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Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: UCSSCGEO21
UCSSCGEO21
Urban Geography
Course info
Course codeUCSSCGEO21
EC7.5
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:
  • identify socio-spatial developments in urban areas,
  • interpret these developments by placing them in a relevant economic, political, and socio-cultural context, and by linking them to the behavior of actors,
  • construct explanations for a variety of spatial developments, understanding the (spatial) behavior of individuals and households, and identifying and analyzing the characteristics of areas and the effects of these characteristics on the behavior of the residents and other users,
  • apply important academic skills: the evaluation of theoretical notions, the use of sources of information and methods of analysis, and social interaction and communication skills.
Content
Content
This course enables the identification of socio-spatial developments in urban areas, in particular those that are related to on-going economic restructuring. The key geographical concept is the ‘urban landscape’, reflecting both the historical evolution and current developments of a wide range of social-cultural phenomena. ‘Reading’ that cityscape (observing, and interpreting) is a good starting point for the analysis of the changing urban society. Students explore how economic structures evolve, how this evolution is connected to the development of social arrangements, and what this implies for the built environment and socio-spatial patterns of settlements and (local) communities.
Culture influences the way in which the economy is expressed in the social institutions which play an important role in the development of physical forms. Lately, political organizations have been moving from ‘government’ to the much more inclusive model of ‘governance’, introducing new spatial development concepts and planning models. Finally, the way in which people find their place in society and its spatial structure is another core element in the geographic study of places. The notion that the aspirations and behavior of people are conditioned by the socio-economic structure provides the link between social and spatial structures and their dynamics on one hand, and behavior on the other. It also creates change in society because the shifting patterns of behavior define new social structures as well as new forms and patterns in the built environment. This accounts for the differences among cities in different countries.
 
Format
Most of the sessions are composed of a brief lecture or explanation of the key points in the readings (by the teacher, a guest and/ or students) and a discussion. As often as possible, the lectures are accompanied with visual materials, such as slides or video fragments. Students are required to prepare for the sessions by studying the assigned literature and by completing other (individual) assignments. Many sessions include student presentations (student led seminars) related to the topic at hand. The students responsible for the presentation/discussion are expected to select and study additional background materials, to identify and summarize an issue, present their results in class, formulate discussion points, and stimulate a discussion. The general topic for each of these presentations is identified in the program, but it should be specified/ elaborated by the student in question. In addition two fieldtrips dealing with change in city centers are included in the course!
Some assignments require the students to identify historical and contemporary urban developments through empirical observation in the city, the exploration of Internet sites or other sources, and to report their findings in individual and joint essays and papers. Teams of three or four students do a neighborhood research (fieldwork) and organize a walking tour in selected study areas in Utrecht.
 
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Kies de Nederlandse taal