CP0142: The Big Questions in Human Geography
School | Cardiff School of Geography and Planning |
Department Code | GEOPL |
Module Code | CP0142 |
External Subject Code | 100478 |
Number of Credits | 20 |
Level | L4 |
Language of Delivery | English |
Module Leader | DR Julian Brigstocke |
Semester | Double Semester |
Academic Year | 2015/6 |
Outline Description of Module
Human Geography is a dynamic discipline, changing its orientation and preoccupations in response to internal debates and external pressures As a consequence, the ‘big questions’ geography asks, and seeks to answer, are always changing. This module identifies the key debates and issues that the discipline is exploring in the contemporary era. It does so by focusing on key sub-disciplinary areas that form the basis for modules in the second and third year of the degree (e.g. economic geography, social geography, cultural geography, political geography), and illustrating the key internal debates and external pressures that are driving the development of the discipline.
On completion of the module a student should be able to
- Appreciate the key questions that drive human geography in the twenty first century.
- Understand and articulate the similarities and differences between different sub-disciplines within human geography
- Understand the key theoretical ideas and empirical processes that dominate within different sub-disciplines of human geography in the present context.
- demonstrate an understanding of the dynamic nature of human geography and the contemporary questions the discipline is seeking to engage with
How the module will be delivered
The module will be delivered through a lecture series. Lectures will be supplemented by hand-outs and Learning Central (e-learning) support. There will be compulsory guided reading associated with each topic to supplement and deepen the taught component.
Skills that will be practised and developed
- Critically engage with the big questions in human geography
- Critically examine geography’s sub-disciplines;
- Connect theoretical materials with particular case-studies.
- Communicate ideas effectively through written presentations.
- Applying abstract and general ideas to specific case study areas and key subject areas in order to show how ideas can be applied in practice.
- Students’ ability to engage critically with the complex theoretical and empirical dynamics of human geography.
How the module will be assessed
Type of assessment
%
Contribution
Title
Duration
(if applicable)
Approx. date of Assessment
Individual Essay
50%
A critical engagement with the materials delivered in the Autumn Semester
2000 words
Autumn
Individual Essay
50%
A critical engagement with the materials delivered in the Spring Semester
2000 words
Spring
The potential for reassessment in this module
Students are permitted to be reassessed in a module which they have failed, in line with the course regulations. The reassessment will usually take place during the summer.
Assessment Breakdown
Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
---|---|---|---|
Written Assessment | 50 | A Critical Engagement With The Materials Delivered In The Autumn Semester | N/A |
Written Assessment | 50 | A Critical Engagement With The Materials Delivered In The Spring Semester | N/A |
Syllabus content
The syllabus will include lectures on:
- Political Geography
- Social Geography
- Cultural Geography
- Economic Geography
- Development Geography
- Geography and Energy
- Geography and Mobility
- Animal Geographies
- Geographies of Consumption
- Rural Geography
- Citizen Geographies
- Public Geographies
- Geography and Social Justice
- Geography and Housing
- Geography and Demography
- Geography and Tourism
Essential Reading and Resource List
Del Casino, V. Thomas, M. Cloke, P. Panelli, R. 2011 A Companion to Social Geography. Wiley Blackwell: Oxford.
Agnew, J. Mitchell, K. Toal, G. eds. 2007 A Companion to Political Geography. Wiley Blackwell: Oxford.
Cloke, P., Crang, P. and Goodwin, M. 2005 Introducing Human Geographies, 2nd Edition Hodder Arnold: London
Gregory, D., Johnston, R., Pratt, G., Watts, M. and Whatmore, S. eds. 2009 The Dictionary of Human Geography, 5th Edition Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester
Background Reading and Resource List
Agnew, J. and Duncan, J.S. eds. 2011 The Wiley-Blackwell companion to Human Geography, Wiley: Blackwell: Oxford
Johnson, N. Schein, R. Winders, J. eds 2013 The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Cultural Geography. Wiley Blackwell: Oxford.
Barnes, T. Peck, J. Sheppard, E. eds 2012 The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Economic Geography. Wiley Blackwell: Oxford.