SSJ38260 Social justice and the city

Academic Year 2020/2021

This module focuses on one of the key social justice challenges in the contemporary city. Housing crises are increasingly common in cities around the world. In Ireland this crisis is particularly acute; we face major issues with supply, affordability and homelessness. Indeed, it can sometimes seem that the richer a society becomes, the more difficult it is for people to access affordable housing. This throws up a number of questions around the economics and politics of housing: what value do we place on housing in contemporary societies? How do housing markets work and why do they fail? Can governments shape housing markets for the better, and if so how? How, as a society, should we provide housing? In this module, students will learn how to respond to all these questions based on social scientific concepts and empirical evidence.

A social justice perspective can both explain and critically analyze the current housing crisis. It can also develop creative, imaginative and realistic solutions to this crucial 21st century challenge. In doing so, we take the view that home is a fundamental human need; it is something that none of us can live without.

This module is also about concrete solutions. It engages with the challenge of creating socially just city in ways which engage directly with the real world problems faced by cities

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the social, economic and political processes that shape housing in the contemporary city
2. Understand issues of social justice and inequality in relation to housing in the contemporary city
3. Ability to critically analyze specific housing issues and policies
4. Develop skills in applying academic knowledge to address real world problems
5. Develop skills in communicating academic evidence and analysis

Indicative Module Content:

Housing markets, housing policy, the Irish housing system, the politics of housing, urban development

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Total

24
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning; lectures; enquiry & problem-based learning; debates; case-based learning; 
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
Assignment: Final Project Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

70
Assignment: Essay Week 7 n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
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?

Not yet recorded.