LA 3140

Water and the City in Latin America

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2017-2018.

This three-credit course examines the relationship between water infrastructure, rivers, and cities throughout the Americas.  Readings, discussions, and lectures highlight projects, practices, concepts, and urban theories for living with water in cities throughout the Americas.  Cases range from desert oases to canal towns to delta cities, with special interest paid to cities in Latin America.  Lessons and approaches for dealing with contemporary issues related to climate change, landscape infrastructure, and human and ecosystem health are presented and analyzed.  Through projects, discussion, and assignments, students identify and develop a case study of particular relevance and interest.

When Offered Fall.

Distribution Category (CA-AG, D-AG)

• Access and situate key historical models, practices of urban design and planning related to river cities in Latin America.
• Undertake a comparative transnational research project, allowing for comparative analysis and synthesis across national and regional borders in the Americas.
• Discuss and analyze how a range of diverse approaches to living with water found in Latin America relate to contemporary concerns about climate change.
• Use examples from the historical Latin American context to critically consider how specific approaches to landscape infrastructure might provide alternatives to dominant ideas about protecting and improving human and ecosytem health in cities.

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