Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Notes

Synopsis

Cities are dynamic and complex environments that now comprise the majority of the world we live in but they face an array of major challenges. These include: How do we make our cities more habitable and sustainable? How do we ensure social, economic, cultural, political and environmental equality? How does the geography of cities and urban systems affect their sustainability? Have cities ever been sustainable and can they be in the future? How do we manage urban growth or decline? In this unit students will examine how contemporary cities operate by focussing on urban processes and functions, as well as relevant issues such as population, the economy, governance, resource use, housing and transport.

Objectives

This unit aims to familiarise students with issues, theories and debates in contemporary urban geography. At the completion of the unit students should have developed the following skills and capacities:

1. critical analysis;
2. effective communication;
3. identify and critically evaluate information;
4. ability to engage with theoretical debates;
5. apply theory to practical examples and case studies

Assessment

Tutorial Presentations and participation : 25%
Essay (1,500) : 30%
Field-trip report (1,000) : 15%
2-hr Written Examination : 30%
Compared to ATS2547, the third year (GES3240) essay and field-trip report will require a deeper theoretical discussion and a broader and larger research engagement (e.g. as evident in the text and bibliography).

Chief examiner(s)

Stephen Legg

Contact hours

3 hours (1 hour tutorial and 2 hours lecture) per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Sustainability, environment and society
International studies
Geography and environmental science (ARTS)
Journalism studies
Geographical science

Prerequisites

First year sequence in geography or permission

Prohibitions

ATS3547