GEOGRAPHY 344

The Geography of Urban Development

Winter Semester 2007
Instructor: Dr. John Belec
John.Belec@ucfv.ca

Prerequisites: Geography 140 and 241 or 242

The study of urban geography represents one of several core specializations in the Geography Department at UCFV. The approach in this course is to examine cities both at a micro (internal structure - urban “morphology”) and macro (urban system) scale of analysis. The primary focus of the course is on spatial structure, especially of the North American city. We will also explore a range of “forces” that are at work in shaping cities, including government policy and planning, the property development industry, transportation technology and the economic environment of late capitalism.

Course Reading: Paul L. Knox, Urbanization: An Introduction to Urban Geography
(2nd Edition).

Trudi Bunting and Pierre Filion, Canadian Cities in Transition (3rd Edition)

Evaluation:

Seminar presentation 5%
Seminar participation 10
Term paper 25
Mid-term test 20
Final Exam 40

Course Structure:

The course is offered in a combined lecture/seminar format. Normally, lectures will be given in the Thursday class (1-3:10 pm.) and seminars will occur on Tuesdays. The class will be divided alphabetically into two seminar groups of fifteen members each. Group 1 meets from 1-2 pm and Group 2 from 2:10 – 3:10 pm. Most of the lectures are based on reading from the Knox text whereas the seminars are based on reading from the Bunting and Filion text.