Course syllabus for Urban inequalities

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-13 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameUrbana orättvisor
  • CodeACE390
  • Credits5 Credits
  • OwnerMPDSD
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 17114
  • Maximum participants26 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Minimum participants8
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0123 Written and oral assignments 5 c
Grading: TH		 5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites


Aim

The aim of the course is to further the students’ knowledge about power perspectives shaping the city, and ultimately the society we live in. The course provides the student with knowledge of how economic, social, ecological, and political preconditions shape how we currently think about, plan and reproduce the city; what the consequences of these preconditions are for individuals as well as the society; but also, how one could think differently about these processes as an architect and planner. The course trains students in asking critical questions concerning how architects and planners can relate to urban inequalities in order to contribute to a more just world. The course trains the student’s ability to use source texts as a basis for formulating a research question, an individual position, and a line of argument. It also trains the student in analysing arguments laid out in other texts, and appropriately use citation, references, and bibliography.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding

  • The student can describe, refer to and analyse theoretical texts on urban inequalities, reflect over how they relate to a sustainable development, and demonstrate an understanding of their usefulness for urban planning and design.

Competence and skills

  • The student can formulate an independent standpoint based on arguments laid out in the course literature and other texts, develop this standpoint in an academic text, and appropriately use citation, references, and a bibliography.

Judgement and approach

  • The student can demonstrate an ability to critically relate to a scientific field identified by conflicting scientific, societal, political, and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an ability to take into account the needs of society and all people.
  • The student can demonstrate an ability to relate knowledge concerning urban inequalities to the development of a future professional role.

Content

The course explores specific theoretical trajectories dealing with urban inequalities through literature seminars based on themes such as equality, gender, and democracy in the city; segregation and gentrification; and political urban governing and ecological challenges.

Organisation

The course consists of an introductory lecture presenting the theme of the course as well as reflections on academic writing. The main part of the course consists of 3-5 literature seminars based on specific sets of mandatory texts which are read and discussed both in class and in smaller groups, as well as smaller assignments for each literature seminar. The course also contains meetings for individual tutoring. The literature list provides suggestions for further readings, to enhance each student’s choice of a theme for the individual assignment.

Literature

The course description lists all mandatory and optional literature. These may vary between years

Examination including compulsory elements

Each student must hand in an individual academic text of 2000-2200 words, complete with references and a bibliography at the end of the course. Students are required to participate actively in a minimum of 80% of the seminars and shall hand in assignments prior to the literature seminars. Grading depends on the level of ability to apply theoretical knowledge. Mainly descriptive texts are graded 3; text that show a more analytical ability are graded 4; text that demonstrate a deeper analytical and argumentative ability are graded 5. Texts that are not meeting the word requirement, not handed in in time, not referring to any of the course literature, or do not demonstrate that the student has met the learning objectives to a satisfying level will be failed.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.