This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)
Module GEOG2621: THEORY AND CONCEPTS IN CONTEMPORARY HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Department: Geography
GEOG2621: THEORY AND CONCEPTS IN CONTEMPORARY HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 2 | 20 | Available in 2010/2011 | None. | Durham |
Tied To
- CFG0: Natural Sciences
- F800: Geography
- FR89: Geography (European Studies) (see Undergraduate Handbook 2009-2010 for details)
- L702: Geography
- LMV0: Combined Honours in Social Sciences
- LR79: Geography (European Studies) (see Undergraduate Handbook 2009-2010 for details)
- QRV0: Combined Honours in Arts
- X1F8: Education Studies - Geography
Pre-requisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combinations
- None
Aims
- To provide an introduction to key schools of thought and theoretical developments in human geography
- To promote an appreciation of the theoretical aspects and diversity of contemporary human geography
- To highlight the role of theoretical issues in the construction and of human geographical knowledge
Content
- Positivism
- Science and Society
- Marxist Geography
- Radical Geography
- Feminist Geography
- Queer Geographies
- Post-Structuralism and Actor-Network Theory
- Non-Representational Theory
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
- identify key theoretical schools of thought and associated issues in human geographical thought
- show both a broad knowledge of a range theoretical schools of thought employed in human geography and a more specialist knowledge of one of these
- demonstrate a critical awareness of Human Geography’s conceptual diversity and an awareness of the issues involved in abstract and theoretical debate within the discipline
Subject-specific Skills
- On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
- read subject-specific theoretical arguments critically
- to select relevant subject-specific theoretical arguments for use in later research
- to weigh the relative merits of various subject-specific theoretical schools of thought
- to locate subject-specific theoretical literature in electronic databases and other sources
Key Skills
- On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
- communicate the results of research on a theoretical argument by means of a written essay
- discuss critically theoretical models pertinent to contemporary social science debate
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Lectures will provide the necessary breadth of coverage, overview and study guide required by the aims and objectives. These will be supported by additional reading lists, which will enable the student to build on information provided in the lectures
- Seminars will provide students with the opportunity to discuss and develop ideas covered in the lectures
- The essay will enable candidates to demonstrate their understanding of the issues in one specified area of contemporary human geographical theory
- A two hour unseen examination will enable students to demonstrate their ability to demonstrate their knowledge of and critically evaluate a number of theoretical developments and associated approaches in contemporary human geography
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 13 | Term 1 and 2 | 2 hours | 26 | |
| Seminars | 3 | Term 2 | 1.5 hours | 4.50 | Yes |
| Preparation and Reading | 169.50 | ||||
| Total | 200 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 67% | Unseen end of module examination | 2 hours | 100% | |
| Coursework | 33% | Essay | 5 x A4 pages | 100% |
Formative Assessment
Essay plan with annotated bibliography
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.