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Study information

Global Urban Futures

Module titleGlobal Urban Futures
Module codeGEO2132
Academic year2024/5
Credits15
Module staff

Dr Alicia Hayashi Lazzarini (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

150

Module description

This module introduces interdisciplinary social science approaches to understanding urbanisation processes. It considers the significance of urbanisation for a range of contemporary geographical issues, from socio-economic inequality to environmental change; and the responses to those issues, from activism to policy-making. It provides a framework for understanding and critically analysing claims about and consequences of “planetary urbanisation”. The module introduces you to key traditions of urban social thought such as explanatory theories of urban development, interpretative theories of urban social and cultural life, and action-oriented theories of urban politics, planning, and policy. It addresses key methodological issues concerning contextual understanding, comparative analysis, and case-study analysis. It also addresses traditional and new urban issues such as Global South urbanism; investment and development futures; cities and infrastructures; eco-cities and enclaves; informal cities; and urban social movements.

The module assessment is designed to enable you to select and develop a focussed engagement with specific approaches and issues of interest to you.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to give you a thorough understanding of contemporary social science approaches to urban issues. The module will

  • introduce various theoretical traditions for understanding cities and urban processes
  • introduce issues of geographical reasoning associated with urban social science
  • introduce issues that are traditionally or newly understood as having urban causes, conditions, or resolutions
  • provide a framework for engaging critically with contemporary urban issues by selecting and applying specific analytical approaches
  • provide a framework for critically analysing why urban processes are often seen as both the cause and solution to so many issues.

The module involves in-depth workshops and class debates that seek to develop the following graduate attributes:

  • confidence in assessing the robustness of social scientific evidence and in presenting textual and audio-visual material in a new media format
  • problem solving through interdisciplinary reasoning and analysis of issues-based urban case studies and urban policies at different scales
  • articulating social scientific concepts and evidence with confidence through enquiry-led research on assessed written assignment topics; including providing peer feedback on topics through discussion

The teaching contributions on this module involve elements of research undertaken by module staff, such as work on urban social theory, cities in the Global South, urban infrastructures, and informality.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Explain the problematisation of contemporary urban issues
  • 2. Apply theoretical ideas to the analysis of selected urban issues

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Illustrate and discuss the contested and provisional nature of knowledge
  • 4. Identify a range of approaches to the generation, analysis, and application of knowledge
  • 5. Identify and investigate selected issues in human geography research

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 6. Develop a sustained and reasoned argument
  • 7. Identify, acquire, analyse and synthesise information from a range of sources
  • 8. Work independently to achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainment
  • 9. Work as a participant and leader in groups and contribute effectively to the achievement of objectives

Syllabus plan

Indicative structure (topics may vary)

Part 1: Social Theory in the City

  • Introduction: urbanisation, urbanism and public space
  • Key themes in urban futures research
  • Urban public space

Part 2: Emergent Urban Issues

  • Eco-cities, smart cities and urban AI
  • Investment and development futures, and formative research poster workshop
  • The divided city
  • Informal cities and alternative urban futures

Part 3: Wrapping up: Putting Urban Futures into Context

  • Urban futures: learning from QQ
  • Urban futures and city politics and formative assessment workshop: essay preparation

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
221280

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching16Lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching6Workshops
Guided Independent Study15Out-of-class web-based exercises
Guided Independent Study45Weekly reading
Guided Independent Study38Blog preparation and writing
Guided Independent Study30Exam preparation

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Discussion and draft research poster1 hour workshop equivalent1-7, 9Oral and written
Discussion and draft written assignment structure1 hour workshop equivalent1-9Oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Research poster30750 words1-7Written
Written assignment701750 words1-7Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Research PosterResearch Poster1-7Referral/Deferral period
Written assignmentWritten assignment1-7Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

  • Bridge, G. and Watson, S. (eds.). 2010. The Blackwell City Reader (2nd Edition).
  • LeGates, R. and Stout, F. (eds). 2011. The City Reader. Routledge.
  • Tonkiss, F. 2013. Cities by Design: The Social Life of Urban Form. Polity Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Key words search

Cities, human geography, space, urban theory, social theory, space, urban issues, urban politics, urban and regional studies, urbanisation

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

5

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

21/02/2017

Last revision date

07/03/2024