Geography
A.Y. 2026/2027
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 can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course syllabus provides an overview of the historical development of Geography and geographical thought, from the main theoretical approaches to the most recent developments in the discipline.
The course will be broadly structured around the following thematic areas:
- History of Geography and geographical thought, with reference to the origins and development of geographical knowledge and to the main theoretical approaches within the discipline;
- General Geography, with an in-depth examination of the main concepts, methods and tools of Geography and of its principal fields of study, including Population Geography, Urban Geography, Economic and Development Geography, and Geopolitics;
- Climate Change and Climate History, with particular attention to the relationships between societies, territories, environments and climate transformations.
Particular attention will be devoted to the role of the geographical approach in the analysis of the major issues of the contemporary world, with reference to the relationships between societies, territories, environments, economic processes, political dynamics and climate transformations.
The course will be broadly structured around the following thematic areas:
- History of Geography and geographical thought, with reference to the origins and development of geographical knowledge and to the main theoretical approaches within the discipline;
- General Geography, with an in-depth examination of the main concepts, methods and tools of Geography and of its principal fields of study, including Population Geography, Urban Geography, Economic and Development Geography, and Geopolitics;
- Climate Change and Climate History, with particular attention to the relationships between societies, territories, environments and climate transformations.
Particular attention will be devoted to the role of the geographical approach in the analysis of the major issues of the contemporary world, with reference to the relationships between societies, territories, environments, economic processes, political dynamics and climate transformations.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific prerequisites other than those required for admission to the degree programme.
However, a basic knowledge of the main historical events of the modern and contemporary periods, as well as of the principal physical and human geographical features of Italy, European countries, and non-European countries, is considered useful.
However, a basic knowledge of the main historical events of the modern and contemporary periods, as well as of the principal physical and human geographical features of Italy, European countries, and non-European countries, is considered useful.
Teaching methods
The course is delivered in person and is mainly based on lectures aimed at presenting the key concepts, themes and tools of Geography.
Lectures will be complemented by interactive teaching activities designed to encourage the active participation of students. To this end, multimedia materials, digital tools, dialogic teaching methods, guided analyses of maps, graphs, statistical data, images and other documentary materials may be used, as well as possible contributions from experts in the discipline.
These teaching methods are intended to support the acquisition of the fundamental knowledge of the discipline, the understanding of the main geographical phenomena, and the development of the ability to interpret them and locate them in time and space through the appropriate use of the terminology and tools specific to Geography.
Attendance is not compulsory; however, it is recommended in order to encourage more active participation in the teaching activities.
Lectures will be complemented by interactive teaching activities designed to encourage the active participation of students. To this end, multimedia materials, digital tools, dialogic teaching methods, guided analyses of maps, graphs, statistical data, images and other documentary materials may be used, as well as possible contributions from experts in the discipline.
These teaching methods are intended to support the acquisition of the fundamental knowledge of the discipline, the understanding of the main geographical phenomena, and the development of the ability to interpret them and locate them in time and space through the appropriate use of the terminology and tools specific to Geography.
Attendance is not compulsory; however, it is recommended in order to encourage more active participation in the teaching activities.
Teaching Resources
Students attending classes
1) Teaching materials and course notes made available during lectures and/or on the teaching platform.
2) Greiner, A. L.; Dematteis, G.; Lanza, C., Geografia umana. Un approccio visuale, fourth edition edited by A. Vanolo, Turin, UTET Università, 2023. ISBN: 9788860088512. Required text: Yes.
3) One required text to be chosen from:
- Wulf, A., L'invenzione della natura. Le avventure di Alexander von Humboldt, l'eroe perduto della scienza, Milan, BUR Rizzoli, 2025. ISBN: 9788817191517.
- Diamond, J., Armi, acciaio e malattie. Breve storia del mondo negli ultimi tredicimila anni, Turin, Einaudi, 2014. ISBN: 9788806219222.
Students not attending classes
1) Greiner, A. L.; Dematteis, G.; Lanza, C., Geografia umana. Un approccio visuale, fourth edition edited by A. Vanolo, Turin, UTET Università, 2023. ISBN: 9788860088512. Required text: Yes.
2) One required text to be chosen from:
- Wulf, A., L'invenzione della natura. Le avventure di Alexander von Humboldt, l'eroe perduto della scienza, Milan, BUR Rizzoli, 2025. ISBN: 9788817191517.
- Diamond, J., Armi, acciaio e malattie. Breve storia del mondo negli ultimi tredicimila anni, Turin, Einaudi, 2014. ISBN: 9788806219222.
3) One required text to be chosen from:
- Wilson, B., Metropolis. Storia della città, la più grande invenzione della specie umana, Milan, Il Saggiatore, 2021. ISBN: 9788842830078. Also available as an ebook: ISBN 9788865769379.
- Pievani, T.; Varotto, M., Il giro del mondo nell'Antropocene. Una mappa dell'umanità del futuro, with maps by F. Ferrarese, Milan, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2022. ISBN: 9788832854695.
1) Teaching materials and course notes made available during lectures and/or on the teaching platform.
2) Greiner, A. L.; Dematteis, G.; Lanza, C., Geografia umana. Un approccio visuale, fourth edition edited by A. Vanolo, Turin, UTET Università, 2023. ISBN: 9788860088512. Required text: Yes.
3) One required text to be chosen from:
- Wulf, A., L'invenzione della natura. Le avventure di Alexander von Humboldt, l'eroe perduto della scienza, Milan, BUR Rizzoli, 2025. ISBN: 9788817191517.
- Diamond, J., Armi, acciaio e malattie. Breve storia del mondo negli ultimi tredicimila anni, Turin, Einaudi, 2014. ISBN: 9788806219222.
Students not attending classes
1) Greiner, A. L.; Dematteis, G.; Lanza, C., Geografia umana. Un approccio visuale, fourth edition edited by A. Vanolo, Turin, UTET Università, 2023. ISBN: 9788860088512. Required text: Yes.
2) One required text to be chosen from:
- Wulf, A., L'invenzione della natura. Le avventure di Alexander von Humboldt, l'eroe perduto della scienza, Milan, BUR Rizzoli, 2025. ISBN: 9788817191517.
- Diamond, J., Armi, acciaio e malattie. Breve storia del mondo negli ultimi tredicimila anni, Turin, Einaudi, 2014. ISBN: 9788806219222.
3) One required text to be chosen from:
- Wilson, B., Metropolis. Storia della città, la più grande invenzione della specie umana, Milan, Il Saggiatore, 2021. ISBN: 9788842830078. Also available as an ebook: ISBN 9788865769379.
- Pievani, T.; Varotto, M., Il giro del mondo nell'Antropocene. Una mappa dell'umanità del futuro, with maps by F. Ferrarese, Milan, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2022. ISBN: 9788832854695.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is computer-based.
The test consists of 30 closed-ended questions, each with four answer options, only one of which is correct, and one final open-ended question.
Each correct answer to the closed-ended questions will be awarded 1 point; no penalties will be applied for incorrect or unanswered questions. The open-ended question will be assessed on a scale from 0 to 5 points, with no penalties for incorrect or missing answers.
The overall score obtained in the test will be converted into a mark out of thirty. The minimum mark required to pass the examination is 18/30.
The total duration of the test is 40 minutes.
During the test, students are not allowed to use teaching materials, personal devices, dictionaries, textbooks, manuals or any other reference tools, except for specific compensatory or dispensatory measures authorised for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders.
The assessment criteria are aimed at evaluating:
- knowledge of the topics included in the course syllabus and in the assigned bibliography;
- accuracy in understanding and using the specific terminology of the discipline;
- the ability to interpret, analyse and discuss geographical facts and phenomena;
- the ability to locate geographical facts and phenomena in time and space;
- the ability to recognise, interpret and use the tools of Geography, such as maps, graphs and images.
If the number of students registered for the examination session exceeds the maximum capacity of the available computer laboratories, the examination may be organised in several shifts. The shifts will be arranged by time slots, taking into account the order of registration for the examination session, and will be communicated to students via their institutional email account after registration has closed.
The examination results will be communicated to students through their institutional email account.
International students and Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the course lecturer promptly.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders must be agreed with the lecturer, in accordance with the competent University Office.
The test consists of 30 closed-ended questions, each with four answer options, only one of which is correct, and one final open-ended question.
Each correct answer to the closed-ended questions will be awarded 1 point; no penalties will be applied for incorrect or unanswered questions. The open-ended question will be assessed on a scale from 0 to 5 points, with no penalties for incorrect or missing answers.
The overall score obtained in the test will be converted into a mark out of thirty. The minimum mark required to pass the examination is 18/30.
The total duration of the test is 40 minutes.
During the test, students are not allowed to use teaching materials, personal devices, dictionaries, textbooks, manuals or any other reference tools, except for specific compensatory or dispensatory measures authorised for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders.
The assessment criteria are aimed at evaluating:
- knowledge of the topics included in the course syllabus and in the assigned bibliography;
- accuracy in understanding and using the specific terminology of the discipline;
- the ability to interpret, analyse and discuss geographical facts and phenomena;
- the ability to locate geographical facts and phenomena in time and space;
- the ability to recognise, interpret and use the tools of Geography, such as maps, graphs and images.
If the number of students registered for the examination session exceeds the maximum capacity of the available computer laboratories, the examination may be organised in several shifts. The shifts will be arranged by time slots, taking into account the order of registration for the examination session, and will be communicated to students via their institutional email account after registration has closed.
The examination results will be communicated to students through their institutional email account.
International students and Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the course lecturer promptly.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders must be agreed with the lecturer, in accordance with the competent University Office.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 14:30-17:30 by appointment via e-mail
online via Microsoft Teams