Geo 486: Field Course: New England Cities & Towns

P. Gaubatz

Sample Syllabus

This class has two goals: to introduce students to field research methods in human geography and to explore aspects of urban life in New England from historic development to contemporary problems. We will focus particularly on field techniques which are most effectively learned on the ground, such as analytical observation, mapping, photography and interviewing. Students will have opportunities both to work in groups and to design and carry out their own research projects.

The course will be roughly divided into three sections:

• Village & Town in Early New England
• Mill Towns & the Industrial Revolution
• Contemporary Challenges: Preservation & Redevelopment

Course requirements and grading:

Independent research project	40%	400 pts.
Two reading summaries	8% each	160 pts.
Five 2-3 page field trip reports	8% each	400 pts.
Participation/Attendance	4%	40 pts.
		1000 pts. total

Independent research project:

Each student will design and carry out a field research project during the course of the semester. The paper which results from the research should be at least 10-15 pages long, and may include maps, diagrams, illustrations and any other relevant material. A detailed handout will go over the project in more depth.

Reading Summaries:

Each week one or two students will prepare a summary of the weeks reading. This summary should be typed and about 2-5 pages long. There will be a sign-up sheet for weeks to prepare summaries. In class, those students responsible for a week's summary will make a brief presentation on the reading for the rest of the students. However, all students should make sure to read all of the reading on their own as well.

Field-Trip Reports:

Field-trip reports are 2-5 page typed discussions of a field trip. They should include a description of the trip, a discussion of the results of the research, and a discussion of possible further avenues of research along similar lines, or how the research might have been augmented with other types of research, or a discussion of the pros and cons of the research method used.

Participation & Attendance:

Because the essence of this course is experience, attendance for the field trips and active participation in field trip activities is very important. Absences will be permitted only under extraordinary circumstances and should be pre-arranged.

Geo 486: New England Cities and Towns, Fall 1996

Field Trip Schedule

9-11-96	Comparing landscapes: Belchertown, New Salem & Petersham Commons
9-18-96	Historic Deerfield: Evolution & Preservation of Early Pioneer Valley Settlement Morphology (with Ken Hefertepe, Director of Academic Programs, Historic Deerfield, Inc.)
9-25-96	Lost Amherst: Repeat Photography Exercise
10-2-96	Amherst Land Use & Evolution (with Dan Lombardo, Curator of Special Collections, Jones Library, Amherst)
10-9-96	Turner’s Falls Heritage & Revitalization (with Nancy DuBosque, Great Falls Discovery Center)
10-16-96	Monday Schedule - no class
10-23-96	Holyoke Heritage State Park Downtown Holyoke (with Charlie Lotspeich, Program Director)
10-30-96	Greenfield: Downtown Transformations Past & Present (with Peter Miller, Chair, Greenfield Historic Commission)
11-6-96	Springfield: Heritage (with Francis Gagnon, Chair, Springfield Historic Commission)
11-13-96	Northampton: Traffic studies and land-use mapping
11-20-96	Amherst: Use and perceptions of space
11-27-96	Individual projects
12-4-96	Orange: Orange Redevelopment Project (with Deborah Becker, Director) & Habitat-for-Humanity (with George Ryan, Director, Pioneer Valley Chapter)
12-11-96	Student Presentations