This syllabus is
subject to change without notice. Contact the professor for most recent
changes.
17-88-100-06
Introduction to the City
Instructor: Dr. Janet Cherrington-Cucore f:100\syllabus\fall99\rev1
Office:
106b Morris Hall Phone/Voice
Mail: 507-389-5031
Office
Hours: Anytime, by appointment. Also there will be time before and after
class sessions for questions and discussion.
I encourage you to stop and visit with me during the semester.
Web
Bulletin Board: Announces weekly assignments & course changes: http://ea.lib.mankato.msus.edu/introtothecity/
Text:
Cities
and Urban Life,
Macionis, John I. and Vincent N. Parrillo
Other Required Supplies:
Introduction
to the City,
17-88-100-09 Class Notes, available at the Morris Hall Copy Shop
Field
Projects,
available at the Morris Hall Copy Shop
Course Objectives:
·
To understand the influence of geography, history, sociodemographic,
economic and political characteristics on the city.
·
To become knowledgeable about the origins and development of the world’s
cities.
·
To understand the evolution of North American cities from the 1600s to
present day.
·
To learn theories and applications of urban sociology and social
psychology.
·
To be able to critically evaluate the role of geography and ecology in
urban spatial patterns.
·
To analyze the urban political economy bases on the works of urban
economist through history.
·
To compare and contrast urban and suburban lifestyles through the works
of urban sociologists.
·
To understand the role of race, ethnicity and gender in the urban
environment.
·
To identify and understand urban problems including the issues of crime
and housing.
·
To compare and contrast global urbanization in
·
To understand the basic principles of urban planning and how cities
operate.
Instructional Methods and Teaching Strategies:
A
variety of techniques will be employed including lecture, guest speakers,
audiovisual presentations, group activities, discussion, student presentations
and field experience. The emphasis of
this course will be on examining how and why cities offer opportunities and
problems. Therefore, in order to understand
cities, you will need to read the appropriate textbook sections about them and
also engage in some abstract thinking about them.