Postgraduate Course: Urban Ecologies (PGGE11174)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This subject will serve postgraduate students taking taught or research degrees with an emphasis on environment & development, society & environment, or environmental sustainability, all of which are core themes in existing PGT programmes in the School of GeoSciences. There is likely to also be a demand among urban studies students in the CHSS (MSc in the City) and emergent CHSS programmes in sustainability. The course will offer advanced level training about the interface between social and physical processes relevant to urban areas. This would include: (1) what is an urban ecology? (2) the city and climate change; (3) urban micro-climates; (4) urban hydrologies $ú water sheds, water quality, water dependency, sanitation and supply; (5) energy and the city $ú heat sinks etc; (6) green space and the city; (7) waste and the city: landfill, recycling etc; (8) urban environment and well-being; (9) governance and urban ecology; (10) sustainable cities; (11) ecological urban futures. The course will also draw on explicit urban case studies, from both history and present, First World and Third World. The course will uniquely deliver materials from the perspective of both the physical and the social scientist, acknowledging and showcasing the need for such conversational knowledge production in understanding urban ecologies. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
A student completing this course will be able to demonstrate and understanding of:
- What is meant by the term $ùurban ecologies&©, and the history and current use of the term;
- The range of environmental and ecological issues currently facing cities in various contexts;
- The uneven impacts of ecological problems with respect to development;
- Strategies currently adopted to resolve or govern processes or problems adversely affecting urban ecologies;
- The relevance of multi and inter-disciplinary thinking to understanding and resolving urban ecology issues;
At the end of this course students will be able to:
- research and synthesis key debates and arguments with respect to urban ecologies;
- Understand to a meaningful level the science behind many of the urban ecological problems currently faced;
- Present ideas in written and visual formats.
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Assessment Information
| 3000 essay or technical report |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
The core of this course is understanding the environmental and ecological problems facing contemporary cities, and specifically how cities exacerbate and create environmental problems, resulting in significant social impacts and responsibilities of scientific problem solving and governance.
The primary assessment will be by essay so students need advanced level skills in researching, the critical synthesis of ideas and writing.
Although the course draws on both physical and social science knowledges they will be pitched in a way that advanced specialist knowledge is not required.
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| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Urban Ecology environmental sustainability |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jane Jacobs
Tel: (0131 6)50 2515
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Caroline Keir
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: |
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