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

Volume 2025/2026
Education

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

Content

This course provides an overview of how social, political and economic processes in combination with planning are key drivers behind spatial transformations of contemporary urban and rural areas. The aim of the course is to provide an in-depth theoretical and empirical understanding of contemporary urban and rural transformations of the Global North. Today, cities and larger urban regions are often considered key engines of social and economic progress, and therefore are considered as magnets for both people, knowledge and financial resources. At the same time, contemporary urban areas are experiencing rising levels of socio-economic inequality and class division while peri-urban and rural areas are struggling with job losses, industrial restructuring and depopulation. Thus, many countries of the Global North face new forms of spatially economic and social inequalities. The course provides a critical overview of these transformation processes, which are inextricably linked economically, politically, socially and environmentally, and discuss how how such transformations can be supported in a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable manner.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

Urban and rural transformation, sustainable development, urbanization, peri-urbanization, rural development, socio-economic inequality, social divides, governance, technological and crisis-driven transformations

 

Skills:

  • Identify and outline relevant theoretical approaches to contemporary urban and rural transformations in the Global North.
  • Critically evaluate theories and research methods for assessing urban and rural transformations, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
  • Critically scrutinize appropriate data for measuring and conceptualizing urban and rural transformations.

 

Competences:

  • Critically discuss theoretical approaches to urban and rural transformations and how these relate to debates within human geography and the broader social sciences.
  • Identify, explain and discuss central development and analyze contemporary political, social and economic transformations of cities and rural areas.
  • Empirical and theoretical identify and discuss relations between social, political and economic changes and their geographical consequences in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
  • Consider the potential impact of global, national and local policies on urban and rural transformations and how these transformations can be supported in a sustainable, inclusive and equitable manner.

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

See Learning Outcome