Faculty of Arts & Science 2012-2013 Calendar

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Geography

Faculty

Geography is the study of the environments created on the earth’s surface by nature and people. The physical and biological elements of these environments, as well as their economic and social structure, historical development, spatial organization, interrelationships, management and planning form the subject matter of Geography. Geography, therefore, relates closely to other fields in natural science, social science and the humanities, and geographers take courses in these related fields along with their geography courses. Students specializing in other subjects often select one or more geography courses to deepen their understanding of the resource base, culture and economy of those parts of the world in which they are interested.

Employment opportunities for geographers exist in many branches of international organizations, government, industry, and education. Geographers work at all levels of government service, especially in agencies responsible for environmental management; land and resource analysis; development of historic districts and sites; urban transportation planning; urban and regional development planning; trade promotion; community social services; geographic systems design and data analysis; transport network design and the processing of archival, survey, and cartographic information. In business, geographers work in marketing, locational analysis, resource development, and in consulting firms engaged in project evaluation, land use planning and natural heritage conservation. They often also find work in the non-profit sector as policy analysts, cartographers and geographic information science specialists, community organizers, and educators.

Students studying Geography may take either an H.B.A. or H.B.Sc., depending upon the subjects they wish to emphasize. The Department offers Specialist, Major and Minor Programs in Geography, and contributes courses to various departmental and college programs including American Studies; Anthropology; Archaeology; Canadian Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies; Equity Studies; Centre for Environment; Environmental Geosciences; Urban Studies; Ethics, Society and Law and International Relations; and European Studies. Counselling and advice may be obtained from the Associate Chair, Undergraduate or the Undergraduate Counsellor.

Associate Chair, Undergraduate:
Professor A. Boland, Sidney Smith Hall, Room 5006 (416-978-1587)

Undergraduate Counsellor:
K. Giesbrecht, Sidney Smith Hall, Room 5044 (416-978-6455)

General Enquiries:416-978-3375

Geography Programs

For 2012-13

These are limited enrolment programs that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Admission will be determined by a student’s mark in 1.0 GGR FCEs at the 100 and/or 200 level.  It is expected that a mark of 70% in each course will be required for admission in the coming cycle for a Specialist and 67% in each course for a Major.  Achieving that mark does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.

Double majors in Geography may only overlap 1.0 FCE.  Students combining any of our Minor programs with a Specialist/Major program would normally be allowed to overlap only 1.5 FCEs towards both programs. Students that choose to specialize or major in one of the three Geography programs cannot minor in the same program but may do so in another Geography program. Double minors can overlap 1.0 FCE.

Generally, students may only take 1.0 Independent Research Project FCE toward their program requirements.

Environment and Energy (Science Program) – Joint Program with the Centre for Environment

Note: Students combining this program with a Specialist/Major sponsored by the Department of Geography will normally be allowed to count only 1.5 (of the 4.0) FCEs towards both programs.

Jointly sponsored by the Centre for Environment and the Department of Geography, this interdisciplinary program addresses the scientific, technological, environmental and policy aspects of energy use and supply, with a focus on the reduction of environmental impacts.

Minor Entry Requirements: Note that the four full course equivalents that constitute the Minor Program are those listed below under “Higher Years.” Consult David Powell, Undergraduate Student Advisor, Centre for Environment, Room 1049A, Earth Sciences Centre, 416-946-8100 or david.powell@utoronto.ca

Specialist Entry Requirements:

This is a limited enrolment program that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Admission will be determined by a student’s mark in 1.0 GGR FCEs at the 100 and/or 200 level.  It is expected that a mark of 70% in each course will be required for admission in the coming cycle.  Achieving that mark does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.

Major Entry Requirements:

This is a limited enrolment program that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Admission will be determined by a student’s mark in 1.0 GGR FCEs at the 100 and/or 200 level.  It is expected that a mark of 67% in each course will be required for admission in the coming cycle.  Achieving that mark does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.

Minor Entry Requirements: There are no entry requirements for this program

GROUP A (Geography Courses)

GGR201H1, GGR203H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR222H1, GGR223H1, GGR272H1, GGR273H1, GGR301H1, GGR303H1, GGR305H1, GGR308H1, GGR314H1, GGR321H1, GGR329H1, GGR333H1, GGR334H1, GGR337H1, GGR340H1, GGR341H1,  GGR347H1, GGR348H1, GGR373H1, GGR381H1, GGR398H1, GGR399Y1, GGR403H1, GGR409H1, GGR413H1, GGR416H1, GGR418H1, GGR419H1, GGR434H1, GGR438H1, GGR491Y1, GGR492H1, GGR498H1, GGR499H1; JFG470H1, JFG475H1; JGE236H1, JGE321H1, JGE331H1, JGE347H1, JGE348H1; JUG320H1

GROUP B (Centre for Environment courses)

ENV200H1, ENV234H1, ENV235H1, ENV307H1, ENV323H1, ENV333H1, ENV335H1, ENV350H1, ENV422H1

GROUP C

Any other geography courses at the 200/300/400 level not listed in Group A

Note: Students combining this program with a Specialist/Major sponsored by the Department of Geography will normally be allowed to count only 1.5 (of the 4.0) FCEs towards both programs.

Minor Entry Requirements: There are no entry requirements for this program

Specialist Entry Requirements:

This is a limited enrolment program that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Admission will be determined by a student’s mark in 1.0 GGR FCEs at the 100 and/or 200 level.  It is expected that a mark of 70%  in each course will be required for admission in the coming cycle.  Achieving that mark does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.

Major Entry Requirements:

This is a limited enrolment program that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Admission will be determined by a student’s mark in 1.0 GGR FCEs at the 100 and/or 200 level.  It is expected that a mark of 67%  in each course will be required for admission in the coming cycle.  Achieving that mark does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.

Minor Entry Requirements: There are no entry requirements for this program

GROUP E Optional courses for Human Geography:
GGR216H1, GGR220H1, GGR221H1, GGR222H1, GGR223H1, GGR240H1, GGR241H1, GGR246H1, GGR252H1, GGR254H1, GGR272H1, GGR273H1, GGR299Y1, GGR300H1, GGR314H1, GGR320H1, GGR321H1, GGR323H1, GGR327H1, GGR328H1, GGR329H1, GGR334H1, GGR336H1, GGR339H1, GGR340H1, GGR341H1, GGR342H1, GGR343H1, GGR352H1, GGR356H1, GGR357H1, GGR358H1, GGR360H1, GGR361H1, GGR363H1, GGR366H1, GGR373H1, GGR374H1, GGR375H1, GGR381H1, GGR382H1, GGR398H1/399H1, GGR400H1, GGR416H1, GGR418H1, GGR419H1, GGR421H1, GGR424H1, GGR431H1, GGR434H1, GGR438H1, GGR439H1, GGR452H1, GGR457H1, GGR458H1, GGR462H1, GGR473H1, GGR491Y1, GGR492H1, GGR499H1; JGE321H1, JGE331H1; JUG320H1; JGI216H1, JGI346H1, JGI454H1; JFG470H1, JFG475H1

Group F (Optional science courses)
GGR201H1, GGR203H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR301H1, GGR303H1, GGR305H1, GGR308H1, GGR333H1, GGR337H1, GGR347H1, GGR348H1, GGR403H1, GGR409H1, GGR413H1, GGR498H1; JGE236H1

Streams
Students may wish to choose courses from among one or more of the following streams if they want to concentrate in a particular area within Human Geography, while fulfilling the overall requirements given above. These are not POSt requirements, but rather suggestions for students seeking guidance on how to navigate our course offerings.

Cultural and Historical Geography: GGR216H1, GGR240H1, GGR241H1, GGR246H1, GGR254H1, GGR321H1, GGR336H1, GGR342H1, GGR343H1, GGR360H1, GGR366H1, GGR382H1, GGR421H1, GGR431H1, GGR439H1; JGI331H1, JGI346H1; JUG320H1

Urban Geography: GGR112H1, GGR124H1, GGR216H1, GGR240H1, GGR241H1, GGR246H1, GGR252H1, GGR254H1, GGR323H1, GGR336H1, GGR339H1, GGR342H1, GGR343H1, GGR357H1, GGR358H1, GGR360H1, GGR361H1, GGR366H1, GGR374H1, GGR382H1, GGR424H1, GGR457H1, GGR458H1; JGI216H1, JGI346H1, JGI454H1

Social and Economic Geography: GGR112H1, GGR124H1, GGR216H1, GGR220H1, GGR221H1, GGR240H1, GGR241H1, GGR246H1, GGR252H1, GGR254H1, GGR320H1, GGR323H1, GGR327H1, GGR328H1, GGR329H1, GGR340H1, GGR342H1, GGR343H1, GGR352H1, GGR356H1, GGR357H1, GGR358H1, GGR360H1, GGR361H1, GGR363H1, GGR366H1, GGR374H1, GGR421H1, GGR424H1, GGR431H1, GGR438H1, GGR452H1; JGE331H1; JGI216H1

Political Geography: GGR112H1, GGR124H1, GGR216H1, GGR221H1, GGR241H1, GGR320H1, GGR327H1, GGR328H1, GGR339H1, GGR352H1, GGR358H1, GGR363H1, GGR418H1, GGR421H1, GGR439H1, GGR452H1; JGE331H1; JGI216H1, JGI346H1; JUG320H1

Geography of Canada: GGR240H1, GGR246H1, GGR321H1, GGR336H1, GGR366H1, GGR457H1; JUG320H1

Environment: GGR107H1, GGR222H1, GGR223H1, GGR240H1, GGR314H1, GGR321H1, GGR323H1, GGR329H1, GGR333H1, GGR334H1, GGR336H1, GGR337H1, GGR340H1, GGR341H1, GGR360H1, GGR381H1, GGR416H1, GGR418H1, GGR419H1, GGR421H1, GGR434H1, GGR438H1, GGR462H1, GGR473H1; JFG470H1, JFG475H1; JGE331H1, JGE321H1; JUG320H1

Planning: GGR334H1, GGR336H1, GGR339H1, GGR357H1, GGR358H1, GGR361H1, GGR363H1, GGR382H1, GGR424H1, GGR434H1, GGR457H1, GGR452H1; JGI216H1, JGI346H1, JGI454H1

Specialist Entry Requirements:

This is a limited enrolment program that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Admission will be determined by a student’s mark in 1.0 GGR FCEs at the 100 and/or 200 level.  It is expected that a mark of 70% in each course will be required for admission in the coming cycle.  Achieving that mark does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.

Major Entry Requirements:

This is a limited enrolment program that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Admission will be determined by a student’s mark in 1.0 GGR FCEs at the 100 and/or 200 level.  It is expected that a mark of 67% in each course  will be required for admission in the coming cycle.  Achieving that mark does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.

Minor Entry Requirements: There are no entry requirements for this program

Five possible streams within the Physical Geography Major or Specialist, which can be combined with other courses to fulfill the overall requirements given above, are:

Climate System and Climatic Change: GGR203H1, GGR303H1, GGR314H1, GGR403H1, ENV346H1

Land Surface Processes: GGR100H1, GGR201H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR301H1, GGR305H1, GGR409H1, GGR413H1

Biogeography and Paleoclimates:  GGR101H1, GGR201H1, GGR302H1, GGR305H1

Biogeochemistry and Contaminants: GGR100H1, GGR205H1, GGR303H1, GGR403H1, GGR409H1

Environmental Physical Geography: GGR101H1, GGR201H1, GGR203H1, GGR205H1, GGR206H1, GGR301H1, GGR308H1, GGR314H1, GGR409H1, GGR413H1

Students contemplating graduate studies are strongly urged to combine their Physical Geography Major or Specialist with a Minor in Mathematics (involving calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations) and a Minor in a field of science related to their particular interests in physical geography (biology, chemistry, geology, or physics).

Below are courses from outside the Geography Department that can be applied to the requirements for the Physical and Environmental Geography Major (one course only) or the Specialist (up to 3 courses only); these courses are an option only for students that have the required pre-requisites.

Group H: Faculty of Arts & Science courses
CHM217H1, CHM310H1; GLG206H1, GLG216H1, GLG217H1; PHY251H1, PHY255H1. Faculty of Engineering courses: CHE210H1; EDV250H1

Group I
EEB301H1, EEB302H1, EEB303H1, EEB304H1, EEB305H1, EEB310H1, EEB311H1, EEB319H1, EEB321H1, EEB324H1, EEB328H1, EEB330H1, EEB428H1; ENV346H1; FOR301H1, FOR305H1, FOR306H1, FOR417H1; GLG351H1, GLG436H1; PHY392H1, PHY408H1

This Type 3 minor program represents a unique opportunity to study geography in a different cultural environment. For more information, contact the Undergraduate Office and the Centre for International Experience (CIE, www.cie.utoronto.ca). Students are advised to contact the U of T Geography Department in advance of going abroad to discuss course selection at NUS.

Geography Courses

NOTE
Prerequisites: In some cases Prerequisites may be waived if equivalent background exists. Please consult the Associate Chair, Undergraduate or the course instructor.

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details here.

Introduction to Physical Geography using an Earth systems approach. We examine the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere, emphasizing processes, energy flows, cycles and scale. Specific topics include weather and climate, geomorphic processes and the genesis of landforms, river systems, glaciers, soils, and biomes. Laboratory sessions and a field trip provide practical experience with the lecture topics.

The course will focus on the processes that drive environmental change and how past societies have responded to the constraints that these impose. The emphasis is on the current interglacial, the Holocene, and how increasing population and technology has affected human-environment interactions.

Examines the relations between food, nature, and society. Food is fundamental to human existence, and central to most cultures; it also has significant and widespread effects on the physical environment. This course uses food as a lens to explore human-environment interactions locally and globally. It serves as an introduction to environmental geography.

Economic development and underdevelopment are taking shape in an increasingly interconnected global context. This course examines geographic approaches to "Third World" development, economic globalization, poverty, and inequality. It pays particular attention to the roles of rural-urban and international migration in shaping specific landscapes of development.

Introduction to the urban process. From the origin of cities to global urbanization; the evolution of systems of cities; uneven growth and the functional specialization of cities; globalization and economic restructuring, migration, public policies. World cities. Dynamics of urban property markets, population and demography, job location, housing, mobility and neighbourhood change, social structure and spatial inequalities. Planning, politics and policy issues in U.S. and Canadian cities.

Introduction to the principles of geomorphology; earth materials; major features of crustal morphology; landforming processes of water, wind, waves and ice; human impact on earth surface processes. One hour laboratory session approximately every other week; a local field trip.

Introduction to the large scale processes responsible for determining global and regional climate and atmospheric circulation patterns, as well as the small scale processes responsible for determining the microclimates of specific environments.

Introduction to soil science dealing with the chemical, physical, and biological properties of soils; soil formation and development; the classification of soils, and the application of soil science to environmental, agricultural and forestry issues.

Introduction to the hydrologic cycle with emphasis on the physical processes, including precipitation, interception, evaporation, runoff, ground water and soil water. Basic hydrological models will be practiced.

Most urban courses taught in the English-speaking world implicitly or explicitly focus on large North American, European, or Australian cities.  While these places are interesting in their own right, studying them as the sole model of urbanization is misleading.  To a great extent, the societies of the westernized, developed world are already highly-urbanized and have been so for decades.  Cities outside of this sphere, by contrast, are generally growing much faster, and experiencing greater social and economic upheaval as a result.  Understanding non-North American urbanization is a vital part of understanding cities in general.  This course is an attempt to introduce students to processes of urbanization that are occurring in places other than North America.   There will be a particular focus on comparing the urban form, economies, and social life in cities around the world.

Examines the processes of globalization, mass urbanization and economic change that are taking place in cities around the world. This includes an interdisciplinary exploration of the locational and economic shifts that have ensued as a result of globalization, as well as the social and cultural manifestations associated with the emergence of global cities.

Focuses on theoretical and empirical topics aimed at describing, analyzing and explaining the spatial distribution of economic activity at macro- and micro-spatial-scales. Topics covered could include theories of regional economic growth and change, issues surrounding uneven development in space, the empirical definition of regional economic systems, and the measurement of economic growth and structural change.

Provides an introduction to economic geography and economic geography theory from the 1970s on, illustrating the different ways that geographers have conceptualized the restructuring of resource industries, manufacturing and services. The crisis of Fordism and the rise of new production models will be given particular attention, along with the reorganization of finance, the rise of cultural industries and the globalization of commodity chains. New regimes of governance of the economy will also be considered.

Focuses on society-environment relations and different approaches to resource governance and management. This includes exploration of the spatial, social, and political economic origins and implications of humans' changing relations to nature. Drawing on debates from environmental governance and political ecology literatures, the course also investigates the ways that different actors and institutions have framed and sought solutions to environmental and resource challenges.

Will our society survive a future with population growth, increasing demands for energy, food and water, and fouling from pollution? This course explores the current stresses caused by human activities on the environment and global systems, ans what this bodes for the future. Most importantly, we explore solutions! Discussions blend science, engineering, policy and behavioural aspects of broad issues and current events.

Introduction to the historical geography of North America from the pre-Columbian period to the present. Topics include European imperialism, staple economies, colonial settlement, railroads and the West, industrialization and urbanization, environmental and agricultural change, modernism and militarism, and struggles over land.

Introduction to the historical geography of urban social exclusion and segregation after 1750. Using a selection of cities from around the world (such as Lagos, Pittsburgh, Hamburg, Mumbai and Nairobi), the course examines the impacts and implications of urban social inequalities.

Social and economic differences have been, and continue to be, a prominent feature of Canada’s geography. In this course these differences are examined at a regional and local scale. The course adopts a thematic approach and considers issues such as historical development, urbanization, industrialization, immigration and population change, Canada’s cultural mosaic and native issues. Emphasis will be placed on the evolution of social and economic policies and Canada’s incorporation into a global economy.

The problem of retail location. The spatial structure of consumer demand and retail facilities. Shopping centres and retail chains. Techniques for site selection and trade area evaluation, location strategies, retail planning.

After a short historical overview, this course focuses on contemporary issues in American society, economy, politics, race, regional distinctions and disparities, urban development and the U.S. as world power.

Theory and practical application of elementary quantitative techniques in geography emphasizing descriptive, inferential and spatial statistical analysis, probability, and sampling.

Practical course on field methods designed to enable students to carry out their own research projects. Behavioural observation, interviewing, questionnaire design, sampling theory, content analysis of written and graphic material, data coding and focus groups.

Introduction to digital mapping and spatial analysis using geographic information systems (GIS). Students learn how to use GIS software to find, edit, analyze and map geographic data to create their own maps, analyze geographic problems and use techniques that can be applied to a variety of subject areas.

For the section available online: This online course will use web-based delivery of lectures and tutorials and utilize a range of communication tools. Live online webinar participation is optional for the tutorial time of Thursdays 1-2pm.  The final exam in December will require student attendance on the St. George campus.

Builds on GGR272H1 by providing students with practical spatial analysis methods and the underlying theory needed to understand how to approach various geographic problems using geographic information system (GIS) software and a variety of data types and sources.

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details here.

Content in any given year depends on instructor. The program in which the course can be used depends on its content. Consult Department Office in April.

Elements of drainage basin morphology and hydrology, classification of rivers, stream patterns and hydraulic geometry. Elements of open channel flow, sediment transport and the paleohydrology of river systems. River channel adjustments to environmental change, human impact and the management/design of river habitats. Exercises include experimentation in a laboratory flume.

Discussion of the exchange of energy and matter (carbon, water) between the Earths biosphere (terrestrial vegetation) and atmosphere, with a focus on processes underlying key feedbacks on regional climate. Examples will be taken from research on contemporary as well as paleoclimate systems. Case studies to include how human disturbances like land-use change or future climate change may alter these processes.  

Identifies patterns in and explains processes behind plant and animal distributions through space and time. Topics covered include ecological and evolutionary dynamics, disturbance, dispersal, migration, continental drift, speciation, extinction, paleoenvironments and island biogeography. We also examine terrestrial and marine biomes, the meaning of biodiversity, conservation challenges, and recent biogeographic changes associated with human impact.

An introduction to physical and chemical processes operating at micro- to landscape scales and their effects on soil and water quality. Discussion of anthropogenic impacts and management and conservation issues. Local and international case studies.

We will explore the climate geomorphology, soils, hydrology, biogeochemical cycling, limnology and food web structures of the Arctic and Subarctic. Current stresses of climate change and pollution are discussed along with scientific and political solutions.

A comprehensive examination of the greenhouse warming problem, beginning with economic, carbon cycle, and climate model projections; impacts on and adaptive responses of agriculture, forests, fisheries, and water resources; abatement options; technical and institutional issues.

This course examines recent changes in global migration processes. Specifically, the course addresses the transnationalization and feminization of migrant populations and various segments of the global labor force. The coursework focuses on analyzing classical paradigms in migration studies, as well as emerging theoretical approaches to gender and migration. In addition, it traces the shifting empirical trends in gendered employment and mobility patterns. It uses in-depth case study material to query the frameworks employed in migration studies and to understand the grounded implications of gendered migration. It pays particular attention to the interventions made by feminist geographers in debates about work, migration, place, and space.

The idea of wilderness permeates narratives of Canadian national identity, while policy-makers seek to manage and contain natural areas. This course compares and contrasts historical and contemporary wilderness narratives in literature, painting and film with policies in areas such as conservation, urban planning, land claims and tourism.

Indigenous views of environment, resource management and governance from pre-European contact times through to the present will be explored in this course. Emphasis will be placed on the emerging role of Indigenous peoples in environmental and resource management in Canada. Topics to be covered include: history of Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal relations, Aboriginal and treaty rights, Aboriginal world view and philosophy, traditional knowledge, Aboriginal environmental ethics and principles and current environmental issues confronting Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Diverse approaches to environmental issues from a variety of multicultural perspectives are introduced, compared and analyzed, using case studies. Perspectives on environmental management will be discussed as they emerge from contexts such as South America, Asia, or Africa.

Explores issues in the geographies of population at a variety of scales from global to local. Topics include an investigation of the mechanics of population growth, theories of population, population growth through time, migration, the impact of population growth on the environment and the social and economic consequences of population change.

Introduction to the work of feminist geographers. The course will explore the relationship between gender and space, emphasizing spatial cognition, architecture, and layout of the city.

Explores changes in the nature of work and the structure and geography of labour markets. Topics will include globalization, lean production, flexibility and risk, industrial relations, workfare, the body at work, and gender and work.

Explores the changing global geographies of food by tracing international movements of food through both mainstream and 'alternative' supply chains. The implications for sustainability, food security, community autonomy and health are investigated.

Introduction to and critical evaluation of major social theoretical paradigms applied to environmental and natural resource politics and regulation. Topics include: neo-classical approaches, eco-Marxism, political ecology, social constructivism, production of nature, ecological modernization, tragedy of the commons, staples theory, science and administrative rationalism.

Examines the technical options and costs of achieving significant reductions in the energy demands of new buildings through better design and in the energy use of existing buildings through retrofits, and of the possibilities of sustainably supplying the reduced energy demands through wind and solar energy.

Managing demand and supply; linkages between water quality and human health. Case studies from the industrial world and from developing countries, rural and urban. Implications of population growth and climate change for water resource management.

Processes of urbanization; development of urban systems; changing internal patterns: central area, residential districts, housing, transportation, reform and planning movements. Emphasis on the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.

Principles of optical, active and passive microwave remote sensing; satellite orbit and sensor characteristics; image processing and analysis techniques and software; and environmental remote sensing principles.

Describes and analyses a broad range of the key environmental issues currently facing developing countries from geographical perspectives. Emphasis is on air pollution, water contamination and treatment, residential and industrial solid waste collection and management, with multimedia and written examples drawn from throughout the developing world.

The interdependence of political processes and institutions, public policy and urban geography. The political economy of federalism, urban growth, planning and public services as they shape the urban landscape. The spaces of the city as the negotiated outcomes of variously empowered people and the meanings they ascribe to localities and places. Approaches informed by post-colonial, post-modern, and feminist perspectives. Canadian, U.S. and European comparisons.

An exploration of the aspects of health in which place or location matters. Particular attention will be paid to the role of environments (physical, social, etc.) in explaining differences in health between places, the structuring of health-related behaviour in place, and the development of health policy for places.

Seeks to develop a general understanding of present-day Latin America by focusing on human-environment interactions, past and present. Case studies are used to understand the diversity of Latin American landscapes (physical and cultural), and how they are changing within the context of globalization.

Examines changes in the social, political and economic geography of Southeast Asian countries. Examples drawn from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines as these emerging newly industrialized countries enter the 21st century. Emphasis on political-economy, urbanization and environment since 1950.

The evolving physical, social, political and economic landscape of China. Focus on development strategies, industry, agriculture, urbanization and the environment since 1949. Special attention paid to the character and impact of Chinas on-going transition from a planned to market economy.

Overview of how planning tools and practice shape the built form of cities. This course introduces twentieth century physical planning within its historical, social, legal, and political contexts. Community and urban design issues are addressed at local and regional scales and in both central cities and suburbs. The focus is on Toronto and the Canadian experience, with comparative examples form the other counties, primarily the United States.

Examines the options available for dramatically reducing our use of primary energy with no reduction in meaningful energy services, through more efficient use of energy at the scale of energy-using devices and of entire energy systems. Topics covered include energy use in buildings, transportation, industry, and agriculture.

Examines the options available for providing energy from carbon-free energy sources: solar, wind, biomass, nuclear, and fossil fuels with capture and sequestration of CO2. The hydrogen economy is also discussed.

Investigates the changing nature of space and our thinking about it, introducing students to a wide range of contemporary geographers and spatial theorists such as Lefebvre, Soja, Gregory, Harvey, Massey and others as well as challenges to this thinking - voices from the margins or peripheries. It will explore changing conceptions of spatiality that inform geographic thought and that help us understand the ways in which political, economic and social power is constituted and contested at a range of spatial scales.

This course explores recreation, tourism and leisure from a number of perspectives. It examines the relationship between choice, and demographic and lifestyle correlates, technology, and faddism. It evaluates recreational and touristic environments and the role of nature areas. It explores many of the social and environmental costs and benefits associated with recreation, tourism and leisure.

Focuses on the importance of adequate housing and the challenge of achieving this for all residents.  It will root theoretical explanations in realities using Canada and Toronto as examples. Topics covered include public policies relating to social housing, rental housing, homeownership, neighborhoods, and homelessness.

Focuses on the interaction between political economy and religion, with a particular focus on how this plays out in cities.  In the theoretical realm, most political economists have written extensively on religion at one point or another.  It is important to consider what they have said about religion and how it might have affected their ostensibly secular ideas about politics and economy.  In the practical realm, religion, as belief system invented by humans, structures a great deal of political and economic activity at a variety of spatial scales.  Religion, for example, influences relationships between countries, urban politics, city form, and social class among many other spheres.  This course is an introduction to both the theoretical and practical applications of the intersection of political economy and religion. 

The history of approaches to the idea of landscape. A consideration of the origins and uses of the term in geographical inquiry will be followed by a series of case studies, global in scope, from the Early Modern period to the present. Emphasis will be placed on the representational aspects of landscapes, as well as struggles over their definition, interpretation, and use.

Three related themes are discussed: the underlying social, cultural and economic forces that have given cities their form and image; various aesthetic and political philosophies that have been put into practice in constructing the urban landscape; and recent European and North American attempts to control the landscape of the contemporary metropolis by the application of urban policy and planning.

Introduces a diversity of critical perspectives for geographers and others, including anarchism, Marxism, feminism, sexual politics, postcolonialism, anti-imperialism and anti-racism. In so doing it illustrates how such radical ideas about space, society and culture have contributed to our political thought and action.

Advanced theory, techniques, and applications in geographic information systems (GIS), including interpolation, geostatistics, modeling, and raster and vector analysis. GIS project design and implementation.

Investigates the theory and methods available to help identify and measure the social and economic impacts of specific policies and/or exogenous changes at the urban and regional scales. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the potential of policy mechanisms for promoting the revitalization of urban areas through the re-use of former industrial/commercial/institutional properties.

Examines the great moments and issues surrounding the constant evolution, revolution and demand for geographic information. The emphasis will be put on the exploration of geographic informations progression from paper to digital through an examination of societal changes brought on by information technologies over time. The focus will be placed on the demand for geographic information within an historical, political, and intellectual context. The range of topics examined throughout the course will include the migration of geographic information from paper mapping to digital mapping; interoperability; open source and open access; evolving data cultures; government control of data and information; and geospatial analysis.

Introduction to field studies in environmental geography. The course includes exercises and a project during a one-week field study in late August or early September, some preparation during the preceding summer and complementary practical work and/or seminars during the Fall Term. Each student is required to pay the costs of their transportation and accommodation. Students must register with the Department by April. Course may be limited by size.

Introduction to field studies in human geography. The course includes exercises and a project during a one-week field study in late August or early September, some preparation during the preceding summer and complementary practical work and/or seminars during the Fall Term. Each student is required to pay the costs of their transportation and accommodation. Students must register with the Department by April. Course is limited by size. Preference given to Geography SPE/MAJ/MIN. Applications open to all students.

Introduction to field methods in vegetation mapping/analysis, soils, hydrology, climatology and geomorphology. The course includes exercises and a project during a one-week field camp just before the start of classes, a little preparation during the preceding summer, and complementary practical work and/or seminars during the Fall Term. Each student is required to pay the costs of their transportation and accommodation. Students must register with the Department by April. Course may be limited by size.

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details here.

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details here.

Content in any given year depends on instructor. The program in which this course can be used depends on its context. Consult Departmental Office in April.

Prerequisite: 10.0 FCE's
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a TBA course
Breadth Requirement: None

GGR401H1 Special Topics in Geography II [TBA]

Content in any given year depends on instructor. The program in which this course can be used depends on its context. Consult Departmental Office in April.

Prerequisite: 10.0 FCE's
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a TBA course
Breadth Requirement: None

GGR403H1    Global Ecology and Biogeochemical Cycles[24L]

Content in any given year depends on instructor. The program in which this course can be used depends on its context. Consult Departmental Office in April. Seminar course on biogeochemical cycling of carbon, water, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and iron between the Earths atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere. Examples and case studies will be taken from research on contemporary as well as paleoclimate systems.

Are we experiencing a subclinical epidemic of subtle health effects due to chemical contaminants in our bodies? The environmental behaviour and toxicology of inorganic and organic chemical contaminants is discussed in order to understand the scientific basis of this question and to answer this question. Facility is gained with simple and complex mathematical models. The interface between science and policy is discussed throughout.

Modern developments in hydrology and ecology, including form and process models, interactions of hydrology, ecology and geomorphology; the course emphasizes use of computer simulation models of drainage basin processes.

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) as a mechanism for avoiding or mediating the potential costs of development. The course focuses on the theory and practice of EIA in Canada in general and Ontario in particular. Using a broad definition of environment, various components of EIA are addressed, with an emphasis on principles, legal and institutional frameworks, stages in the process, and specific analytical techniques.

Examines political aspects of the appropriation of natural resources, including policy and regulation, environmental impacts, and social justice. Emphasis is placed on reading contemporary literature on the politics of resource access and control from geography and other social science disciplines.

Examines how environmental problems affect people, communities and societies differentially and how marginalized communities and people often bear the brunt of environmental costs, while contributing little to their creation.  It uses readings and case studies from across the globe to address the production of environmental injustice and the struggle for environmental justice.

The history of geography as an intellectual subject, focusing primarily on the modern period, and on the genealogy of central concepts such as region, landscape, and place. Disciplinary developments will be situated next to broader contexts, including imperialism and militarism, the relationship between culture and nature, and the shifting social role of the academy.

Introductory overview of major issues in interurban and intraurban transportation at the local, national and international scale. Topics include urban transportation, land use patterns and the environment, causes of and cures for congestion, public transit, infrastructure finance, and transport planning and policy setting.

Theory and analysis of regional economic change with emphasis on North America and Western Europe. Export-base, neoclassical, increasing returns, and political-economic explanations of regional growth and decline, globalization, knowledge-based economy and the role of regions. Geography of technological change, labour-markets and labour relations. Objectives and approaches for local and regional development policy, including talent-based strategies for enhancing local creativity.

Examines concepts of resilience as a way of building the capacity of communities to (a) respond to predicted disruptions/shocks associated with climate change, global pandemics, anticipated disruptions in global food supply, energy insecurity, and environmental degradation; and (b) nurture the development of alternative spaces that support the emergence of more life-sustaining structures and practices.

Examines the implications of development – as an economic and social project – for how the environment is used, by whom, and to what ends. Draws on literatures in political ecology and critical development geography. Topics include: interpretations of scarcity and degradation, questions of consumption, the greening of development, and formation of social movements and participatory initiatives at the interface of development and the environment.

Prerequisite: 10 FCE's
Recommended Preparation: 1.0 FCE in Geography (SOC SCI/BR=3)
Distribution Requirement Status: This is a Social Science course
Breadth Requirement: Society and its Institutions (3)

GGR439H1    Global Political Geography[36S]

Introduction to geopolitical theories. Emphasis on the development of the nation state, theories of land claims and the territorial manifestations of nationalism. Will examine recent theoretical as well as empirical challenges to many of the conventional geopolitical assumptions about scale, space, and power in global politics. Please note that this course is open to students who have taken GGR239H1 (formerly Global Political Geography).

Our understanding of space and power has shifted radically in the past half century. Space no longer implies only regions, nations or territory; power is not simply a question of domination, control, or forms of political representation. Space and power are intricately related. This course explores a shift in our ways of thinking about space and power, focusing specifically on the works of Michel Foucault and Gilles Deleuze. Through the works of Deleuze and Foucault, students are introduced to a variety of ways that space and power are organized and contested. The course begins with the maps in our heads: what kinds of spatial systems organize dominant world-views, how have these changed over time? What spatial metaphors do we use to think about power – as hidden and operating at a depth, or as a surface effect? How does the social organization of space figure in the development of different technologies and techniques of power? How do technologies of power become organized, serialized, dispersed, transformed and contested?

Focuses on the role of a planning practitioner in contemporary society using a wealth of examples drawn from recent issues and debates in Canadian cities and regions. The course will walk students through the demands made of planners in terms of both technical expertise as well as political necessity and ask them to think actively about how to prepare for the extraordinary growth of cities during the next century. Examples of issues that will be discussed in some detail include the myths surrounding the city vs. the suburbs, the creativity and passion involved in planning work and the need to see Toronto’s future from a regional perspective.

Investigates post-war suburbs, beginning with an examination of their competing contemporary meanings. It considers images of prosperous private enclaves, of declining and difficult to access places, of racialized and segregated areas, of banality and homogeneity, of precarity and polarization, and of creative social struggles. It assesses these different visions through an analysis of urban growth and change since WWII. The course will focus on themes of public and private space; class, race and segregation; gender and suburban space; immigration; urban sprawl, and the changing social and economic geography of the suburbs. It examines North American areas, with examples from Australia and Europe.

This course focuses on original works that have been influential to the field of urban geography.  The first third of the course consists of extensive reading and discussion of pre-selected “classical” urban pieces.  The second third consists of student-led reviews of important urban books.  The final third consists of student-led projects devoted to a particular theme (announced on the first day of class).  It is designed for students who have taken urban courses in the past who are interested in extending this interest in a non-textbook, more interactive environment.

Students work in groups to develop their own research project and then acquire, organize and analyze geographic data to complete it. Emphasis is placed on research design, project management and the application of GIS concepts and skills learned in previous courses to a practical problem.

Application of operational research and information technology to develop decision support systems for forest land management planning. Basic principles of mathematical programming, simulation and decision analysis, and their application to planning for forest conservation and sustainable development, policy analysis and other land management planning problems.

Design and production of maps using GIS cartographic and graphics software packages. Map perception and map use, principles and elements of cartographic design, data acquisition and manipulation, production and reproduction of maps and atlases. Practical exercises culminate in a major project in thematic map design.

Use of operational research and information technology to develop mathematical models and decision support systems to design and evaluate the performance of forest fire and other emergency response systems. Forest fire management systems are used to illustrate the basic principles of emergency response system planning that can also be applied to urban fire, police and ambulance services.

Specially designed for students wishing to gain experience in conducting research in their area of specialization. Of particular value for geographers interested in graduate study, or positions in government, planning and consulting firms where research skills may be an asset. Students select a research problem and complete a project under the supervision of a faculty member. Enrolment requires written permission from a faculty supervisor and
Undergraduate Coordinator; early discussion with a likely supervisor is encouraged. Enrolment may be completed at any time up to September; open to students in a Specialist or Major Program sponsored by the Department of Geography.

Students design and implement an independent applied geography/planning project in consultation with an employer (paid or volunteer), who will act as their “client.” Enrolment requires written permission from a staff supervisor and Undergraduate Coordinator. Only open to students who are enrolled in a Specialist or Major program sponsored by the Department of Geography.

 Students design and implement an independent applied geography/planning/GIS project in consultation with an employer (paid or volunteer), who will act as their “client”. Enrolment required written permission from a staff supervisor and Undergraduate Coordinator. Only open to students who have completed 10 FCEs and who are enrolled in a Specialist, Major or GIS minor program sponsored by the Department of Geography

Independent research extension to one of the courses already completed in Physical Geography. Enrolment requires written permission from a faculty supervisor and Undergraduate Coordinator. Only open to students who have completed 10 FCEs and who are enrolled in a Specialist or Major program sponsored by the Department of Geography.

Independent research extension to one of the courses already completed in a social science or humanities branch of Geography. Enrolment requires written permission from a faculty supervisor and Undergraduate Coordinator. Only open to students who have completed 10 FCEs and who are enrolled in a Specialist or Major program sponsored by the Department of Geography.

This module is concerned with the changing roles of cities in an age of globalization. The first part examines cities as part of urban networks at the national, regional and international levels, and focuses on the implications arising from the rise of mega-cities and global cities. The second half of the module investigates the challenges facing cities on the ground, including issues of the revitalization and re-imaging of city cores, changing retail landscapes, and the impact of telecommunications on the location of urban activities and peoples’ mobility. The module is targeted at students with an interest in urban issues. (Co-listed as GE2204 National University of Singapore)

This module deals with a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the regional geography of Southeast Asia. Students are expected not only to critically analyze their readings but also to be able to synthesize materials to provide a holistic understanding of the region. Specifically, it looks at the region through historical, cultural, social and political-economic perspectives. The module also discusses sustainable development issues. This is a module that is open to all students in the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Engineering, Law, Science, School of Design & Environment and School of Business. (Co-listed as GE2226 National University of Singapore)

Southeast Asia has been, and still is comprised of predominantly rural and agrarian societies. This module seeks to develop an understanding of peasant life in the region. Topics to be studied include the village as a construct, the “moral economy” of the peasantry, land and man relations, economic output, and peasant beliefs, consciousness, and cultural expressions. With the peasants’ increasing involvement in the world market and the nation-state, it is also important to consider the penetration of capitalism into the rural economy, as well as the demand for supra-village identification and loyalties. Notions of “development” as they pertain to the peasants, and as postulated by the state, non-governmental organizations and the peasants themselves are also discussed. (Co-listed as SE3213 National University of Singapore)

This module examines relationships between economy and space through a focus on ‘development’. Through interrogating theories, strategies and trajectories of ‘development’, students will develop an understanding of the past and contemporary global political economy and its geographies. The course will emphasize the geopolitical and cultural backdrops to ‘development’ and attendant economic geographies amidst debates about ‘globalization’, international trade and investment. (Co-listed as GE2202 National University of Singapore)

This module explores debates in geography about social issues. It emphasizes the relationship between social identity and social space, and how different places reflect and shape diverse ways of life. The module examines the role of space in the interplay of different social groups (e.g. ethnic groups, men/women), and in relation to different aspects of daily life (e.g. housing, leisure). Its emphasis, however, is on how to think about these issues in different scales/contexts (streets, public spaces, global cities). The course is intended for geography majors, and students throughout NUS with an interest in the relationship between society and space. (Co-listed as SE2224 National University of Singapore)

Are Southeast Asian urban models unique from those of the West? This module uses historical and emerging developments to re-evaluate debates on Southeast Asian urbanization. The particularities of Southeast Asian urbanisation will be examined both in terms of its intertwined history with the rest of the world as well as the politics of time and space. The module aims at developing a critical understanding of the interaction between historical, political-economic and cultural processes that constitute urbanization in Southeast Asia. (Co-listed as SE2212 National University of Singapore)

This module attempts to understand the rationale of changes in Singapore’s urban landscape. It places these changes within a framework that considers Singapore’s efforts to globalize and examines how policies are formulated with the idea of sustaining an economy that has integral links sub-regionally with Southeast Asia while developing new spatial linkages that will strengthen its position in the global network. Emphasis is also given to recent discussions about how diversity and difference in the perception and use of space pose a challenge to the utilitarian and functional definition adopted by the state. (Co-listed as GEK2001/SSA2202 National University of Singapore)

This module examines important geographical, ecological and political concepts and approaches to natural resources management. In particular, we focus on ownership regimes, access, exploitation and conservation in different social, economic and cultural contexts. Detailed cases of fisheries, forestry, freshwater and agriculture conflicts and problems are discussed. (Co-listed as GE3210 National University of Singapore)

The module exposes students to different geographical methods, both human and physical, and as such it is an ideal preparation for any student wishing to undertake further primary research at higher levels in geography, and other social science disciplines. After a series of lectures/seminars on fieldwork methods, fieldwork ethics, and health and safety issues in the field (which may include some basic introductory language classes), students then undertake a 2 – 5 week period of field study overseas, depending on logistical and other constraints. Previous field studies have been for periods of 4-5 weeks overseas in Thailand and Malaysia. While overseas, students undergo orientation workshops, meet peers in host universities, and visit potential field sites before conducting an intensive period of fieldwork in small groups of 3-5 students. (Co-listed as GE3230A at the National University of Singapore)

This module examines aspects of the geography of East Asia, which includes China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea. Emphasis is placed on the developmental processes and the underlying physical, political, socio-cultural and economic factors that account for their development. It evaluates various discourses on East Asian development and also assesses the impact of East Asian development on regional conflicts, patterns of social change, urbanization and sub-regional integration. (Co-listed as GE3209 at the National University of Singapore)

This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the social, political, and economic changes at various geographical scales with respect to globalization. More specifically, the module focuses on developing understandings of the complex forces driving globalization and the related urban and regional changes and the relationship between globalization and regionalization. This module is not just for geography students, but for all students who are interested in the urban and regional changes in the Asia-Pacific with respect to globalization and regionalization and the driving forces of the changes. (Co-listed as GE3219 at the National University of Singapore)

This module is concerned with understanding and assessing the development experiences of the South Asian countries. Students are expected to grapple with concrete case studies of development programs in their work. The coursework covers issues pertaining to rural, agricultural, urban, industrial and human development, as well as their impact upon people and the environment. Particular attention is given to the situation of the poor and the weak, including disadvantaged children, women, and ethnic minorities. (Co-listed as SN3232 at the National University of Singapore)