GEO2224 : Urban Sustainability: Barcelona Field Course
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Gareth Powells
- 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 | |
Aims
The Barcelona field course aims to provide students with an opportunity to study critically through a range of research methods the urban geographies of a major European city. In particular, students are encouraged to examine practices, processes and projects of urban re-development and urban sustainability.
Outline Of Syllabus
• Phase One (Term 2):
o Introductory Lectures
o Preparatory group work
• Phase Two:
• If risk assessment permits field trip:
o Week-long field trip
o Assessed Group work
• If risk assessment DOES NOT permit field trip:
o Virtual Urban sustainability class consisting of:
o Guest lectures
o Film screenings
o Clinics
o Online group work
o Online group research presentations
• Phase three (Term 3):
o Individual assessed essay
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 148 | 1:00 | 148:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 5 | 8:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The preliminary lectures will serve as an introduction to Barcelona, the relevant urban sustainability and urban development concepts as well as the practicalities of studying in the field.
Fieldwork projects in Barcelona will be student-led and will be supported by study visits, guest talks and lectures, structured workshops and seminars.
Students are expected to be proactive in taking full advantage of the learning opportunities in the field trip, and to represent the University positively at all times. Students will be given a timetable for the week on arrival and must attend and participate in every scheduled session. Misconduct conduct or lack of attendance, particularly where it is linked with alcohol or substance use, may lead to disciplinary action.
On return to the UK, students should dedicate time to further reading for and production of the assessed written work.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 0 | 2 | M | 25 | Group presentation of field project to peers: Groups will present their work to other students at the end of the field visit |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | 75 | Fieldwork paper (3,000 words): Independent academic paper on an aspect of the field work in Barcelona |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 2 | M | Group presentation during final lecture before the fieldtrip. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Group presentations presented at a student research conference at the end of the field trip will allow students to engage in debates with their peers and reflect on learning in the field and to collect feedback on their work before writing. The presentations present an opportunity to assess and give feedback on students’ presentation and communication skills as well as their contribution to a collaborative project.
Students are expected to produce an academic fieldwork essay based on further independent study upon returning home from the field. This work will be undertaken independently in Term 3.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- GEO2224's Timetable