Geography 312NC - Seminar: 'The Nature of Cities'

This course critically examines the past, present, and future of thinking about the city from an ecological point of view. For a century, urban ecologists have thought about the city as an ecosystem: it follows the laws of all natural systems. While illuminating, this naturalistic idea has obscured certain historical, social, and political economic forces of urbanization. This is evident today in efforts to make cities more "resilient" and "sustainable." By intersecting urban ecology, urban political economy, and environmental history, this course reassesses the prospects of the ecological city in light of contemporary environmental crisis. Examples will be from across the globe.

This course is open to juniors and seniors; Prereq: 4 credits in Geography or related social science course.