OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide an overview of basic geographical knowledge. It will therefore examine in depth the main territorial, landscape and environmental dynamics that characterise the contemporary world, observed from a trans-scalar perspective.
For all the latest information, please consult the dedicated AulaWeb page.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide students with a general knowledge of human geography, with reference to the different approaches of contemporary geography.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- understand the meaning of basic geographical concepts (space, territory, landscape, environment, place);
- critically analyse contemporary issues with a transcalar approach, from the local to the global;
- analyse the varied geographical narratives of territories;
- interpret the socio-territorial dynamics that characterise different geographical regions;
- interpret the factors that determine the impact of human activities on the environment and landscape.

PREREQUISITES

None.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be organised by alternating lectures and participatory teaching.
Lectures will focus on identifying and understanding basic knowledge; participatory teaching will be based on problem-based strategies aimed at stimulating the ability to analyse certain issues related to contemporary territorial processes.
The materials used during the lessons will be uploaded to AulaWeb together with other materials (reports, links to databases, etc.) aimed at exploring specific topics in greater depth. For students with disabilities or specific learning disorders
(SLD).

Students with disabilities or SLDs are reminded that in order to request accommodations during examinations, they must first upload their certification to the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the ‘Students’ section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and SLDs
(https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111).
Subsequently, well in advance (at least 10 days) of the exam date, you must send an e-mail to the lecturer with whom you will be taking the exam, copying in both the School Contact Person for the inclusion of students with disabilities and SLDs and the above-mentioned Department, using one of the following addresses (disabili@unige.it; dsa@unige.it).  The email must specify:
• the name of the course
• the date of the exam
• the student's surname, first name and student ID number
• the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures deemed functional and requested.
The contact person will confirm to the lecturer that the applicant is entitled to request adjustments during the examination and that these adjustments must be agreed with the lecturer. The lecturer will reply to say whether the requested adjustments can be used. Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the date of the exam in order to allow the lecturer to assess their content. In particular, if you intend to use concept maps for the examination (which must be much more concise than the maps used for study), if the request is not sent within the specified time frame, there will not be enough time to make any changes that may be requested by the lecturer. For further information on requesting services and adjustments, please consult the document:
Guidelines for requesting services, compensatory tools and/or dispensatory measures and specific aids.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The main topics covered include:
Key concepts in human geography (place, space, territory, region, landscape);
The tools of geography;
Population distribution;
Migration;
The geography of languages;
The geography of religions;
Urban geography;
The geography of marginal areas;
The geography of tourism;
Environmental geography;
Cartography.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For attending students 6 CFU:
1) Course notes and slides;
2) Fouberg E.H., Murphy A.B. (2022) Geografia umana. Cultura, società, spazio, Bologna, Zanichelli.

For non-attending students (6 credits):
1) Course notes and slides;
2) Fouberg E.H., Murphy A.B. (2022) Geografia umana. Cultura, società, spazio, Bologna, Zanichelli.
3) Murphy A.B. (2025), Geografia. Perché è importante, Milano, Unicopli.

For attending students 9 CFU:
1) Course notes and slides;
2) Fouberg E.H., Murphy A.B. (2022) Geografia umana. Cultura, società, spazio, Bologna, Zanichelli.
3) Murphy A.B. (2025), Geografia. Perché è importante, Milano, Unicopli.

For non-attending students 9 CFU:
1) Course notes and slides;
2) Fouberg E.H., Murphy A.B. (2022) Geografia umana. Cultura, società, spazio, Bologna, Zanichelli.
3) Murphy A.B. (2025), Geografia. Perché è importante, Milano, Unicopli.
4) One text of your choice from:
  Gavinelli D., Zanolin G., (2019), Geografia del turismo contemporaneo. Pratiche, narrazioni, luoghi, Carocci, Roma.
· Marshall T. (2020), Le dieci mappe che spiegano il mondo, Garzanti, Milano.
· Molinari P. (2021), Periferie Europee. Istituzioni sociali, politiche, luoghi. Franco Angeli, Milano.
· Mazza G., Zanolin G. (2025), Paesaggi rurali in ricomposizione. Riflessioni ed esperienze in Lombardia e Sardegna. Mimesis, Milano-Udine.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester, the last week of February 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination is conducted orally through an interview aimed at assessing the knowledge acquired during the lectures and through the study of the texts indicated in the bibliography.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The test:
- will assess the knowledge of the topics covered in class and contained in the study texts;
- will test the ability to think critically about spatial, landscape and environmental processes.
The evaluation will take into account:
- appropriate knowledge of disciplinary vocabulary;
- ability to reason critically;
- ability to make connections between the different topics covered.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For students with DSA certifications or specific disabilities, compensatory or dispensatory measures will be ensured, while taking care of the acquisition of the skills and knowledge expected for teaching.