Module Objectives & Course Content

The Urban Geography course is structured by theory lectures and labs involving also the group study of an urban agglomeration.

I. The theory lectures aim at: Systematically approaching the field of Urban Geography, in relation to its conceptual basis και scientific considerations, involving also the need to establish a common background of understanding and theory building and Critically analyzing and interpreting basic theories and analytical approaches that allow the students to obtain an out-most integral understanding of the socio-economic patterns under which cities and agglomerations develop and are incorporated into the broader geographical-spatial dynamics.

ΙΙ. The elaboration-submission of a collective work aiming at developing the students knowledge, skills and capacity building in relation: Data gathering (aggregate sources-empirical work) and analysis related to Urban Geography; Basic tools, elaboration techniques and GIS mapping processes. The student’s works involves also special topic courses, seminars and student progress reports presentations. The course content involves the following: The objective of the course; the field of Urban Geography-Historical evolution and development; site-situation-size and character of a city of agglomeration; population-mobility and migration; the urban space; urbanization: theories of urbanization and historical cases; industrialization and urbanization in Greece comparative evaluation in relation to other European and international experiences; contemporary urbanization patterns; the notion of spatial concentration and dispersal; spatial boundaries (administrative boundaries-functional boundaries-social boundaries-catchment areas); urban systems-centrality- urban hierarchies; metropolitan agglomerations- medium size cities city networks-historical cities-port cities-coastal cities; the internal structure and organization of the city; the city as a physical economic, social, institutional and cultural system; urban structure theories; the urban centre and peripheral areas; the city centre as an enclave of economic and political power; urban areas in crisis and decline-the factors of the problem; disaster and recovery of cities; urban spatial policies