Geography 370                                                                                                                                    Urban Geography

Syllabus

 

Scheduled Class Time:                 MWF  2-3:15 PM

Class Room:                                135 GTM

 Instructor:                                  Steve Graves

Office Hours in GTM 120:              Steve's Daily Schedule

                                                  other times by appointment

Office phone:                              257-4741                                                                                               

Dept. phone:                               257-3427

Email:                                         sgraves@garts.latech.edu 


Course Description

In this course we will try to come to a better understanding of how cities work, why they look the way they do and how their operation affects the live of their citizens.  We will look at how labor, capital and land are arranged in the urban environment and how these patterns affect urban residents.  This is an upper division class and by its very nature will require above average reading and writing skills.

Required Materials
            Knox, Paul L.  1994.  Urbanization: An Introduction of Urban Geography.  Prentice Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ

            ISBN:  0-13-953357-5

Classroom Activities

Class time will be largely devoted to discussion of assigned readings. Generally, I will try to use lectures to direct your attention to significant matters assigned in the readings or to supplement readings. The more the class discusses, the less I lecture. Other learning activities may include: map reading and construction, studying local applications of the topic, perhaps even some videos or guest speakers.

Attendance

In accordance with university policy, attendance will be taken each class session and used to aid in your quarter-end evaluation.  For further details regarding attendance and other academic policies, click here.

Pop Quizzes

On occasions during the course of the quarter a "pop quiz" may be administered.  Such quizzes will cover material covered in the previous day’s lecture or information from assigned readings.  The purpose of such quizzes is to help motivate students to stay current with the readings and to help student come prepared for class.

Major Exams

There will be two exams during the quarter. The second exam will not be comprehensive. The format of the test will vary according to the type of material covered.

Make-up Exams. . If a person misses an exam and is able to produce a valid excuse for his or her absence then he or she will be allowed to take an equivalent exam within one week of their return to class. Failure to produce a valid excuse for a missed exam will result in a grade of 0 for that exam.

Writing Assignments

A series of writing assignments will be issued during the quarter.  Details regarding the style and content of these assignments can be found be clicking here.

Map Quizzes

Depending on the course, several map quizzes may be administered during the quarter. These quizzes are for most an easy source of grade points and are designed to test you on the most basic components of geographic knowledge.

Obligations

  1. Attendance will be taken at every session in accordance with University policy. Students are expected to arrive on time for class and to remain until dismissed. Failure to attend class or to be less than punctual will influence your grade.
  2. Cheating and other types of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
  3. Details regarding attendance and other academic policies are on-line: click here
  4. Food, drink and tobacco products are not allowed inside the classroom.

 

Evaluation

Grades will be determined by your performance on the various assignments and tests as well as your attendance/participation where appropriate.

Tentative Grading Regime

Percent 

Attendance and participation

5 

Quizzes

15

Writing Assignments

35

Exam I

20

Exam II

25

 

Grade Scale

A = (90-100%)
B = (80-89%)
C = (70-79%)
D = (60-69%)
F = (59% or less)

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If you have comments or suggestions, email me at sgraves@latech.edu