Syllabus autumn 2021
Malmö University
Syllabus autumn 2021
Title
Urban Studies: The Urban Question
Swedish title
Urbana studier: Den urbana frågan
Course code
US620E
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
2019-05-08
Syllabus valid from
2019-11-11
Entry requirements
Bachelor´s degree consisting of 180 credits. The equivalent of English B/English 6 in Swedish secondary school.
Level
Advanced level
Main field
Urban Studies
Progression level
A1N
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course forms part of the main field of Urban Studies second-cycle level
Course objectives
The purpose of the course is that students should deepen their knowledge about current tendencies and challenges within the research field of Urban Studies
Course contents
The course is structured around three interactive themes that together form a whole:
  1. The development of different urban forms, urban conditions and contemporary challenges in a global perspective.
  2. Everyday life and the field of tension in the local urban context between, on the one hand, social and cultural practices and, on the other, the material world of built landscapes, buildings and infrastructures.
  3. Economic, social, cultural, political and environmental driving forces expressed in urban development, exemplified by important societal issues.
The course consists of several interactive elements:
  • Introductory presentations, in the form of lectures and seminars
  • Seminars where students' own experiences form the basis of introductory presentations of the literature and subsequent questions and critical discussion.
  • Seminars where students present their own and criticise each other's essays.
Learning outcomes
Following successful completion of the course students should demonstrate
  1. knowledge and understanding of the global challenges associated with urban development, of the diversity of driving forces behind urban processes, as well as the circumstance that the urban research field includes an analysis of both social and material aspects.
  2. the ability to critically, autonomously and creatively, together with social actors, identify and formulate issues related to current urban challenges
  3. the ability to make assessments within the main field of Urban Studies informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues
  4. a considerable degree of specialised knowledge within chosen parts of Urban Studies as well as knowledge about the development in the research field of Urban Studies
  5. the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge of different types for application in urban development contexts.
Learning activities
Work formats include, in addition to individual literature studies, essay writing, seminars of various types including seminars with teachers and researchers in the field as well as with invited social actors, followed by questions and critical discussion among students. Field studies individually and in groups are added.
Assessment
  • Completing seminar assignments (4 credits) (objectives 1 – 3) (grading scale UG)
  • Active individual participation in seminars and field studies (4 credits) (objectives 1-3) (grading scale UG)
  • Written and oral presentation of an essay including criticism of another student's essay. The essay should demonstrate that the student understands contexts, such as those between global economic tendencies and local conditions (7 credits) (objectives 1-5) (grading scale A – E,U)
Course grade is based on written and oral presentation of essay.
Course literature and other study material
  • Bridge, G. & Watson, S. (Eds). (2010). The Blackwell City Reader. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
  • Davidson, M. & Martin, D. (Eds.). (2013). Urban Politics: Critical Approaches. Sage.
  • Glaeser, E. (2011). Triumph of the city: How our greatest invention makes US richer, smarter, greener, healthier and happier. Pan Macmillan.
  • Sassen, S. (1991). The Global City. Princeton University Press, New York.
  • Schiller, N. Glick & Caglar, A. (eds) (2011). Locating Migration: Rescaling Cities and Migrants. Cornell University Press.
  • Sennett, R. (1992). The conscience of the eye: The design and social life of cities. WW Norton & Company.
  • Articles may be added
Reference Literature
  • Brooks, N., Donaghy, K. & Knaap, G-J. (Eds.) (2011). The Oxford Handbook of Urban Economics and Planning. Oxford University Press.
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.