GY206 Half Unit
Urban Geography and Globalisation
This information is for the 2021/22 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Ryan Centner STC601c
Availability
This course is available on the BA in Geography, BSc in Economic History and Geography, BSc in Environment and Development and BSc in Geography with Economics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.
Course content
This course introduces students to the intersection of urban geography and the geography of globalisation, with the aim of understanding key references in academic debates, and their relevance for real-world social, economic, and political issues in our cities today. The course offers a critical, human-geographical perspective on ‘global cities’, how these manifest in different parts of the world, how they matter for distinct realms of urban life, and how we can study features of global urban geography. Themes include empires, development, and cities; ‘global cities’; ‘Third World cities’ or ‘cities of the global South’; urban spaces of neoliberalism; new geographies of urban theory; and planetary urbanisation. We examine cases related to migration, sexual minorities, the circulation of ideas, and gentrification. Examples come from both the ‘global North’ and the ‘global South’, with the aim of helping students understand when and how these categories may be useful.
Teaching
In the Department of Geography and Environment, teaching will be delivered through a combination of classes/seminars, pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures, in-person lectures and other supplementary interactive live activities.
This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures across Michaelmas Term.
This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas Term.
Formative coursework
The formative work will be an essay plan that directly prepares students for the summative work.
Indicative reading
Sassen, Saskia. 2001. The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo. Second edition.
Brenner, Neil and Nik Theodore (eds). 2002. Spaces of Neoliberalism.
Davis, Mike. 2006. Planet of Slums.
Robinson, Jennifer. 2006. Ordinary Cities: Between Modernity and Development.
Brenner, Neil and Christian Schmid (eds). 2014. Implosions/Explosions: Towards a Study of Planetary Urbanization.
Ghaziani, Amin. 2014. There Goes the Gayborhood?
Assessment
Essay (65%, 2500 words), class participation (20%) and presentation (15%) in the MT.
Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Student performance results
(2018/19 - 2020/21 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| First | 36.1 |
| 2:1 | 50.4 |
| 2:2 | 11.8 |
| Third | 0.8 |
| Fail | 0.8 |
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2021/22 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the differing needs of students in attendance on campus and those who might be studying online. For example, this may involve changes to the mode of teaching delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Geography & Environment
Total students 2020/21: 45
Average class size 2020/21: 14
Capped 2020/21: No
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
