COURSE OUTLINE

GEOGRAPHY 354 - Geography of Cities

MEETING TIMES: Tuesdays 7:00 to 9:40 Al 101

INSTRUCTOR: James Chagala, Ph.D. (760) 751-2691, FAX: (760) 751-2487,

E-mail: planning@chagala.com

OFFICE HOURS: 6:15 to 6:45 Tuesdays

CLASS: This will be a course that examines the location, function, and spread of the world's cities. Also included will be analysis of current urban trends and the problems those trends may be creating, such as destruction of open areas, sprawl, and decline of urban centers.

EXAMS: There will be four map quizzes and three textbook/lecture exams, including the final exam, as shown on the Course Outline. The exams will generally consist of multiple choice and modified essay questions. Make-up exams or quizzes are the responsibility of the student to arrange. A make-up exam or quiz will not be given after such exam or quiz has been handed back to the class.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Everyone will be required to either make a short (15 minute) oral presentation or a written report of 4-6 pages. The presentation or report will focus on a city or neighborhood (if it is a recognized geographical area, such as "Hillcrest", or "North Park") of your choice. Presentations or reports should focus on a specific topic such as an event in history, physical structure (high buildings, grid pattern of streets, etc.), present economic situation (are they growing, declining, etc.), or some other unique feature. You will also be required to provide an analysis as to why this situation has occurred or exists in terms of spatial relationships. You may use your text for basic ideas, but will need to utilize sources of information beyond this book. You will need to provide a list of those sources at the time you give your presentation or as a part of your report. There should be at least 3 sources. Internet sources are acceptable, but should not be the only sources utilized.

Assessment of the presentation or paper will be based upon the following:

1. Following the instructions listed above and explained in class.

2. Adequacy and focus in covering the selected topic.

3. Depth of analysis used in explaining the phenomenon

Oral Report topics are due on September 15. The first oral report will be given on September 22.

GRADING: Grades will be based upon an accumulation of points. The final exam will be worth 100 points, each exam and oral report will be worth 50 points, and each map quiz will be worth 10 points. In addition, attendance, interest, attitude, and participation in class will be considered in issuing the final grade.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Cheating, such as copying answers on a test, using someone else’s paper, or turning in papers that have been plagiarized, will not be tolerated. Besides the requirement that such activity must be reported to the University Administration and a notation placed in your file, there will also be drastic consequences to your grade depending on the circumstances of the infraction.

TEXT: The required reading for this class will be from Knox’s Urbanization, An Introduction to Urban Geography, Second Edition. In addition, you will also need to have a current World Atlas

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is essential for this class in that exams will be based upon the lectures and class discussions, and may involve issues not found in the text. Additionally, class attendance is a requirement of this course, and will be a consideration in assigning final grades for those students missing more than one class.

COMING TO CLASS LATE OR LEAVING EARLY: To be counted as present, students are expected to be in class at the start of the class meeting and stay throughout the entire meeting. There will be obvious exceptions to this, but I reserve the right to equate missed class time with absences.