Professor: Lakshman Yapa
321 Walker
Office Hours: T/R 9:00-10:00
Phone: 865.1187 / 865.3433
Email: lxy3<at>psu.edu

Teaching Intern: Vanessa Massaro
Email: vam127<at>psu.edu

Lectures Tuesday and Thursday 11:15-12:05 (273 Willard)
Lab Time Monday and Friday 12:20 - 2:15 (208 Walker)

Download the Fall 2006 Syllabus Here

Download the Fall 2006 Semester Project Description Here

Course Outline
GIS and Social Theory is an introductory-level, laboratory-intensive undergraduate course designed primarily for geography majors to give them a critical understanding of how to use tools of regional analysis and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) while being sensitive to social theory. Fundamentals of GIS will be taught alongside social theory to make students aware of both the value and pitfalls of using these tools. 

I present regional analysis through three paradigms: spatial analysis, relational analysis, and discourse theory. Spatial analysis is done by using the conventional tools of GIS such as map overlay and buffering, focusing on geographic locations of objects, that is, on "where" things are. Relational analysis looks at connection among variables and considers "how" objects are connected regardless of "where" they may be located. Discourse theory argues that such social concepts as race, class, ethnicity, poverty, community, and neighborhoods are not naively-given entities simply available to neutral, objective analysis. The understanding of such entities are greatly influenced by the discourses (or conversations) we have constructed about them. 

Therefore, analysis of such social objects must incorporate a sensitivity to how they are in fact "constructed" by discourses about them. Using discourse theory I argue social problems such as poverty do not have "root causes." In fact social problems are constituted from actions that take place simultaneously at a large number of sites diffused throughout the larger society. 

To address social problems we require methodologies that can keep track of, and analyze, large quantities of information. In that sense GIS is a complementary tool of our third paradigm of regional analysis--the discursive approach to social problems. In this class we shall approach the topics of region and regional analysis by systematically building on all three paradigms: spatial, relational, and discursive. These arguments will be developed at length, by example, through a series of lab and homework exercises. 

Course Text
Getting To Know ArcGIS (On reserve in the EMS library)
Weekly articles available for download on this website

Semester Project
25 percent of your grade will be based on the final project. The final project will consist of three parts: a proposal, data analysis, and a write-up. We will direct you to sources of data on Health, Transportation, Housing, and Environment. We recommend that you build your project around one or more of these data sets. However, you are at liberty to work with an entirely different set of data. Detailed requirements can be found in the project description.

Your project will be graded on the following scale:

Project Proposal (10%) + GIS component (60%) + Written Report (30%)

The project timeline is as follows:

1. Set up a meeting with Dr. Yapa on either 9/26 or 9/28 during office hours to discuss your project ideas. His office hours are from 9-10 on these days. Be sure to email him in advance to arrange the time that you will meet.
2. Proposals are due at the beginning of class on 10/05.
3. A one-page written progress report on the status of your semester project is due at the beginning of class on 11/2.
4. Your final project is due at the beginning of class on 12/12.

Grading Policy
Your final course grade will depend on your scores on the five lab exercises, a semester project, the midterm and the final (the breakdown is below).
Labs (45%) + Project (25%) + mid-term (15%) + final exam (20%).

Letter grades are based on the following scheme:
100-85: A, 84.9-80: B+, 79.9-75: B, 74.9-70: B-, 69.9-65: C+, 64.5-60: C, 59.9-55: D, <55: F