RESEARCHING THE CITY: QUALITATIVE STRATEGIES

GEN&WS/GEOG 514

An introduction to foundational approaches to feminist qualitative research in human geography. Research is not separate from a social world that historically has been and continues to be shaped by (settler) colonial, racialized, gendered, sexualized, and class-inflected relations of power (among others). Research practices and "findings" have been and continue to be used to inform and rationalize relations of oppression, exploitation, and violence. For feminist researchers, then, questions of power, difference, and social change are central to how we design and conduct research. Engages in political-ethical discussions about the positionality and responsibilities of ourselves as researchers, and how our knowledge production can reproduce and challenge prevailing relations of power.

GEOG 365

An introduction to the breadth and practice of Geography. Introduces geographic perspectives, theories, themes, and research design. Covers the history of the discipline, applied quantitative and qualitative methodologies used in geographic research, and a selection of subfields within the discipline.

GEOG 500

Surveys qualitative research and methods in geography, including the human subjects review process, research ethics, preparing for fieldwork, participant observation, interviewing, focus groups, filmic experiences, archival research, participatory action research, analyzing field materials and writing styles in qualitative research.

GEOG/URBRPL 305

Investigates urbanization as a general process, as well as the resulting contemporary physical, social, cultural and political- economic forms of cities. Emphasis will be placed on the history and current forms of spatial and social segregation of cities by race, class, ethnicity, and gender. The myriad ways that cities have addressed the tensions emerging from this history of spatial and social segregation will be highlighted. Further, emphasis will be placed on understanding the experiences of those most-affected by historical and continuing segregation.

GEOG 766

Engaging in geographic research: analysis of successful proposals and published papers and books; different approaches to geographic research; writing of proposals for students' own research.