GEO2232 : City of Crisis, City of Hope: Amsterdam field course
GEO2232 : City of Crisis, City of Hope: Amsterdam field course
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Caleb Johnston
- Lecturer: Professor Jen Bagelman
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 35 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A.
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| GEO2043 | Key Methods for Human Geographers |
Co Requisite Comment
GEO2043 provides the methodological training that will be applied during fieldwork and group project work.
Aims
This module intends to:
To introduce field techniques in human geography.
To move from the theoretical into the everyday.
To develop skills in analysis, interpretation, and creative methods.
To take inspiration from case studies in which people are responding pressing societal issues.
Provide an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in a number of ways.
Outline Of Syllabus
There will be 4 introductory lectures and workshops at the beginning of term 2.
The field course will aim to take place during the Easter vacation.
Day 0 Travel to Amsterdam
Day 1 Arrival and orientation
Day 2 Community meeting 1, Group project work
Day 3 Community meeting 2
Day 4 Group project work
Day 5 Community meeting 3, Group project work
Day 6 Group project work, presentation
Day 7 Departure
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
The course will provide opportunity to:
Gain understanding of the relationship between crisis and sites of action and innovation.
Hone research skills through experiential education.
Develop media literacy and know how.
Engage methodological experimentation.
Learn from and collaborate with colleagues.
Develop written skills in essay.
Have fun.
Intended Skill Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Work independently.
Plan and collaborate with colleagues in group projects.
Apply concepts.
Connect and analyse qualitative research materials.
Develop new media literacy and skill in a creative geographical method.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Seminar |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 5 | 8:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 110 | 1:00 | 110:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The course intends to provide students with grounding in the spatial, social, historical and methodological issues shaping contemporary Amsterdam. Issues covered may include introduction to the ways in which predictions of crises are driving new innovation and social action on pressing societal issues. The course intends to introduce pre-set readings (and other media) which aim to help students develop their analytic and critical skills. The fieldtrip hopes to revolve around 2 central activities: 1) ‘community encounters’ with different innovators, activists and organisations in Amsterdam, and 2) students’ independent group work organised around a central issue.
Reading Lists
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 15 | 2 | M | 60 | This is an audio documentary created as a group project (10-15 minutes) |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | 40 | This is a 1250-word essay to be completed on selected theme and written prior to field trip. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Assessments aim to enable students to work and think critically and independently. Group research projects ask students to share and develop ideas with their colleagues and to co-operate to design and carry out field work in Amsterdam. The group project work also asks students to develop and demonstrate new digital skills (a podcast or soundscape) which will not be assessed for its technical competence but for its content, its use and integration of existing qualitative skills (i.e. interviews), and understanding of the issue selected for exploration. Written essay require students to develop their own ideas and arguments, putting concepts into practice, find and use relevant literature, and to develop and hone their own writing skills.
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- GEO2232's Timetable
Past Exam Papers
- Exam Papers Online : www.ncl.ac.uk/exam.papers/
- GEO2232's past Exam Papers
General Notes
N/A
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The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2025 academic year.
In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.
Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, staffing changes, and student feedback. Module information for the 2026/27 entry will be published here in early-April 2026. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.