OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide an overview of the fundamental knowledge of geography. It will therefore examine in depth the main territorial, landscape, and environmental dynamics that characterize the contemporary world and their representations, observed from a trans-scalar perspective. Particular attention will also be given to cultural geography and to inter- and multidisciplinary approaches for interpreting space.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the course is to provide students with a broad understanding of human geography, with an emphasis on contemporary geography's various perspectives. In addition, students will learn how to read critically and how to use geographic and topographic maps. The teaching methods will be given special attention.

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 grasp contemporary issues through a trans-scalar approach, from the local to the global;

- master the main concepts related to the paradigm of sustainable development;

- analyze the diverse geographical narratives of territories, including with specific reference to the geo-literary approach;

- interpret the socio-territorial dynamics that characterize different geographical regions from both a contemporary and diachronic perspective;

- become familiar with some of the main geographical tools, such as cartography.

PREREQUISITES

Familiarity with the basic main geographical concepts.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be organized alternating moments of frontal and participatory teaching.
Frontal teaching will be aimed at the identification and understanding of basic knowledge; participatory teaching will be based on problem-based strategies aimed at stimulating the ability to analyze some problems related to spatial processes that characterize contemporaneity.
Some of the materials used in the course of the lectures will be uploaded to AulaWeb.

Students with disabilities and students with DSA are reminded that in order to request adaptations for examinations they must first enter their certification on the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the "Students" section. The documentation will be checked by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and DSA Sector (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111). Afterwards, at least 10 days before the date of the exam, an e-mail must be sent to the teacher with whom you will be sitting the exam, including in copy knowledge of both the School's Referring Teacher for the inclusion of students with disabilities and with DSA (Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above. In the e-mail it is necessary to specify: the name of the teaching subject; the date of the call; the student's surname, first name and matriculation number; the compensatory and dispensatory measures considered functional; and required.  The contact person will confirm to the teacher that the applicant has the right to request adaptations during the examination and that these adaptations must be agreed upon with the teacher. The lecturer will respond by stating whether the requested adaptations can be used. Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the date of the call to allow the teacher to assess their content. In particular, in the case of concept maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for studying) if the submission does not meet the deadline, there will be no technical time to make any changes. For further information on requesting services and adaptations, please refer to the document: https://unige.it/sites/unige.it/files/2024-05/Linee%20guida%20per%20la%20richiesta%20di%20servizi%2C%20di%20strumenti%20compensativi%20e_o%20di%20misure%20dispensative%20e%20di%20ausili%20specifici%20Maggio%202024.pdf

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Students who are required to earn 6 CFU will study the following topics:

• Basic concepts of human geography and an introduction to geographical thought
• The evolution of the sustainability paradigm
• Cartography and cartographic communication
• Globalization and dynamics from the global to the local
• Environmental geography and ecosystem services
• Geography of population and migration
• Geography of tourism
• Processes of territorialization and historical geography

Students who are required to earn 9 CFU, in addition to the topics listed above, will also study:

• Geography and literature

Students who are required to earn 12 CFU, in addition to the topics listed above, will also study:

• Cartography and literature
• Literary geography
• Tourism, literature, and cinema

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

6 CFU Programme

For attending students:

• Lecture contents.
• Varotto M., Il primo libro di geografia, Einaudi, Turin, 2025 (excluding chapters XVI, XVII, and XX).

For non-attending students:

• Bjelland M.D., Montello D.R., Getis A., Mangano S., Piana P., Porcelloni L., Geografia umana, 5th edition, McGraw Hill, Milan, 2024.
• Varotto M., Il primo libro di geografia, Einaudi, Turin, 2025.

9-CFU Programme

For attending students:

• Lecture contents.
• Varotto M., Il primo libro di geografia, Einaudi, Turin, 2025 (excluding chapters XVI, XVII, and XX).
• Two essays chosen from:
  • Maggioli M., Morri R., “Tra geografia e letteratura: realtà, finzione, territorio,” in Letteratura e geografia: parchi letterari, spazi geografici e suggestioni poetiche nel ’900 italiano, Quaderni del ’900, 9, 2009, pp. 53-70.
  • Lando F., “Premessa. Geografia e letteratura: immagine e immaginazione,” in Lando F. (ed.), Fatto e finzione. Geografia e letteratura, Etaslibri, Milan, 1993, pp. 1-18.
  • De Vecchis G., “Italo Calvino: il primo geografo del nuovo millennio,” Bollettino della Società Geografica Italiana, 14, 7, 1, 2024, pp. 125-136.
  • Gabellieri N., “Introduzione: geografia e letteratura tra didattica, valorizzazione e programmazione territoriale. Un approccio interspaziale,” in Gabellieri N. (ed.), Racconti di paesaggio, IF Press, Rome, 2024, pp. 9-19.

For non-attending students:

• Bjelland M.D., Montello D.R., Getis A., Mangano S., Piana P., Porcelloni L., Geografia umana, 5th edition, McGraw Hill, Milan, 2024.
• Varotto M., Il primo libro di geografia, Einaudi, Turin, 2025.
• The essays:
  • Maggioli M., Morri R., “Between geography and literature: reality, fiction, territory,” in Letteratura e geografia: parchi letterari, spazi geografici e suggestioni poetiche nel ’900 italiano, Quaderni del ’900, 9, 2009, pp. 53-70.
  • Lando F., “Introduction. Geography and literature: image and imagination,” in Lando F. (ed.), Fatto e finzione. Geografia e letteratura, Etaslibri, Milan, 1993, pp. 1-18.
  • De Vecchis G., “Italo Calvino: the first geographer of the new millennium,” Bollettino della Società Geografica Italiana, 14, 7, 1, 2024, pp. 125-136.
  • Gabellieri N., “Introduction: geography and literature between teaching, valorisation and territorial planning. An interspatial approach,” in Gabellieri N. (ed.), Racconti di paesaggio, IF Press, Rome, 2024, pp. 9-19.

12 CFU Programme

For attending students:

• Lecture contents.
• Varotto M., Il primo libro di geografia, Einaudi, Turin, 2025 (excluding chapters XVI, XVII, and XX).
• One volume chosen from:
  • Piana P., Gabellieri N., Gallia A. (eds.), La trama del paesaggio. Racconti e immagini del Grand Tour tra geografia, storia e progetto territoriale, Viella, Rome, 2025 (available online at: https://www.viella.it/libro/9791257010478).
  • Moretti F., Atlante del romanzo europeo 1800–1900, Einaudi, Turin, 1997 (or later editions).
  • Marengo M., Geografia e letteratura. Piccolo manuale d’uso, Pàtron, Bologna, 2022.

For non-attending students:

• Bjelland M.D., Montello D.R., Getis A., Mangano S., Piana P., Porcelloni L., Geografia umana, 5th edition, McGraw Hill, Milan, 2024.
• Varotto M., Il primo libro di geografia, Einaudi, Turin, 2025.
• Two volumes chosen from:
  • Piana P., Gabellieri N., Gallia A. (eds.), La trama del paesaggio. Racconti e immagini del Grand Tour tra geografia, storia e progetto territoriale, Viella, Rome, 2025 (available online at: https://www.viella.it/libro/9791257010478).
  • Moretti F., Atlante del romanzo europeo 1800–1900, Einaudi, Turin, 1997 (or later editions).
  • Marengo M., Geografia e letteratura. Piccolo manuale d’uso, Pàtron, Bologna, 2022.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester: week of 21 September 2026, according to the timetable

Second semester: week of 22 February 2027, according to the timetable

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of a written component for the first part and an oral component for the second. It includes a test and an interview designed to assess the knowledge acquired during the lectures and through the study of the texts listed in the bibliography.

In addition to the official exam sessions, there is the possibility of completing part of the program after the end of the first semester through optional in-progress written tests.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam:

• will assess knowledge of the topics covered in class and included in the study materials;
• will evaluate the ability to think critically about the concepts presented.

The assessment will take into account:

• appropriate use of subject-specific terminology;
• critical reasoning skills;
• the ability to make connections between the different topics addressed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

All students are invited to periodically consult the page of this course on the AulaWeb e-learning portal (accessible from the University web site or at: https://www.aulaweb.unige.it).

All information and materials related to this teaching are published exclusively on that site.