Module manager: Dr. Peter Doak
Email: p.doak@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 Jul to 31 Aug View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
GPA of 2.5 (US) or equivalent and enrolled at a university
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This introductory social science module that uses the backdrop of Leeds to introduce students to social scientific approaches to the city. Specifically, it explores the city as a social institution that can be understood sociologically. Leeds grew from a small 17th Century settlement to become a quintessential modern industrial city. While this growth was traditionally attributed to the industrial revolution, it cannot be separated from colonisation and Empire. Like other cities the development of Leeds has given rise to a diverse city – a place of great wealth and pronounced social inequalities. Students will learn about cities through a mixture of classroom based workshops, guided walks of the city and self-directed learning.
This module will utilise classroom based (workshop) and field based learning. It intends to:
-Introduce students to typical Western industrial city
-Outline processes of urban development and change
-Introduce and evaluate competing explanations of urban change
-Critically assess universality of Western city
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated achievement of the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Analyse processes of urban development and change
2. Evaluate competing accounts of change within literature
3. Apply key concepts to empirical context of Leeds
4. Problematise universality of western industrial city
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Communicate ideas, arguments and findings in a clear and concise manner (work ready)
6. Demonstrate critical thinking through treatment of source material (work ready)
7. Demonstrate understanding of academic integrity through referencing using Leeds Harvard format. (academic)
8. Production of poster demonstrating digital creativity (digital)
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Fieldwork | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Seminar | 8 | 3 | 24 |
| Independent online learning hours | 15 | ||
| Private study hours | 43 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 42 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Formative feedback will be provided in-class and based on ongoing development of annotated photo album.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Annotated photo album | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Students will be expected to produce an annotated photo album. This will feature a series of photographs which capture urban processes, along with annotations, drawing on academic sources to explain significance.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 2/25/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team