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Module Specifications

Archived Version 2019 - 2020

Module Title
Module Code
School

Online Module Resources

NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Description

This module provides an introduction to some of the key concepts, seminal thinkers, theories and contemporary debates in Human Geography. It details the significance of the rise, reign and faltering of the ‘West’ over the past 500 years in shaping the key social, economic, political, demographic, environmental and cultural processes evident across the globe both historically and in the present day. These concepts and themes will be illustrated using a wide range of case studies that explore human geographies which are being made today in both Western and non-Western regions, including Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, seminal thinkers and their theories in the field of Human Geography
2. Trace the story of uneven development globally in an historical and contemporary perspective.
3. Describe and explain key trends in contemporary population geography.
4. Detail historical and contemporary urbanisation processes.
5. Develop skills in accessing, interpreting and presenting geographical data.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture24Attendance at lectures
Independent Study60Personal reading and study for examination
Assignment Completion40Preparation for quizzes and/or written assignment and completion of same
Assignment Completion1Formal Examination
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introducing human geographies

An unequal world: introducing human geographies

Human geography: a brief history

Population geography: the modern rise in world population, demographic transition

Environmental geography in the context of population growth: carrying capacity, ‘natural’ disasters [linking with Physical Geography module]

Population geography: the modern rise in world population, demographic transition

Urbanisation and urban growth: the rise of the urban industrial city, planetary urbanisation trends, slums and megacities in the Global South

Environmental geography in the context of population growth: carrying capacity, ‘natural’ hazards

Nation states, empires and geopolitics: the rise and fall of European empires, the European colonial (mis)adventure in Africa

Economic geographies and global inequalities

The global economy – OIDL and NIDL, Wallerstein’s World-Systems Analysis, world cities, Tiger economies of South-east Asia

Global migration patterns

Urbanisation and urban growth:
colonial urbanisation, the rise of the urban industrial city, planetary urbanisation trends, slums and megacities in the Global South

Nation states, empires and geopolitics:
the rise and fall of European empires, the European colonial (mis)adventure in Africa

Cultural geography: place, space and landscape

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable
Indicative Reading List

  • Boyle, M: 2015, Human Geography: a concise introduction, Wiley-Blackwell,
  • Gregory D: 2009, The Dictionary of Human Geography (5th edition), Wiley Blackwell,
  • Cloke P, Crang M, and Goodwin M (eds.): 2014, Introducing Human Geographies (3rd edition), Routledge,
Other Resources

23913, 0, Online learning resources will be made available via Loop,
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