Course syllabus spring 2023
Course syllabus spring 2023
Title
Urban Infrastructure, Ecology and Health
Swedish title
Urban infrastruktur, ekologi och hälsa
Course code
MV222E
Credits
7.5 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2022-05-09
Syllabus valid from
2023-01-16
Entry requirements
General entry requirements + Civics 1b or Civics 1a1 +1a2, English 6
Level
Basic level
Main field
Environmental Science
Progression level
G1N
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course forms part of the main field of Environmental Science at level 1-60 credits
The course is part of the bachelor programme Environmental Science and also given as an independent course
Course objectives
The aim of this course is for the student to develop knowledge in urban ecology and technical infrastructure, in an urban setting, and how these can contribute to improved resource management, reduced environmental stress and act as prerequisites for good health. Basic knowledge in urban ecology is a tool to achieve the overall course learning outcomes.
Course contents
The course covers terminology and questions concerning urban ecology and problematize these in relation to the city’s technical infrastructural systems i.e. energy system, water and sewage, waste disposal and transports. The focus is on alternative solutions that could contribute to improved resource management, a reduced environmental stress and improve health conditions in the urban enviroment. A case study is conducted on a specific, concrete, object (building, block etc.).
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
After finishing the course the students shall be able to demonstrate:
1. account for concepts and relationships in urban ecology, ecosystem services and ecological events in the urban environment
2. account for the city's technical systems and infrastructure
3. account for basic concepts and processes regarding green structure and its connection to health
Skills and abilities
After finishing the course, the student shall be able to:
4. integrating knowledge of urban ecology, the city's technical systems and infrastructure to assess different alternatives to solutions from a sustainability perspective
5. plan, implement and report a case study
Assessment skills and approach
After finishing the course, the student shall be able to:
6. reflect on and critically relate to their own work, as well as other environmental research, quality and relevance to sustainable development of the society and its ethical aspects
7. reflect independently about their own work and take a stand on the results of this and reflect independently about the development of their own knowledge and take responsibility for the use of the results of this knowledge
8. identify their own need for further knowledge and be able to develop their competence in compiling the current research position within the selected area of specialisation in environmental science
Learning activities
The course activities consist of lectures, compulsory seminars, individual work, group project assignments and field study. Students will express their knowledge in a written exam, written reports and through oral discussions. The students are expected to be able to perform information searches on their own as well as plan their own study time.
Assessment
Individual written exam (4 credits) (learning outcomes 1-8) (grading scale A-E, U)
Experiments (1,5 credits) (learning outcome 1) (grading scale UG)
Case study with written report (2 credits) (learning outcomes 4-8) (grading scale UG)
To pass the course (7,5 credits) at least the grade pass (E) respectively G is necessary.
The course grade will be determined by the individually written exam.
Course literature
- Hall, M.H.P (red). (2019). Understanding Urban Ecology - An Interdisciplinary Systems Approach. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Cham. ISBN: 9783030112585 Upplaga: 1st ed. 2019
- Kabisch N., N. L. A. R. M. A. (2014). Human-environmental Interactions in Cities?: Challenges and Opportunities of Urban Land Use Planning and Green Infrastructure. Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
- Miller, G. & Spoolman, S. (latest edition). Living in the Environment. Cengage Learning Inc, Boston.
- WHO. Current material on ”Urban health”: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/urban-health
Additional readings (articles etc.) to be determined by the principal course instructor and made available on the course website or equivalent. About 500 pages.
Course evaluation
Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.
Additional information
If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format.
The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text