Human Geography is a dynamic discipline, changing its orientation and preoccupations in response to internal debates and external pressures As a consequence, the ‘big questions’ geography asks, and seeks to answer, are always changing. This module identifies the key debates and issues that the discipline is exploring in the contemporary era. It does so by focusing on key sub-disciplinary areas that form the basis for modules in the second and third year of the degree (e.g. economic geography, social geography, cultural geography, political geography), and illustrating the key internal debates and external pressures that are driving the development of the discipline. 

1. Appreciate the key questions that drive human geography in the twenty first century.
2. Understand and articulate the similarities and differences between different sub-disciplines within human geography.
3. Understand the key theoretical ideas and empirical processes that dominate within different sub-disciplines of human geography in the present context.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamic nature of human geography and the contemporary questions the discipline is seeking to engage with.

The module will be delivered through a lecture series. Lectures will be supplemented by Learning Central (e-learning) support. There will be compulsory guided reading associated with each topic to supplement and deepen the taught component.

1. Critically engaging with the big questions in human geography
2. Communicating ideas and arguments effectively through written presentations.
3. Discussing complex ideas verbally.
4. Connecting theoretical materials with case-studies.

Type of assessment

Autumn Semester - Individual Essay 50% - A critical engagement with the materials delivered in the Autumn Semester - 2000words

Learning outcomes - 1,2,3,4

Spring Semester - Individual Essay 50% - A critical engagement with the materials delivered in the Spring Semester - 2000 words

Learning outcomes 1,2,3,4

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

Re-assessment

Students are permitted to be reassessed in a module which they have failed, in line with University regulations. https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/teaching-and-supporting-students/teaching-support/academic-regulations. You will only be reassessed on the components of the module in which you have failed. The format of the reassessment will be the same as the original assessment and will take place in the Summer re-sit period.

The syllabus will include lectures on a wide variety of introductory topics in Human Geography. Possible lecture topics include:

• Political Geography
• Social Geography
• Cultural Geography
• Economic Geography
• Development Geography
• Geography and Mobility
• Geographies of Nature and Environment
• Geographies of Consumption
• Citizen Geographies
• Public Geographies
• Geography and Social Justice
• Geography and Housing

Cloke, P., Crang, P. and Goodwin, M. 2014 Introducing Human Geographies, 3^rd Edition Hodder Arnold: London  

Gregory, D., Johnston, R., Pratt, G., Watts, M. and Whatmore, S. eds. 2009 The Dictionary of Human Geography, 5^th Edition Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester

Gregory, D., Johnston, R., Pratt, G., Watts, M. and Whatmore, S. eds. 2009 The Dictionary of Human Geography, 5^th Edition Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester 

Agnew, J. and Duncan, J.S. eds. 2011 The Wiley-Blackwell companion to Human Geography, Wiley: Blackwell: Oxford

Agnew, J. Mitchell, K. Toal, G. eds. 2007 A Companion to Political Geography. Wiley Blackwell: Oxford.

Del Casino, V. Thomas, M. Cloke, P. Panelli, R. 2011 A Companion to Social Geography. Wiley Blackwell: Oxford.

Johnson, N. Schein, R. Winders, J. eds 2013 The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Cultural Geography. Wiley Blackwell: Oxford.

Barnes, T. Peck, J. Sheppard, E. eds 2012 The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Economic Geography. Wiley Blackwell: Oxford.