GEOG 4UH3

Urban Housing

Calendar Description

The geography of housing, including the effects of land development, construction, municipal planning and public policy on the urban landscape of housing and homelessness.

One lecture/seminar; one term
Prerequisite(s): One of GEO 3HZ3, GEOG 3UG3, 3UR3
 
 
Antirequisite(s): GEO 4HZ3

 

Time/Term Offered: Term One Fall 2011-12

Instructor: Richard Harris
Room: General Science Building Rm. 216
Tel:(905) 525.9149 x27216
Email: harrisr@mcmaster.ca
Office hours: TBA

Teaching Assistant: Claire Atkin Office: BSB-338 Phone: ext. 20441 Email: atkincs@mcmaster.ca

 

Course Outline (Formerly GEO 4HZ3) Avenue to Learn

Introduction:

This course surveys urban housing in North American cities, seen from a geographical and historical point of view. Bottom-up and top-down views of housing will be used as a way of introducing a discussion of the changing ways in which housing has been affected by government policy, and how it has been produced, owned, financed, and used. Lectures will usually run, with a break, for two hours.

Lecture/Labs

Tuesdays 8:30-11:20, BSB 106 – but note announcement in class

 

Required Text Books/Course materials:

The required ‘text’ is Witold Rybczynski, Last Harvest (2007). A list of required readings will be handed out. Most of these are available online, either through the McMaster university library website or on the web. A package of some readings will be distributed in class.

Readings are keyed to lectures.

Evaluation:

1.   First assignment                            Oct. 11                         25%
2.   Second assignment                        Nov.22                          35%
3.   Final exam                                    t.b.a. (exam period)         40%

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: “Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty”), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:

  • Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which other credit has been obtained.

  • Improper collaboration in group work.

  • Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/Students-AcademicStudies/AcademicIntegrity.pdf

The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes.