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GAP1011 - Human Geographies of the modern world

 


Blackmoor Vale, Dorset, England

 


Central business district of
San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

 

 

Course Content

The twenty-first century world that we all inhabit – and its ‘human geographies’ – is not just a product of the ‘modern’ age. Rather, the world as we know it today is the result of diverse social, cultural, political and economic processes, of both gradual change and of occasional revolutions, occurring over many centuries, and ongoing still. This module attempts to make sense of these human geographies of the modern world by analysing three important and interconnected geographical themes: specifically, (1) geopolitics and the changing relations between regions and nation states.; (2) globalism, and past and present local-global connections between individuals and societies; and (3) the changing scales and practices of everyday life in a globalised world. In addition to developing your geographical understanding of the modern world, the module seeks to develop key study and research skills to prepare you for more advanced study in levels two and three.

Learning Outcomes

Identify the range of theoretical perspectives used in Human Geography. Understand how Human Geography can contribute to analyses of contemporary and historical societies. Understand why there is disparity in development across the world. Understand how and why people have sought to develop social theories and put these into practice. Understand the relationships between population, economic opportunities and resources. Understand how geographers have considered the relationships between nature, society and landscape. Realise how considerations of race and gender inform our understanding of culture. 

Lecturers

Dr. Carl Griffin (Convenor)
Dr. Nuala Johnson
Dr. Keith Lilley

Skills

Taught

  • Principles of Human Geography, how society & its variations over space can be and has been scrutinised & understood.

Practiced

  • Essay writing, field observation and interpretation, library & individual study skills, written presentation of material.

Assessed

  • Examination techniques, essays, fieldwork project.

Pre-requisites

None

Supplementary notes

None

Assessment

 Essay
20%
 Essay
20%
 Self guided Fieldwork Project
20%
 Exam (120 minutes)
40%