manuel
  Castells (1983) The City and the Grassroots

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Course Outline

• Concepts and Theory in Urban Geography
• An Urbanizing World Broad Trends and Conditions
• Urban Structure and Land Use in the Western City
• Living in the City Economy, Society and
  Politics in the Western City
• Urban Geography in the Third World
• The Future of Cities

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Course Logistics

• Text Pacione (2001) Urban Geography A Global
  Perspective
• Lectures and discussion
• Quizzes- 2 during the semester
• Assignments (in pairs)
• Assignment 1 U.S. City Profile History,
  Population, Governance, Basic Urban Form,
  Economic Base, 2000 Census Demographics
• Assignment 2 Third World City Profile
  History, Demographics, Economy, Urban Form
• Learning Environment and Academic Integrity
• Web page http//www.geog.psu.edu/courses/geog120/

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Personal Introduction and Exercise

• Birthplace, parents background
• City of birth, other cities lived in, visited
• Cities like to visit
• Thought exercise Year 2025
• City, neighborhood
• Work and workplace
• Transportation
• Communication
• Retail/Shopping
• Leisure activities