NIGK23013U Urban and Rural Transformation: Uneven Geographies in the Global North

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics
MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics with a minor subject

Content

The majority of economic, political and social activity is today formed by urbanisation. Today an increasing number of people are living and working in city-regions – including peri-urban settings. At the same time, many cities and peripheral regions are struggling with job losses, industrial restructuring and depopulation, and thus, many countries face new forms of spatially economic and social inequalities. This course provides an overview of how globalization, the social, political and economic processes of nation-states, cities and the countryside in combination with planning are key drivers behind geographical and spatial changes in contemporary urban and rural areas. This include focuses on the understanding of the transformation of urban and peri-urban regions, space and place and the conceptualisation of cities and landscapes together with emphasis on the rise of the new economy and economic restructuring, social geography including gentrification and the role of spatial planning.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

Globalisation, rescaling, city-regions, small and medium sized cities, urban competition, the new economy, segregation, gentrification,  mobility, governance, planning, spatial development and the geographical consequences of the social, political and economic processes in contemporary urban, peri-urban and rural regions.

 

Skills:

Read scientific literature related to the transformation of cities and landscapes in the fields of urban, economic and social geography and spatial planning. Evaluate and analyse scientific methods, theories and empirical data and evidence. Use correct scientific definitions and terms.

 

Competences:

Undertake an analysis of the transformation of cities and landscapes using key theories, concepts and empirically material.

Identify the central changes and analyse the recent political, social and economic transformation of cities and landscapes. Discuss the relations between the main social, political and economic changes and their geographical consequences in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

Identify and analyse the new spaces of production and everyday life, using key concepts, central theoretical perspectives and empirical material.

Identify the main changes in spatial planning including and have an understanding of the central theories and their implications for local development.

Literature

Please see Absalon.

A BSc in Geography and Geoinformatics or equivalent is recommended.
The form of teaching is theory exercises combined with ad hoc lectures. For the teaching plan, please see Absalon.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Preparation
  • 171
  • Theory exercises
  • 35
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, Ongoing preparation throughout the course
Oral examination, 20 minutes
Type of assessment details
The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list. A combined grade is given after the oral examination.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam

Resubmission of written assignment, handed in prior to the re-examination week.

Twenty minutes oral examination without preperation. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the approved reading list. A combined grade is given after the oral exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

Please see learning outcome.