GEOG 7015 - Introduction to Urbanisation

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023

More than 4 billion people - over half of the world?s population - live in urban areas. It is projected that by 2050 our cities will be home to more than two thirds of the population. Urbanisation is one of the most profound demographic and social processes facing the world today. As places where demographic, economic, social and environmental concerns are closely intertwined within urban systems, cities are critical in shaping the lives of current and future generations. This course will guide students through an examination of the key concepts of urbanisation and introduce students to ways by which we can research, understand and synthesise urbanisation processes. During the course, students will be asked to consider the major causal factors influencing urban growth and change in cities, policy interventions used by governments to better manage population flows and increase adaptive capacities of diverse urban populations, and the socio-economic and environmental stresses of urban development. The course will address important concepts in urban studies, including demographic change and migration, social inequality, social justice, urban citizenship, green urbanisation, and environmental risk.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEOG 7015
    Course Introduction to Urbanisation
    Coordinating Unit Geography, Environment and Population
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week.
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
    Prerequisites Completed degree (72 units)
    Incompatible GEOG 5093
    Assessment Workbooks: Understanding urbanisation, Report: Urbanisation in my city, Narrated slideshow: Future cities, Attendance and participation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Amy Clair


    Course Coordinator

    A/Prof. Yan Tan

    Office:  G32, Napier (Napier ground floor)

    Ph: 08 8313 3976

    Email: yan.tan@adelaide.edu.au



    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    The course consists of a one hour lecture and a two hour workshop each week.

    Students are required to attend and participate in the seminars and workshops.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1. Critically analyse urbanisation processes and their contribution to economic growth and human wellbeing;

    2. Develop an understanding of cities and the role of urban processes in shaping population distribution, economic restructuring, and society;

    3. Understand how and why different forms of urbanisation in developed and developing countries have developed, and their implications for population distribution, economy, society and environment;

    4. Develop conceptual thinking on the complex interactions between climate (environmental) risks, urbanisation and human mobility;

    5. Critically analyse the relationship between urban planning, property development and urban growth;

    6. Communicate both orally and in written form the key aspects of urbanisation processes.

    7. Familiarise major sources of literature and data/information on urbanisation studies.




    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1-7

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1,3,4,5

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    2, 6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1-7

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1-6

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There is no required textbook for the course. All readings will be provided online via MyUni.

    Recommended Resources
    The following lists of journals and books are far from being comprehensive but provide some helpful reference points:

    Journals

    Cities
    Planning Theory and Practice
    Regional Studies
    Urban Planning and Research
    Urban Studies

    Online books in the library

    Birch, EL & Wachter, SM 2011, Global Urbanization, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia.
    Fox, S & Goodfellow, T 2016, Cities and development, Second edition., Routledge, London, [England] 
    Horn, P, Alfaro d’Alencon, P & Duarte Cardoso, AC 2018, Emerging Urban Spaces A Planetary Perspective, 1st ed. 2018., Springer International Publishing, Cham.
    Jonas, AEG, McCann, E & Thomas, ME 2015, Urban geography : a critical introduction, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, West Sussex.
    Schwanen, T, Schwanen, T & Kempen, R van 2019, Handbook of urban geography, Edward Elgar Pub., Northampton, MA.
    Online Learning
    MyUni/Canvas

    MyUni/Canvas is a critical learning tool and means of communication and knowledge exchange in this course. Learning materials are
    available for each week in preparation for our workshop. Other course material (e.g. readings, assessment information) and many features of MyUni/Canvas (e.g. announcements and the discussion board) will help students to organise and manage their study.
     
    Students need to regularly check the MyUni/Canvas website, and use MyUni/Canvas for the different assignments (for information and submission).
     
    To reach the MyUni website for the course follow the links from the University of Adelaide's Homepage http://www.adelaide.edu.au or go
    straight to  https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/. You will need to enter your username and password to enter the MyUni website. If you
    have difficulty accessing MyUni contact the Help Desk at 830 33335 or send an e-mail to myuni.help@adelaide.edu.au (See http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni; http://www.adelaide.edu.au/its/help/contact_details/).

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The teaching in this course is based on student-centred learning principles and strategies. Students are seen as partners in the learning journey. The course employs a blended approach to teaching and learning: face-to-face interactions in class are supplemented by effective use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the online teaching and learning environment of MyUni. Students have material and learning activities on MyUni which need to be done before the workshops so that the workshops can be very
    active and participatory. The interactive and collaborative teaching and learning thus takes place inside and outside the classroom. Students learn problem-solving skills and work collaboratively in workshops.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The times suggested here are guidelines for students to achieve the course requirements and to successfully complete the course. You will need to allocate appropriate time for your study (contact and non-contact time). University policies suggest for a 3-unit course that there should be a minimum workload of 156 hours of learning activities in the semester:

    ·        Structured learning/contact time (lectures/workshops): 3 hours per week
    ·        Reading and preparation: 4 hours per week
    ·        Preparation for assignments: 3 hours per week
    ·        MyUni: 3 hours per week

    Learning Activities Summary
    An indicative summary of course foci, the final Learning Acitivities Summary will be provided via MyUni prior to start of semester.

    Week 1 What is urbanisation? Course overview and key concepts
    Week 2 Why do we move to cities? History and drivers of urbanisation
    Week 3 What are some different ways that we can think about urbanisation?
    Week 4 Do we have equal citizenship in the city? Equality and rights
    Week 5 What does urbanisation mean for our health?
    Week 6 Urban systems: Housing

    Mid-semester break

    Week 7 Urban systems: Gentrification and revitalisation
    Week 8 Urban systems: Green spaces
    Week 9 Urban systems: Climate change and environment risk
    Week 10 What will our future cities look like?
    Week 11 Presentation tips and techniques
    Week 12 No seminar (consultation by appointment)
    Specific Course Requirements
    None

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    1. Workbooks: Understanding Urbanisation 30%

    2. Report: Urbanisation in my city 30%

    3. Narrated slideshow: Future cities 30%

    4. Attendance and participation 10%







    Assessment Related Requirements
    To be able to pass the course you must complete and submit for assessment all assessment requirements described in the course profile.

    The Harvard (author-date) referencing system must be used for the written assignments. Your work needs to include references.

    Assessment Detail
    1. Workbooks: Understanding Urbanisation: (30%)

    This assignment is designed to consolidate and test your understanding of the key urbanisation concepts presented in the first four weeks of the course. The seminars, workshop activities and readings will prepare you for this assignment. The assignment is due at the end of the fourth week, however I encourage you to complete the individual tasks in the corresponding week of the course.

    Assessment criteria:
    • Demonstrated understanding of the key concepts and ideas of urbanisation
    • Demonstrated capacity to develop a position or argument
    • Demonstrated understanding of how to access, synthesise and present information
    • Clarity of written expression (grammar, punctuation, structure, flow, narrative)
    • The quality sources referenced (e.g. peer-reviewed academic literature)

    2. Report: Urbanisation in my city (30%)

    For this assignment you will be asked to choose a case study city to more closely examine urbanisation processes and their relation to the population’s health and wellbeing. You can choose the city that you grew up in (or near) or somewhere else. The assignment is designed so that you can demonstrate your understanding of the impacts of urbanisation and attendant implications for health and wellbeing.

    Assessment criteria:
    • Demonstrated understanding and capacity to analyse and synthesise information about urbanisation processes in your chosen city
    • Cohesiveness of themes and ideas throughout the report
    • Strength and appropriateness of the three case studies on health and wellbeing
    • Clarity of written expression (grammar, punctuation, structure, flow, narrative)
    • Appropriate use of tables/graphs/figures and sources

    3. Narrated slideshow: Future cities (30%)

    Assignment 3 draws together your understanding of global urbanisation processes to envision what our future cities might be like. Choosing one of the world’s 34 megacities, research an urban system and present possible future scenarios supported by scholarly evidence. For example, you might consider the future of one of the areas that we have discussed as a group (i.e. housing, gentrification/revitalisation, green space, climate change/environmental risk) or one that we have not touched on in-depth (e.g. transportation, critical infrastructure, public space, private development, governance). Think about the most pressing challenges to your chosen megacity and how your chosen urban system might respond or be shaped to provide better lives for urban citizens.

    Assessment criteria:
    • Demonstrated understanding of urbanisation processes
    • Ability to translate and envision urbanisation processes in future cities
    • Demonstrated understanding of how government policies shape cities
    • Evidence of research and citation of appropriate literature
    • Clarity of presentation (language, slide layout, grammar, flow)

    4. Attendance and participation (10%)

    All students are required to attend and participate in the workshops (or equivalent engagement via MyUni for remote students) and contribute to weekly discussion boards. Students’ attendance and participation will assessed by their contribution to workshop exercises and submissions to the discussion boards.

    More detail on assessment requirements will be provided via MyUni.
    Submission
    Submissions

    All assignments should be submitted online via MyUni on or before the due date under assignments.

     
    Extensions

    Extensions can only be sought under the provisions of the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy or the Reasonable Adjustments for Teaching and Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy.

     
    Late Assignments

    Assignments submitted after then without reasonable (evidence) cause could be subject to penalties. For work that is late without formal extension, 2 percentage points will be deducted from the mark for every day the work is late to a maximum of 7 days (including weekends and public holidays).

    For example, an assignment that is 3 days late: raw score of 80% - 6 marks lateness deduction = 74% final mark.

    For work with a formal extension, these penalties will apply from the extended due date.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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