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Megacities & Urbanisation - ENV00021I

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

The module focuses on the issues confronted by people living in cities including poor shelter, environmental pollution and degradation, and inequalities in access to urban goods and services, which raises questions about social justice and equity, social and environmental sustainability and management of urban areas. The module will focus on production and management of city spaces, regeneration policies, processes of gentrification and new approaches to city governance and ecological futures.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module introduces students to some of the key themes, concepts and debates characterising historical and contemporary urban geography. Among the topics covered initially are conceptualisations of the urban condition, theories of urban evolution and processes of historic and contemporary urbanisation. This module further examines the patterns and processes of urbanization. It describes and evaluates the character and importance of the cities we live in and the problems urban inhabitants face.

Module learning outcomes

On completion of this module, a capable student will be able to:

Subject content:

  • Synthesise a range of ideas and information and reflect on key concepts and debates characterising historical and contemporary urban geography.
  • Evaluate the character and importance of the cities and the issues urban inhabitants face
  • Critically evaluate the relationship between social justice and equity, social and environmental sustainability.

Academic and graduate skills

  • Undertake independent learning and work in a way which ensures continual professional development
  • Critically engage in the development of professional/ interdisciplinary boundaries and norms of scholarship on climate change.
  • Undertake independent/self-directed decision making in complex and unpredictable situations
  • Evaluate own achievement and that of others
  • Use Computing and IT effectively and appropriately to analyse and present information

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 50

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Continuous feedback will be made available to the students during the seminar sessions.

Feedback on coursework will be delivered individually (4 week turnaround) in addition to a dedicated feedback session on closed exam.

Indicative reading

Reading material will be provided throughout the module, linked to the appropriate lectures on the VLE.



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores 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. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.