THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Geography

Undergraduate Course: Social and Cultural Geography (GEGR08004)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummarySocial and Cultural Geography considers why geography matters to the analysis and understanding of social relations as well as cultural identities and values. The course will explore a number of key themes which are central to the practice of contemporary social and cultural geography, including inequality and difference, society, nature, and landscape, space and consumption, and mobility. A variety of local, national and international case studies will be used to illustrate how social inequalities are made, and how identities are negotiated, through categories such as class, gender, sexuality, health, disability, and 'race'. The overriding concern of the course is to show how, and consider why, social structures, cultural meaning, and material circumstance are linked. In particular, we will explore the way social inequalities are not only made (through the unequal distribution of incomes and wealth) but also legitimised and contested as individuals and groups struggle over meanings and representations.

The course will be taught using a mixture of lectures and tutorials supported by a range of on-line material. The lectures will alert you to the main themes and ideas associated with the study of social and cultural geographies. The tutorials will enable you to explore these themes in a group setting in which you will be asked to draw upon your own observations, experiences and readings. You will also be guided through a programme of directed reading which is designed to feed into tutorials, essays, and the degree examination.
This course is open to all university students: priority for places is given to students on the Geography degree programmes and Sustainable Development.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Human Geography (GEGR08007)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  148
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 160 )
Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) Students are required to pass both the degree coursework and the exam in order to pass the course.
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam: 60%, Course Work: 40 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
One 2000 word Critical Analysis = 30%, One two-hour examination (2 questions) = 60%, Tutorial Participation = 10%

Students are expected to pass their degree essay and exam to pass the course.
Feedback Feedback will be provided throughout the course through informal interactions with members of the teaching team, the Course Assistant and the tutors, in the lectures and tutorials, via the weekly tutorial summaries, and class and degree assessments. A post-course feedback session in Semester 1 the following academic year will enable students to obtain feedback on their degree essay and exam scripts. Those who need to re-sit either Parts One or Two of the Degree Assessment are encouraged to speak with a member of the teaching team before the relevant re-sit date/deadline

Students can expect to receive weekly feedback on their tutorial participation. Students can expect to receive written feedback on their class assessment one week after submission.

Students are welcome to approach their tutor, the Course Assistant and/or members of the teaching team for personalised feedback or to discuss any issue relating to the course at any point during the semester. For issues arising after the course has finished students should speak with a member of the lecturing staff.

Students are expected to use the feedback provided to enhance their learning and to improve their written submissions and participation in tutorial discussions.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. encourage you to develop your oral and written communication skills, including discussion in tutorial groups and the development of essay writing skills
  2. provide you with a broad understanding of core concepts and current debates in social and cultural geography, which will provide a foundation for more specialised Year 3 and 4 courses
  3. encourage effective group working and individual study
  4. develop your skills of constructive criticism and analysis
  5. encourage the formation of independent opinions and develop the your ability to know when these opinions are worth defending and when they might better be revised
Reading List
A variety of reading is recommended throughout the course including textbooks and academic papers.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Students will be able to demonstrate skills in interdisciplinary analysis, drawing upon different analytical perspectives within contemporary social and cultural geography, and a broader historical context.

Finally, students will be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
KeywordsGEGR08004,social and cultural,health,justice,cosumption,cities,nature
Contacts
Course organiserDr Marisa Wilson
Tel: (131 6)51 4634
Email: marisa.wilson@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Kirsty Allan
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: Kirsty.Allan@ed.ac.uk
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