BSc Geography with International Study / Course details

How do people understand, experience, and shape place and space? How do space and place interface with difference, identities and groups in day-to-day life? How can we make sense of the social world through a critical lens? How does culture shape, and how is it shaped by, space and place? What are the practices, material artifacts, values and lived experiences that express and reinforce cultures? These are all key questions to social and cultural geography, an exciting and vibrant sub-discipline. This course aims to build on the knowledge students gained in their first year to further develop their understanding of the theoretical and empirical concerns of social and cultural geography. This course sets out to examine themes such as place, space, power, difference, culture, and identity and demonstrates the value of a geographical perspective on a range of social and cultural phenomena worldwide. It also seeks to deepen and enrich students’ critical engagement with theoretical and methodological approaches that underpin contemporary social and cultural geography.

The unit aims to:

• To enhance critical awareness of contemporary social and cultural issues

• To develop understanding of key debates in social and cultural geography including their theoretical and philosophical underpinnings

• To encourage interdisciplinary thinking

Teaching Methods and E-Learning This course will be delivered through 10 weekly two-hour lectures and 10 weekly one-hour seminar. Lectures will outline background information, key concepts and theories, and case studies. Seminars will centre on students’ engagement with lecture themes by featuring case studies where traditional and/or innovative research methods are used. Seminars will involve a variety of activities such as presentation and group discussion.

You will be required to undertake work in both peer study groups and individually outside of lectures. During reading weeks there will be no course content delivered but students will be expected to undertake independent work. Lecture slides, reading lists, and other materials to support the course will be available through the Blackboard pages. You will be expected to contribute fully to lecture and seminar discussions and activities and to read articles, chapters and complete other activities as preparation.

• Identify the value of social and cultural processes in geographical interest and research

• Understand the nature of the sub-discipline of social and cultural geographies and the main theoretical debates and methodological approaches within the field

• Comprehend the diversity of societies and how different social groups experience and construct spaces, relationships and practices in a range of ways

• Observe and analyse social and cultural issues in the real world

• Apply concepts and theories to make sense of real-life situations

• Think and reflect critically

• Manage information

• Be motivated and independent in their learning

• Have a sense of self awareness and responsibility

• Produce well written academic arguments

• Manage their time

Feedback will be provided in the following ways during this course unit:

• Extensive verbal feedback through Q&A, discussion, and interaction within lectures and seminars

• Feedback on essay draft in seminar and via emails

• Verbal feedback on any course unit issue through office hours

• On-going peer feedback through seminar participation

• Detailed written feedback on essay

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