Sustainability in the urban realm: city/neighbourhood/home, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Science for Sustainable Development
• Master's Programme in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in one of the following areas: natural sciences, social sciences, humanities or engineering
• 15 ECTS credits passed in Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development or equivalent
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6) 
  Exemption from Swedish. 

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course the students should on an advanced level be able to:

• describe and compare urban environmental issues on different geographical levels using theoretical tools from the course
• identify critical urban environmental issues related to local management
• identify and critically assess research in the area of urban environmental issues
• present in writing and orally interdisciplinary case studies on environmental management in the urban realm.

Course content

This course is grounded in current international research on the urban environment in for example postcolonial studies, political geography, policy studies, system studies and other urban studies. Empirical fields that will be covered include: urban infrastructures for transportation, energy, waste and water, planning and development of the build environment. Different policy and management approaches to the issues raised during the course will be presented and discussed. Concrete international case studies will be presented and discussed.

The course will focus on sustainability on and between different geographical levels of the urban realm: cities, neighbourhoods and homes. The themes that will be covered include:

• Sustainability and power relations in planning and development of cities/towns.
• Issues related to connection/disconnection between different parts (neighbourhoods) of the city/town and the consequences.
• Stakeholder (householders, management etc) activities related to homes.

Teaching and working methods

Lectures, excursion, seminars and oral presentations.Homework and independent study are a necessary complement to the course. Language of instruction: English

Examination

The course is examined through active participation in seminars, written papers and oral presentations. Detailed information about the examination can be found in the course’s study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

About teaching and examination language

The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows: 

• If teaching language is “Swedish”, the course as a whole could be given in Swedish, or partly, or as a whole, in English. Examination language is Swedish, but parts of the examination can be in English.
• If teaching language is “English”, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
• If teaching language is “Swedish/English”, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English depending on teaching language.

Department