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Megacities & Urbanisation - ENV00021I

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Joshua Kirshner
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

This module introduces key themes, concepts and debates in historical and contemporary urban geography. Among the topics covered are diverse understandings of the urban condition, the patterns and processes of urbanisation, challenges of responding to urban expansion and demographic change, and other issues faced by urban dwellers and policymakers, such as social fragmentation, informality, insecurity and climate change.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

In this module, we will explore how cities around the world develop and what it takes to make cities safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The aim of the module is for students to gain an understanding of the historical underpinnings of urban development, including processes such as industrialisation, colonialism and the privatisation of basic services. It will also focus on contemporary challenges faced by urban residents, policymakers, planners and city governments, such as social and economic fragmentation, informality, crime and insecurity, and climate change. It will provide an opportunity for students to critically reflect on policy approaches and solutions to these challenges, including urban climate adaptation, nature-based solutions and alternative urban spaces. Students will develop skills in critical thinking and analysis and communicating complex ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students will have:

  1. Synthesised a range of debates and reflected on critical themes and concepts in historical and contemporary urban geography.

  2. Evaluated the drivers and importance of urbanisation, cities and life experiences in contemporary cities.

  3. Demonstrated an awareness of the relationship between equity, social justice, and social and environmental sustainability.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay - 2500 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay - 2500 words		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Written feedback will be provided on assessment in accordance with the University’s Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. Written feedback will also follow DEG guidelines, with scripts annotated and a feedback form provided.

Indicative reading

A full reading list is available on the VLE site.

Jonas, A.E., McCann, E. and Thomas, M. 2015. Urban Geography: A Critical Introduction. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Beebeejaun, Y. 2017. Gender, urban space, and the right to everyday life. Journal of Urban Affairs 39(3), 323–334.

Caprotti, F. and Cowley, R. 2017. Interrogating urban experiments. Urban Geography 38(9): 1441-1450.

Gandy, M. 2008. Landscapes of disaster: Water, modernity, and urban fragmentation in Mumbai. Environment and Planning A 40(1): 108-130.

Castán Broto, V., Sudhira, H.S. and Unnikrishnan, H. 2021. Walk the line: Urban infrastructure landscapes in Bengaluru's long Twentieth Century. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 45(4): 696-715.

Cohen, D.A. 2020. Confronting the urban climate emergency: Critical urban studies in the age of a Green New Deal. City 24(1-2): 52-64.

Baptista, I. 2019. Electricity services always in the making: Informality and the work of infrastructure maintenance and repair in an African city. Urban Studies 56(3): 510-525.

Cirolia, L.R. and Harber, J. 2022. Urban statecraft: The governance of transport infrastructures in African cities. Urban Studies 59(12): 2431-2450.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.