Syllabus, valid from 2022-01-17

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

Establishment date

2014-04-16

Syllabus approval date

2021-11-22

Syllabus valid from

2022-01-17

Level

Advanced level

Entry requirements

15 credits in the Urban Studies Master programme

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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 skills 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 three interactive themes forming a complex unity:

Identifying important and interesting urban contexts.
Analysing – based on the use of different methodologies – these urban context.
Concretising – in text and image – of the urban contexts as a means of communication, critique and development.

The course consists of several interactive elements.

Introductory presentations in lecture form of methodological and theory of knowledge themes relevant to the field of Urban Studies.
Practical exercises in the form of workshops where students identify important and interesting urban contexts and develop their skills in analysing them.
Examination presentations where students practise analysing, interpreting and commenting upon urban contexts in text and image, e.g. using a poster format.

Learning outcomes

Following successful completion of the course students should demonstrate

methodological knowledge in the main field of Urban Studies
the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
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
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
the ability to critically, autonomously and creatively, in cooperation with social actors, identify and formulate issues in relation to contemporary urban challenges
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
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

Three methdological themes – one geographical (GIS), one architectural and one ethnographic – form the basic structure of the course. 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 A-E, U)
Analysis, interpretation and concrete accounts of urban contexts, presented orally at mandatory seminars (5 credits) (objectives 1 – 7) (grading scale UG), as well as with text and image (5 credits) (objectives 1 – 7) (grading scale A-E, U)

Course literature

Wagner, C., Kawulich, B. & Garner, M. (2012). Doing Social Research: A global context. McGraw-Hill, New Your. Available as e-book.
Ward, K. (2013). Researching the City. A Guide for students. SAGE, Thousand Oaks. (167 pages).
Articles and other material will be provided electronically.

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.