International Field Trip to Metropolitan Areas

Course goals

• Identify socio-spatial and socio-economic patterns and developments in cities in the Europe and/ or United Stated by applying main concepts from the field of urban and economic geography.
• Interpret such developments by placing them in a relevant economic, political and socio-cultural context.
• Construct explanations for a variety of urban developments and link these to the structural changes and to the behavior of actors, and to explain the spatial behaviors of individuals, households and companies.
• Identify and analyze characteristics of new areas and explain how these characteristics affect residents and other stakeholders.

In addition, the course is meant to offer opportunities to refine important academic skills: the evaluation of theoretical notions and the use of different sources of information.

Content

The international Fieldtrip is an integral part of the Master’s Degree Program in Urban & Economic Geography. Taking the knowledge acquired in the specialization as a point of departure, we will analyze contemporary dynamics, developments and transformations in European and/ or American metropolitan regions.

Students make a choice for a fieldtrip (there are multiple cities) and have to prepare themselves thoroughly for the fieldtrip to the particular city and metropolitan region. During walks and tours, less-known and new facets of the cities will be revealed, which are not necessarily considered main tourist attractions but definitely worth a visit from an urban geography point of view. During our stay, we will discuss such geographical sites and contexts with people who live and work in the cities: government officials, academics, local entrepreneurs, property developers and city marketers. Furthermore, students will engage in fieldwork and organize walking tours through particular neighborhoods.

The excursion itself lasts for about one week. The number of offered destinations depends on the total number of students in the course. Costs vary per fieldtrip.