Geography

This course studies contemporary economic changes of city-regions by focusing on urban and regional development. Focus is on the rise of the post-industrial knowledge economy and the new economic and social geographies, the new divisions of labor and social classes, and how these are linked to urban restructuring.

This is an independent research course with research arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific research topics vary each term and are described on a special project form for each student. A substantial paper is required. The number of units varies with the student’s project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student’s special study project form.

This course offers a study of spatial and tourism planning. Topics include: planning and tourism-- concept and need for regional planning and tourism; territorial planning methodology and tourism; key concepts in regional planning and tourism; the different modalities of planning; tourist planning in Spain.

This course examines the human dimension of disasters which covers crucial concepts and theories, vulnerability and the causes of disasters, disaster risk reduction and management, post-disaster recovery and transversal issues such as culture and gender. The discussions encompass not only theoretical but also policy and practical materials and draw on examples and case studies from throughout the world with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized areas and communities.

The course provides students with experience in designing and executing a research project. Students will undertake a supervised project in collaboration with other students. Emphasis is placed on research design, including the scientific context of the project, logistics, and ethical considerations; application of appropriate methods and techniques; data collection, including field research and other information sources; data analysis and interpretation; and research communication.

This course offers a study of the risks arising from climatic, hydrological, and internal and external geodynamic and biological processes. It discusses the social repercussions of extreme events, the approach to preventative and mitigation measures, and the response of land use planning. This course analyzes extreme episodes of natural and associated risks including the extent to which they are influenced by direct anthropic intervention in the biophysical environmental and by the variability of natural factors.

This course offers a study of the place that Latin America and the Caribbean occupies in international dynamics, its geopolitical and geostrategic position, the importance of its natural resources, the processes of interventionism by the U.S.A., among other mechanisms of integration and international relations.
 

This course presents basic concepts and information of plate tectonics and the tectonic history of the Asiatic continent and the Japanese islands, active faults and earthquakes, and volcanoes. The lectures include how past and recent environment influence human livelihood.

The course covers the following topics:
- Introduction of the course
- Basics of Plate tectonics
- Plate margin and Japan island arc
- Rock structure beneath surface
- Geology and natural resources
- History of earth and geological timescale
- Earthquake and active faults
- The Great East Japan earthquake
- Rheology of rocks and subduction zone earthquake cycles
- Volcanoes
- Advancement in geodynamics with space geodesy
- Advancement in geodynamics with InSAR and machine learning

Employing the theory of Bourdieu throughout the course, students examine the interrelatedness of economy, governance, and society in influencing the choice of where we live. Students focus on the role of culture in nuancing class-based explanations of the relationship between people and place. We consider how housing choices can confer social advantage or disadvantage on individual households. Students discuss the significance for policy makers of placing the social at the center of our understanding of housing choices. We use a series of place-based typologies and phenomenon to relate theory to practice. Examples might include but are not limited to suburbanization, rural second homes, and gentrification.