This course seeks to familiarize students with the new urban geography - emphasizing ecological (sustainable cities, urban donuts), economic (post Fordist accumulation), cultural (images of the city), and post modern perspectives (hi-tech corridors, mass produced aesthetic/architectural styles). It explores contemporary urban crises and challenges and examines how cities are responding. The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of (a) the new geographical patterns forming in cities; (b) the economic and cultural transformations currently underway in urban areas; (c) how geographers are responding to the transformations; (d) urban responses to global challenges; and (e) how economic systems impact the lives of urban residents, images of the cities, and spatial patterns.