HGO4203 – Sustainable Urban Transformations
Course content
This course aims to explore challenges and policies related to urban sustainability transformations. Emphasis is placed on the social, cultural and spatial aspects of these challenges and policies. The course involves the analysis of theories about urban sustainability and policy transformations, but also the linking of theories and knowledge on urban sustainability transitions and transformations to ongoing policies and practices. This involves field visits and dialogues with stakeholders, as well as student projects focusing on the challenges of putting theory into practice. The course relates to urbanization and urbanism as a global process, and includes literature, insights and perspectives from different parts of the world. The main themes covered by the course are:
- urban sustainability challenges (energy, climate and inequality)
- urban structural transformations (urbanization, land use, infrastructures and energy)
- transition in urban practices and cultures (social world views, lifestyles, practices, institutions and path dependencies)
- urban policy transformations (policies, planning and interventions, at different scales)
Learning outcome
Knowledge goals
You will be able to:
- account for and discuss key concepts and theories related to urban sustainability
- explain the relations between theories of transformations and policies and practices
Skills attainment goals
- account for, discuss and critique concepts and theories in a sophisticated manner.
- connect these theories, and critiques thereof, to specific cases and concrete settings in the field.
- write and present a paper relating these theories to, either (i) collected data material, or (ii) specific policies, projects and practices within the field of urban sustainability.
General competences
You will be able to:
- assess specific situations and challenges involving urban sustainability and sustainable transformations based on theoretically grounded knowledge on this field.
- communicate knowledge-based insights and analysis both verbally and in writing.
- contribute to the new creative and independent thinking about urban sustainability issues.
Admission to the course
This course is part of the master's programme in Human Geography. Students from other relevant master’s degree programmes can apply for admission to this course as guest students.
Recommended previous knowledge
This course builds on SGO2302 - Environment and society (SOSGEO2301 - Environment and society), SGO2100 - Bygeografi og urbanisme and SGO3500 - Byers struktur og utvikling at the bachelor level in Human Geography. However, sitting examinations in these courses it is not a prerequisite for taking this course.
Teaching
Teaching in this course is lecture and seminar based, but also involves excursions, field visits, panel conversations and dialogues with actors working in the field of policy and practice. In the seminars students are expected to prepare for and take part in exercises and discussions.
Compulsory instruction and coursework
- Participation in the seminars is compulsory. Valid absence is allowed for a maximum of 2 seminars.
- It is compulsory to give a presentation of a relevant case, based on field notes or investigations done during the course.
Completed and approved compulsory course work is valid as long as the course is offered. Students who have failed to complete the compulsory attendance cannot take the exam.
Absence from compulsory tuition activities
If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory tuition activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The exam for HGO4302 is a research paper or an investigation related to the themes of the course. The course coordinator will approve the aim, outline and empirical basis for the research paper/investigation within a set deadline. The basis for the paper will be collected data or information, or experience, observations and field notes during the course. The literature may be based on both the list of recommended reading for this course and other literature.
The length of the research paper is maximum 4000 words (plus references).
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English. You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.