Course Descriptions -Geography and Urban Studies

406. Geographic Methodology. (3 s.h.)

Critical review of current concepts and methods used in geographic and urban interdisciplinary research.

408-409. Special Topics Seminars. (3 s.h.)

A faculty member offers special seminars in research specialty. Recent topics have included current perspectives on development, the information and technology needs of low resource community organizations, and information systems design and management.

410. Modern Urban Analysis. (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the social-scientific literature in urban studies. Emphasis will be on developing an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective. Topics include urbanization, urban form, the political economy of cities, and current models in urban policy and planning.

411. Community Based Research. (3 s.h.)

Applied, empirical research experience on issues affecting urban communities in the Philadelphia area. Students conduct research projects in collaboration with local community organizations working for community change. Course includes the study of contemporary urban issues and training in research methods, applied research techniques, report writing, and negotiating client-driven research.

414. Urban Social Geography. (3 s.h.)

Analysis of interaction between social and physical space in the U.S. city. Urban social travel, migration, and neighborhood organization are emphasized.

415. Land Use Planning (3 s.h.)

An examination of the forces that influence land use planning in and around American metropolitan regions. Considers economic perspectives (land values), public interest perspectives (zoning subdivision, housing and building codes, redevelopment and renewal programs, etc.) and social perspectives of land use. Also examines separately housing, commercial locations, and industrial development.

425. Regional Development in the Third World. (3 s.h.)

A geographical approach to the issues of economic development with emphasis on food production, environmental problems, spatial and regional planning, the provision of services (especially health and education), and integrated rural development.

430. Government Program Evaluation. (3 s.h.)

Political and technical problems of evaluating public policy for urban areas. Emphasis on problems of implementation, equity in service delivery, and measuring the success or failure of public policies.

432. Seminar in Economic Models. (3 s.h.)

This course uses basic economic theory to understand the dynamics of the growth and decline of cities and regions in a national and global framework. Topics covered include land use theory, transportation and housing, public services, suburbanization, segregation and inequality, public policy, and regional development.

433. Geography of Urban Services. (3 s.h.)

Analysis of concepts basic to understanding spatial service patterns. Emphasis is on use of models in service area delineation.

439. Medical Geography. (3 s.h.)

An analysis of the factors responsible for the geographic patterns of disease, mortality, and health care services: the role of the environment in evaluating mortality and disease patterns.

440. Economic Development Planning for Cities. (3 s.h.)

Causes of economic decline in American cities, history of governmental policies to promote urban economic development, and major tools available to local economic planners, with special emphasis on the political issues of who controls the programs and who reaps the benefits.

444. Urban Housing. (3 s.h.)

On overview of the economic, social, physical, and political forces that have molded the present urban housing stock. Examination of the implications of present urban housing stock. Examination of the implications of present trends for the future and the development of rational housing policies, emphasizing the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

445. Poverty and Employment. (3 s.h.)

Examines the relationships among the globalization of the economy, economic restructuring, metropolitan labor markets, and poverty focusing on contemporary U.S. cities. The course will evaluate theoretical and public policy debates about employment and poverty. Particular attention will be paid to how class, gender, and racial inequities are reproduced in the urban economy.

447. Comparative Urban History. (3 s.h.)

Review of methodological tools for comparative readings and research on the history of cities, across cultural and chronological boundaries.

448. Urban Development: Race, Class and Gender. (3 s.h.)

Research seminar that examines the spatial dimensions of metropolitan inequality, focusing on how inequality is perpetuated along class, race, and gender lines. Topics include urban growth politics, zoning and land use planning, domestic architecture, racial segregation, poverty, and homelessness. Students will design a research proposal based on course materials.

449. Seminar on Homelessness in America. (3 s.h.)

Explores various issues relating to homelessness, with a focus on public policy and research. A dominant theme is how public policy decisions have contributed to this problem. Topics are the experience of being homeless, the epidemiology of homelessness, structural and individual theories of homelessness, the history of homelessness in the U.S., substance abuse and mental illness among the homeless, homeless women and children, homelessness in Philadelphia, and public policies needed to address the problem.

452. Problems of Environmental Quality. (3 s.h.)

Local urban environmental problems are considered by members of the class in research teams, with a view toward seeking possible solutions to them.

455. Seminar in Environmental Studies. (3 s.h.)

Consideration of geography of critical environmental problems.

456. Seminar in Environmental Studies. (3 s.h.)

This course is designed to provide an understanding of the ecological consequences of contemporary economic development. The focus is on countries at the low end of the developmental scale countries of Latin America, Africa and South Asia. The course illustrates through case studies how changes in the relations of production give rise to increasing degradation of resources.

461. Cartographic Production. (3 s.h.)

Advanced approaches to design and production of thematic maps.

462. Computer Cartography. (3 s.h.)

Advanced cartography, maps as research tools, and computer mapping.

465. Geographic Data Systems. (3 s.h.)

Aspects of storage, retrieval, and display of information within geographic data systems. Emphasis will be placed on computer cartography. A basic familiarity with programming is helpful.

466. Cartographic Design. (3 s.h.)

Practical work with photographic and related processes to produce a map printed in color.

467. Mapping Practicum. (3 s.h.)

Students are assigned cartographic projects and encouraged to plan, design, and execute them for faculty and those from outside firms and planning agencies.

468. Mapping Practicum II. (3 s.h.)

Description same as 467.

471. Readings in Geography. (1 s.h.)

Open to graduate students with permission of adviser and instructor.

472. Advanced Readings in Geography. (2 s.h.)

Open to graduate students with permission of adviser and instructor.

473. Advanced Readings in Geography. (3 s.h.)

Open to graduate students with permission of adviser and instructor.

482. Field Methods in Geography/Urban Studies. (3 s.h.)

Procedures for collecting information in the field are analyzed and experienced. Projects are carried out in the Philadelphia region.

481. Internship in Geography/Urban Studies. (3 s.h.)

On-the-job training for graduate students with local consulting firms, planning commissions, community organizations, and various state, local, and federal government agencies in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

489. Internship Paper. (3 s.h.)

Students completing their internship requirement for the M.A. degree are required to complete a summary paper that is based on their experience in the field. This course is a guided writing course in which students meet with their internship adviser to develop and complete the paper.

505. Master's Research. (1-3 s.h.)

Required of all candidates for the master's degree with the thesis option. To be taken after the student's prospectus has been approved by advisory committee.

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