GEOG 286 - Special Topics

SPRING 2024 TOPIC: LAND CHANGE SCIENCE - Land-change science is the study of the human and environmental factors and forces that transform land-cover and land-use globally.  These factors and forces include global climate change and related atmospheric, biological, and hydrological processes that are reshaping the earth’s surface, ecosystems, and patterns of human settlement.  This course utilizes GIScience techniques in/for land-change science to examine the drivers and dynamics of land-use, land-cover change today.  SECTION 02 TOPIC - UNFREE LABOR - In the context of continuing efforts to combat contemporary “slavery,” “trafficking” and forced labor, this course will examine divergent perspectives on what constitutes “free” and “unfree” labor. The course will include literature on the topic from the social sciences and law, while highlighting geographers’ (existing and potential) contributions to understanding unfreedom in labor relations.  The course content will allow students to: consider competing conceptualizations of work, labor and freedom; compare cases of “free” and “unfree” labor; interrogate concepts such as trafficking, forced labor, unfree labor and modern slavery; and evaluate public and private policy approaches in this area.

Anticipated Terms Offered: Fall and Spring