The course provides an outline of geographical concepts, fundamental for the understanding and interpretation of man's rapport with his life context and of the territorial space repercussions of social dynamics. Furthermore, it presents the principal methods of analysis and interpretation of space as pertain to social geography.

From human geography to social geography: a “natural” and interdisciplinary evolution.

Space as a social construct and means of interaction among public and private territorial entities.

The main research topics and study models of social geography developed by western schools of geography: German, French, Anglo-Saxon, Italian.

The most significant and paradigmatic social dynamics: migratory movements; urban-rural interrelationship, urban systems, productive activities.

Cartography as an instrument of reading, analysis, interpretation and communication of spatial and social facts and phenomena.

Students of social geography will be able to: demonstrate  knowledge of the concepts and methods upon which the area of study is based, navigate the international landscape of social geography, distinguish and utilize research methods and models of the diverse schools, which, from the study of human geography, arrived at establishing the statute of social geography. This patrimony of knowledge will be understood in a context of social and environmental sustainability.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ABILITY

•  Basic knowledge of topics, issues, research methods of social geography.

•  Space as a social construct and playing field of diverse territorial subjects.

•  Social and environmental sustainability, cross-sectional and trans-generational equality in the dynamic management of facts and phenomena.

•  From simple societal associations to state administrative organising, to territorial planning.

•  Evolution of agricultural landscapes.

•  Types of human settlement, urban development as a result of the intersection of geographical position, historical components, cities' functions.

•  Territorial organisation of industry.

•  Models for localizing tertiary activities.

KNOWLEDGE AND COMPREHENSION ABILTY APPLIED

•  Capacity to examine an event/problem according to learned diagrams and  models.

•  Comprehend assessment models of environmental and social impact and be able to engage in their own evaluations.

•  Capable of completing simple empirical research on a territory considered separately or as an object of interdisciplinary study in a project-oriented context.

•  Capacity to understand the principal of cause-effect relationship of the most important events of modernity, with particular reference to climate crisis, wars, strife over the monopolization of resources, interethnic and interreligious conflicts.

•  Familiarity with the use of various type of topographic and thematic maps as instruments of study and data communication.

AUTONOMY OF JUDGEMENT

•  Critical capacity to examine the problems of the world in which we live in light of the diverse points of view of social geography to arrive at criteria for making independent judgements.

•  Capacity to select the most adequate research methods for studying a fact or an event.

•  Identify the role of the cultural milieu in spatial development and select the most appropriate conceptual menu for territorial analysis and interpretation of a given context.

COMMUNICATIVE CAPACITY

•  Capacity to express oneself clearly, making use of the specific terminology of  the area of study, explaining and arguing according to logic diagrams, not exclusively technical, taking advantage of the most efficacious communicative strategies for communicating geographical concepts.

LEARNING SKILLS

•  To know and utilise research sources by identifying the appropriate fora and interlocutors in order to obtain tools for empirical and theoretical research.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

•  lectures with slide projections, diagrams, thematic maps.

Course books

Dagradi P., Uomo, ambiente, società, Introduzione alla geografia umana, Pàtron Ed., Bologna, 1995

Loda M., Geografia sociale. Storia, teoria e metodi di ricerca, Carocci, Roma.

Lavagna E., Geocartografia. Guida alla lettura delle carte geografiche, Zanichelli, 2007.

Assessment

-  oral exam

assessment criteria:

-  relevancy of the answers in relation to the study programme.

- To know and utilise research sources by identifying the appropriate fora and interlocutors in order to obtain tools for empirical and theoretical research.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

•  study the listed textbooks