HUMN 7042 Space, Place and the Field

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102295

Coordinator Stephen Healy Opens in new window

Description This subject explores the relevance and application of the 'spatial turn' across social sciences and humanities disciplines. It examines various ways of thinking spatially, theorizing processes that shape urban space, and researching in place. Through concrete engagements with Sydney as a living laboratory it explores how the spatial turn adds to and counters dominant ways of thinking that privilege temporality or deep structure. Space, Place and the Field is analysed at varying scales, including from bodies to species, streets to cities, interpersonal to macro politics, drawing on the wealth of social, cultural, economic and environmental studies of Sydney.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Human Geography

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate program.

Assumed Knowledge

Undergraduate degree in the Social Sciences or equivalent.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  1. Examine and assess current debates about space and place in social analysis
  2. Define and apply methods for qualitative and quantitative spatial analysis
  3. Explain and conduct different approaches to field-based data collection.

Subject Content

Key concepts and traditions in geographic thought
Environmental determinism then and now
Cultural ecology then and now
Regionalism
Spatial science: Sydney?fs Social Atlas
Field observations
Inequality and urban geography
Humanistic geography and phenomenology
Gender and the city
Power, diversity and difference on the street
Materialities and the more than human city

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Presentation 10 minutes 15 N Individual
Report 2,000 words 35 N Individual
Essay 3,000 words 50 N Individual

Teaching Periods