Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

•       To introduce cutting edge research exploring the human geography of the United Kingdom;

•       To present the range of world-leading geographical scholarship undertaken at Newcastle University;

•       To enable students to develop critical insights into a range of historical and current geographical trends, shaping economics, politics, society and culture in the United Kingdom;

•       To explore the skills required to trace uneven geographical processes;

•       To cultivate a sense of wonder and curiosity at the varied approaches to human geography.

•       To develop an ability to undertaken meaningful fieldwork and connect to the broader learning aims and objectives of the taught materials.

Outline Of Syllabus

NB. Precise titles and order of lectures and seminars are subject to change.

Lecture 1 – Introduction
Lecture 2 – Uneven development
Lecture 3 – Geographies of deindustrialisation
Lecture 4 – Geographies of knowledge intensive industries
Lecture 5 – The changing geographies of Tyneside
Lecture 6 – Fieldwork briefing on “Quayside and Ouseburn Valley”
Fieldwork 1 (Economic geographies)
Buffer/Enrichment Week
Lecture 7 – Social justice and geographies of responsibility
Lecture 8 – Gender, sexuality and place
Lecture 9 – Racism and Islamophobia
Lecture 10 – Race, Place and Migration in the UK
Lecture 11 – Fieldwork Briefing on “unequal play”
Fieldwork 2 (Social geographies)

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to:

•       Understand some of the key spatial variables in the UK economics, society, politics and culture;
•       Understand the range of geographical concepts and theories that have been used to analyse and describe these variations;
•       Understand the significance of geographical approaches to correcting and confronting inequality;
•       Be able to identify key areas of human geographical research at Newcastle University.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the course students will:

•       Have the skills to explain the nature of spatial variations in the human geography of the United Kingdom;
•       Have the ability to identify some of the causes behind these variations and their change over time;
•       Demonstrate an array of fieldwork techniques and forms of analysis;
•       Be able to evaluate the role and limitations of regional geographical approaches within the wider discipline of geography.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module is taught through a mixture of lectures and fieldwork in order to meet the learning outcomes. The fieldwork in the form of student-led small group activity offers an important first experience of fieldwork at this stage 1 level of the geography programme.

It is expected that students will complete this work around Newcastle upon Tyne. The economic and social geographies trips will be based around the city’s Quayside and Ouseburn Valley.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assessed Essays = 2 x 1,000 words based on semester 1 material (2 x 50%).

General Notes

N/A