Utbildningsinfo
IN ENGLISH
Malmö universitet
Course syllabus spring 2016
Course syllabus spring 2016
Title
Urban Studies: Catching Urbanity
Swedish title
Urbana studier: Att tolka staden
Course code
US630E
Credits
15 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
2014-04-23
Syllabus valid from
2016-01-18
Entry requirements
15 credits in the Urban Studies Master programme
Level
Advanced level
Main field
Urban Studies
Progression level
A1F
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course forms part of the main area of Urban Studies, second cycle.
Course objectives
The purpose of the course is that students should develop their knowledge of methodological and theory of knowledge issues in the main field of Urban Studies.
A further purpose is that students should develop their skill at identifying and concretely expressing urban contexts to be able to achieve a dialogue with urban development actors.
Course contents
The course is structured around two interactive themes forming a complex unity:
  1. The identification of important and interesting urban contexts.
  2. Concretisation in text and image of urban contexts as a means of communication and development.
The course consists of several interactive elements.
  • Introductory presentations in lecture form of methodological and theory of knowledge issues in the main field of Urban Studies.
  • Practical exercises in the form of workshops where students identify important and interesting urban contexts.
  • Examination presentations where students practise analysing and interpreting urban contexts in text and image.
Learning outcomes
Following successful completion of the course students should demonstrate
  1. methodological knowledge in the main field of Urban Studies
  2. the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
  3. the ability to critically, autonomously and creatively identify and formulate issues, to plan and implement and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and thus contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
  4. the ability to make assessments in the main field of Urban Studies informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues, and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
  5. the ability to critically, autonomously and creatively, in cooperation with social actors, identify and formulate issues in relation to contemporary urban challenges
  6. the ability to clearly report and discuss their conclusions in speech and writing and the knowledge and arguments that form their basis in dialogue with various groups
  7. an insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used.
Learning activities
Work formats include, in addition to individual literature studies, exercises, workshops and presentation work in the form of text and image as well as seminars in various forms.
Assessment
  • Active individual participation in workshops where students identify important urban contexts (5 credits) (objectives 1 – 3) (grading scale UG)
  • Analysis, interpretation and concrete accounts of urban contexts, presented orally at mandatory seminars (5 credits) (objectives 1 – 7) (grading scale A-E, U), as well as with text and image (5 credits) (objectives 1 – 7) (grading scale A-E, U)
Course literature and other study material
  • Buscher, M., Urry, J. & Witchger, K. (2010). Mobile Methods. Routledge, London.
  • Denzin, N. K. (2003). Performance Ethnography. Critical Pedagogy and the Politics of Culture. Sage, Thousand Oaks, London & New Delhi.
  • Latour, B. & Hermant, E. (1998). Paris - Invisible City. (elektronisk källa)
  • Perec, G. (2008). Species of Spaces (Espéces d'Espaces). Penguin Classics, London.
  • Articles may be added (max 120 pages)
Course evaluation
The University provides students participating in or upon completion of a course with the opportunity to relay their experiences of and opinions on the course through a course evaluation which is administered by the University. The University compiles and summarizes the course evaluations and informs students of the results and any decisions relating to measures made on the basis of the course evaluations. Results are made available to students (HF 1:14)
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students are offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the Changes.