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GEOG3741: REMAKING URBAN LANDSCAPES

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Type	Open
Level	3
Credits	20
Availability	Not available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location	Durham
Department	Geography

Prerequisites

GEOG2511 URBAN GEOGRAPHY

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

None

Aims

To develop students understanding of the diverse geographical processes through which cities come to be politically governed
To promote an appreciation of how social, economic and political negotiation and struggle serve to shape the form and nature of life in contemporary cities
To demonstrate the value of theoretical perspectives in understanding the governance, production and life of cities
To undertake critical analysis through theoretical and empirical engagement of how urban geographies are produced and contested
To critically engage key conceptual, empirical and policy debates in seminar discussion

Content

Remaking the Landscapes of Urban Governance
Re-conceptualizing Urban Governance and City Politics
Securing City Downtowns
Governing Post-Suburbia
Remaking Domiciliary Space
Regulating a Splintering Urban Landscape
Post-Democratic City
The City as Assemblage
Cities and Enclosure
Cyborg Urbanisation
Cities and Agency
Tactical Urbanism
Learning and Cities
Alternative Urbanisation

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
Identify some of the key theoretical and conceptual debates that are mobilized to interpret urban formation, governance and contestation in contemporary cities
Show appreciation of the significant substantive changes occurring in the ways in which cities in the world are orchestrated and politically governed
Demonstrate a critical awareness of the policy relevance of the changing nature of governance in cities
To critically understand the role of a range of actors in the material production and contestation of urban geographies

Subject-specific Skills:

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
To locate subject-specific theoretical and substantive literature in library, electronic databases and other key sources
Read with critical insight a range of arguments about the governance of cities
To develop and execute a written piece of work that effectively engages with key conceptual and substantive themes in debates on cities
To critically assess the similarities, differences and connections of urban geographies in the global North and South

Key Skills:

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
Communicate the results of reading and research on critical themes by means of written essays (one formative and one summative) and examination (summative assessment)
Demonstrate a capacity to evaluate and build on academic performance: through the formative and summative assessments; responding to feedback; managing time effectively; and synthesising knowledge and information from a range of sources encountered as part of the course

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Lectures will impart part basic facts and information and will help students understand key theoretical approaches and get to grips with the recommended reading
Reading lists, handouts, and powerpoint lectures will be posted on duo to assist student learning
Concepts introduced in lectures will be explored in more depth in seminars. Seminars will be used to develop independent and group research design skills
Examination and coursework will test critical understanding of concepts and critical thinking

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total	Monitored
Lectures	16	Approx. weekly	2 hours	32
Seminars	1	Term 2	2 hours	2	Yes
Fieldtrip (local)	1	Term 1	3 hours	3	Yes
Revision Class	1	Term 3	1 hour	1
Preparation and Reading				162
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Unseen examination	1.5 hours	100	None

Component: Essay		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Coursework Essay (max 5 x sides A4). Students will be asked to write one answer from a choice of three questions, relating to key concepts explored in the course		100	None

Formative Assessment

A written essay of four pages A4. Written feedback will be provided. In addition to this, for the majority of 2 hour lecture sessions, the second half will involve interactive discussion with students which will also provide formative feedback on substantive topics.

More information

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