Geography
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the bascic specific knowledge related to the disciplinary vocabulary and the theoretical-methodological skills to understand geographical and socio-economic issues of a complex nature.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will acquire the ability to deal with geo-territorial problems presented in critical, autonomous and proactive terms.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course aims to trace the historical evolution of Geography and geographical thought, exploring the various theoretical currents up to the main contemporary developments in the discipline.
Throughout the lectures, the diverse fields of geographical study and research will be presented, including Population Geography, Urban Geography, Economic and Development Geography, and Geopolitics. Special attention will be given to topics related to Climate Change and Climate History, in order to highlight the relevance and significance of the geographical approach in analyzing major contemporary global issues.
Throughout the lectures, the diverse fields of geographical study and research will be presented, including Population Geography, Urban Geography, Economic and Development Geography, and Geopolitics. Special attention will be given to topics related to Climate Change and Climate History, in order to highlight the relevance and significance of the geographical approach in analyzing major contemporary global issues.
Prerequisites for admission
As this is a first-year, first-semester exam, there are no specific prerequisites beyond those required for admission to the degree program. However, a basic knowledge of the main historical events of the modern and contemporary eras, as well as the main physical and human geographical features of Italy, European countries, and non-European countries, is considered useful.
Teaching methods
The primary teaching method is based on traditional lectures; however, particular emphasis is placed on encouraging active student participation through the use of multimedia materials, digital tools, dialogic teaching approaches, and contributions from subject-matter experts."
Teaching Resources
Students attending classes:
1) Class notes
2) Greiner L., Dematteis G., Lanza C., "Geografia Umana. Un approccio visuale", (quarta edizione a cura di Vanolo), Torino, UTET, 2023.
3) A text to choose from:
- Wulf. A "L' invenzione della natura. Le avventure di Alexander Von Humboldt, l'eroe perduto della scienza", Roma, Luiss University Press, 2017.
- Diamond J. "Armi, acciaio e malattie. Breve storia del mondo negli ultimi tredicimila anni", Torino, Einaudi, 2014.
Students not attending classes:
1) Greiner L., Dematteis G., Lanza C., "Geografia Umana. Un approccio visuale", (quarta edizione a cura di Vanolo), Torino, UTET, 2023.
2) A text to choose from:
- Wulf. A "L' invenzione della natura. Le avventure di Alexander Von Humboldt, l'eroe perduto della scienza", Roma, Luiss University Press, 2017.
- Diamond J. "Armi, acciaio e malattie. Breve storia del mondo negli ultimi tredicimila anni", Torino, Einaudi, 2014.
3) A text to choose from:
- Wilson B., "Metropolis. Storia della città, la più grande invenzione della specie umana", Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2021.
- Pievani T., Varotto M., Ferrarese F., "Il giro del mondo nell'Antropocene. Una mappa dell'umanità del futuro", Milano, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2022.
1) Class notes
2) Greiner L., Dematteis G., Lanza C., "Geografia Umana. Un approccio visuale", (quarta edizione a cura di Vanolo), Torino, UTET, 2023.
3) A text to choose from:
- Wulf. A "L' invenzione della natura. Le avventure di Alexander Von Humboldt, l'eroe perduto della scienza", Roma, Luiss University Press, 2017.
- Diamond J. "Armi, acciaio e malattie. Breve storia del mondo negli ultimi tredicimila anni", Torino, Einaudi, 2014.
Students not attending classes:
1) Greiner L., Dematteis G., Lanza C., "Geografia Umana. Un approccio visuale", (quarta edizione a cura di Vanolo), Torino, UTET, 2023.
2) A text to choose from:
- Wulf. A "L' invenzione della natura. Le avventure di Alexander Von Humboldt, l'eroe perduto della scienza", Roma, Luiss University Press, 2017.
- Diamond J. "Armi, acciaio e malattie. Breve storia del mondo negli ultimi tredicimila anni", Torino, Einaudi, 2014.
3) A text to choose from:
- Wilson B., "Metropolis. Storia della città, la più grande invenzione della specie umana", Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2021.
- Pievani T., Varotto M., Ferrarese F., "Il giro del mondo nell'Antropocene. Una mappa dell'umanità del futuro", Milano, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2022.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be administered in a digital format.
The test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions (each with four answer options) and one final open-ended question.
Each correct answer to the multiple-choice questions is worth one point. No penalties will be applied for incorrect or unanswered questions. The open-ended question will be graded on a scale from 0 to 5 points, with no penalties for incorrect or missing answers in this case either.
The total duration of the test is 40 minutes.
To ensure the orderly administration of the exam, if the number of registered students exceeds the maximum capacity of the computer labs, the exam will be held in multiple sessions.
These sessions, organized in time slots, will be scheduled based on the order of registration and communicated to students via email on the day registration closes.
It will not be possible to change the assigned session.
The evaluation criteria aim to assess:
- Knowledge of the course content and the recommended bibliography;
- Accuracy in understanding and using the specific terminology of the discipline;
- Ability to interpret, analyze, and discuss geographical facts and phenomena;
- Ability to place geographical facts and phenomena in their temporal and spatial context;
- Ability to recognize, interpret, and use geographical tools such as maps, graphs, and images.
The final grade is expressed on a scale of 30 points. The minimum passing grade is 18.
Results will be communicated to students via their institutional email address.
International and Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the lecturer.
Exam arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) must be agreed upon with the lecturer, in coordination with the relevant university office.
The test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions (each with four answer options) and one final open-ended question.
Each correct answer to the multiple-choice questions is worth one point. No penalties will be applied for incorrect or unanswered questions. The open-ended question will be graded on a scale from 0 to 5 points, with no penalties for incorrect or missing answers in this case either.
The total duration of the test is 40 minutes.
To ensure the orderly administration of the exam, if the number of registered students exceeds the maximum capacity of the computer labs, the exam will be held in multiple sessions.
These sessions, organized in time slots, will be scheduled based on the order of registration and communicated to students via email on the day registration closes.
It will not be possible to change the assigned session.
The evaluation criteria aim to assess:
- Knowledge of the course content and the recommended bibliography;
- Accuracy in understanding and using the specific terminology of the discipline;
- Ability to interpret, analyze, and discuss geographical facts and phenomena;
- Ability to place geographical facts and phenomena in their temporal and spatial context;
- Ability to recognize, interpret, and use geographical tools such as maps, graphs, and images.
The final grade is expressed on a scale of 30 points. The minimum passing grade is 18.
Results will be communicated to students via their institutional email address.
International and Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the lecturer.
Exam arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) must be agreed upon with the lecturer, in coordination with the relevant university office.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 14:30-17:30 by appointment via e-mail
online via Microsoft Teams