GEOG31070 Social Geography

Academic Year 2023/2024

Social geography explores the interconnection between people and the places they live through their interactions with others and objects in these spaces. Our social lives and identities create and are shaped by the spaces of our social worlds. Through examining how power operates within these worlds, social geography offers critical insights into how the social is experienced unevenly by diverse social groupings. In taking the social as its focus of study, social geography takes a spatial approach to exploring core social issues affecting our present, past and future worlds. This module offers students the opportunity to explore how where we are matters in shaping the lives of individuals in diverse social groups. Bringing ideas to life through scholarly engagements with concepts as well as practical activities, students will have the opportunity to focus on social issues of their interest. Engaging with key contemporary and historical issues in social geographies, students will be encouraged to work in groups and develop research skills that help us to understand society around us. Engaging key scholars, students will investigate social issues relating to a range of social groups in Ireland and elsewhere around the world. Overall, students will use a spatial lens to critically interrogate social issues, to learn the important contributions the study of social geographies brings to contemporary and historical debates, developing an understanding of societies as created through power relations governing diverse groups of people.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students will:

• Have an understanding of ideas and issues in social geographies
• Have a broad awareness of methods in this areas
• Be able apply these conceptual knowledges and practical tools to analyse their choice of a current social issues.
• Work effectively within a group.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

4
Autonomous Student Learning

78
Online Learning

18
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures: Lectures will be delivered in-person during timetabled slots. All lectures will include time for class and/or small group discussions and Q+As, where students will be able to engage in class discussions to further their understanding of the theories and issues being explored. Students are expected to attend all lectures and engage with all lecture materials put online.

Assessed Activities: The coursework includes 2 individual assignments and 1 final report. All coursework assignments are fully detailed under the assessment tab in Brightspace, as well as within each Block in Brightspace and in the module descriptor.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Project: 2000 word final report, with assessed appendices Week 12 n/a Graded No

60
Portfolio: Activity 1. All activities outlined in week by week guide with full details on Brightspace Week 3 n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

10
Portfolio: Activity 2: All assignments will be detailed in the module handbook and on Brightspace Week 7 n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

- Group feedback on common issues arising from the written assignments will be provided on brightspace. - Timely individualised feedback will be provided on written assignments. - Students are welcome to meet with the module coordinator during office hours (virutally) if more detailed feedback / further clarification is required. Please note: The UCD standard for feedback is within 20 working days, i.e. 5 weeks. We will endeavour to return assignments that are completed on time within 2-3 weeks, and where possible before the next assignment is due. Assignments handed in late will be subject to University timescales. This may mean that if you hand in your assignment late, another assignment will need to be completed, before the original one is marked. This will also be the case with the final project report, i.e. if you complete the assignments late, you may not have feedback in time to use it for your final project report.

Name Role
Andrew McCartan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Andrew McCartan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn