- UCAS course code
- LF78
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Introducing Human Geographies 1
Unit code | GEOG10251 |
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Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
This course offers students a conceptual and geographical grasp of key debates within human geography. Most notably, the course will explore how geographers have understood and examined issues of social difference, identity (gender, sexuality - along with race and ethnicity), morals and ethics, bodies and emotions, the geopolitics of nation-states and borders, the politics and process of international migration, and the social geographies of the city. Using a range of contemporary examples from both the Global North and the Global South, the course will help students understand the ways in which geographical debates have shaped our knowledge of culture, place and politics. The knowledge base developed through these varied examples and debates will be of use to students in years 2 and 3 where course units directly develop some of the themes introduced here. The course will be structured around a semester of 12 weeks with 2 study weeks.
Aims
• To explore key concepts in human geography.
• To develop an understanding of how key concepts in human geography (such as gentrification, transnationalism, intersectionality, markets and uneven development, gender, therapeutic landscape) can be applied to real world examples.
• To explore the varied relationships between people, place and space and to examine the approaches geographers have used to examine these relationships.
• To develop a range of transferable skills including the ability to pose questions, construct an argument, synthesise ideas and analyse material.
Syllabus
• History of Geography; Inter/ trans/multi-disciplinarity of geography.
• Political geographies
• Feminist Geographies
• Economic Geographies
• Population and Health Geographies
• Black and (Post)colonial Geographies
• Geographies of Representation
• Geographies of Difference
• Transport, Mobilities and Migration Geographies
Teaching and learning methods
The course unit will be delivered by 20 hours of lecture-based material (including short exercises and in-class debates). The lectures will introduce students to a variety of issues within contemporary human geography, and will encourage students to reflect upon and discuss how geographers have thought about, researched and worked on, the real world relevance of these key issues. Students will be expected to complete reading between lectures and to undertake some preparation work for in class exercises. Sessions will draw upon a range of resources, including powerpoint slides which will be posted to Blackboard for all sessions, links to relevant web resources, core readings and video clips. A comprehensive archive of all sources and links will be compiled on Blackboard for student use, along with details of the course assessment.
Knowledge and understanding
Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of key concepts in human geography.
Intellectual skills
Demonstrate an ability to analyse and conceptualise real world problems within an academic framework.
Practical skills
Display an ability to critically interpret and evaluate different theoretical and methodological frameworks for understanding issues in human geography.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Critically reflect upon varied sources of evidence in human geography and display an ability to analyse sources.
Assessment methods
Assessment task | Length | How and when feedback is provided | Weighting within unit (if relevant) |
Online Open Book Exam (Short Essays) | 1200 words | Comments on marked exam; feedback discussion with AA | 100% |
Recommended reading
Agnew, J. A., Mamadouh, V., Secor, A. J., & Sharp, J. P. (Eds.). (2015). The Wiley Blackwell companion to political geography (Second edition.). John Wiley & Sons.
Bracken, L.J. (2017). Interdisciplinarity and geography. International Encyclopaedia of Geography:
Cloke, P., Crang, P. & and Goodwin, M. (2014) Introducing Human Geographies. Taylor and Francis. (Core)
Coe, N.M. (2020) Economic geography : a contemporary introduction . Third edition. Hoboken, NJ :, Wiley-Blackwell.
Couper, P. (2015) A Student’s Introduction to Geographical Thought: Theories, Philosophies, People, the Earth, Environment and Technology. US: AAG/American Association of Geographers
Sheppard, E.S., Jamie, P. , & Barnes T.J. (eds.) (2012) The Wiley-Blackwell companion to economic geography . Malden, MA :; Chichester, West Sussex ;, Wiley-Blackwell.
Gallaher, C. (ed.) (2009) Key concepts in political geography . London :, SAGE.
Gatrell, A.C. (2015) Geographies of health : an introduction . Third edition. Chichester, West Sussex ; Malden, MA :; Chichester, West Sussex ; Malden, MA :, Wiley/Blackwell.
McKittrick, Katherine. (2006) Demonic grounds : Black women and the cartographies of struggle . Minneapolis :, University of Minnesota Press.
Tyner, J.A. (2009) War, violence, and population : making the body count . New York :, Guilford Press.
Wa Thiong’o, Ngugi. (1986) Decolonising the mind: The politics of language in African literature . Melton :, Boydell & Brewer Limited.
Walters, M. (2005). Feminism: A very short introduction . New York. Oxford University Press Inc.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Lectures | 20 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 80 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Nerea Okong'o | Unit coordinator |