GEOG 5280 - Community Geography

Knowing the geography of one’s community, from the distribution of parks and schools to the location of healthcare and social services providers to the assessment of walkable downtowns and neighborhoods, is a hallmark of an engaged citizenry. Community Geography examines a variety of place-based challenges and opportunities that are found within and between communities through the lens of geo-spatial analysis. It engages students in real ways through documenting, evaluating and mapping the community they live in and care about. University-community partnerships are built from the bottom up around social issues such as income inequalities, food insecurity, educational disparities, limited access to transportation and healthcare, and more. This course offers a unique combination of collaborative mapping, spatial understanding of community issues, and interaction with and participation in the community from the bottom up, as engaged members of the Athens community. Students will be introduced to real-world problems and best practices, and encouraged to explore creative solutions. Community geography helps students better understand the spatial nature of these issues, how to evaluate both local and global forces which transform communities, and assists them with evaluating actionable solutions which promote sustainability at the local level. This course is designed to engage students with the Athens area, to build collaboration between students, residents and community groups, and to develop marketable skills and expand student awareness of community issues.

Requisites:
Credit Hours: 3.0 lecture
Repeat/Retake Information: May not be retaken.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:

Become familiar with a variety of spatial visualization techniques for collaborative mapping.
Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize social issues in a spatial manner.
Develop effective skills to engage community leaders and key stakeholders around important topics and learn techniques for fostering collaborative partnerships.
Gain an understanding of cultural and socio-economic differences which inform community leadership practices and learn effective ways to communicate with people of diverse perspectives and harness community dynamics to achieve shared goals.
Gain an understanding of the geography of their community and become more informed, engaged residents.
Identify primary and secondary spatial relationships in the community.
Learn how maps can create and institutionalize reality.
Produce a Citizen Mapping or Participatory GIS project to identify a particular community concern and explore potential solutions and opportunities.