COURSE TITLE: Urban Sociology and Politics ENVSGO50	
COURSE TUTOR:  Susan Batty 	
YEAR: MSc/MPhil 1	TERM(S): 1 	
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS: Dr Donald McNeill	
	
TEACHING & LEARNING METHODS
Hours of student’s time (Total = 100)	
Lectures	10	Seminars/workshops	10	Tutorials		
Private reading	40	Essays/projects	40	Site visits/field trips		

AIMS 

This course explores the key concepts and theories underlying the study of cities 
and society, urban politics, local governance and urban policy. The course explains 
the workings of local political and social institutions. It aims to develop an 
understanding of the interacting roles of key actors in social and political arenas 
and to make their assumptions and values explicit. It addresses issues of urban 
change and the development of relevant policy on the basis of a critical 
understanding of theories of urban sociology and political science and provides a 
forum to debate these contributions to planning practice and procedures.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

•	An ability to understand and develop a critical awareness of the main social and 
political debates of relevance to planners;
•	A capacity to work with decision-makers in the public and private sectors.

TOPICS COVERED

Sessions 1-5: Urbanisation; factors affecting the development of cities; 
                       Urban sociology, competing concepts and theories; 
                       Implications of social science for policy development and evaluation; 
                       Seminar on the contribution of the sociologist to an understanding of 
                       planning issues.

Sessions 6-10:Government at the local level; competing theories of democracy and 
                        local governance; Key actors in local governance; Seminar on the 
                        contribution of the political scientist to an understanding of 
                        planning issues.

KEY SKILLS	
Conceptual/intellectual &
problem definition		Problem solving		Synthesis & application of 
knowledge to practice		
Written communication		Interpersonal communication		Oral presentation		
Quantitative & 
qualitative analysis		Research & data
Collection		IT competence		
Design/spatial awareness		Management skills	√	Creativity		

ASSESSMENT

Coursework:  100                 %                                     Written examination:      None

Description of assessment(s):

Two term papers each of 2,500 words.

Criteria for Assessment(s):

•	Knowledge and critical understanding of key concepts and ideas
•	Analysis of the issues and an ability to offer solutions
•	Clear and logical presentation and defence of arguments

ASSESSMENT TIMETABLE
	
Assessment Title	Week given out	Week of deadline	Week of return/
Feedback (no more than 3 weeks after deadline)	
Essay 1	Week 1, Term 1	Week 7, Term 1	Week 1, Term 2	
Essay 2	Week 7, Term 1	Week 11, Term 1	Week 1, Term 2	

INDICATIVE READING

King D and G. Stoker (1996) Rethinking Local Democracy Basingstoke: Macmillan
Judge D, G.Stoker and H.Wolman (1995) Theories of Urban Politics London:Sage
Rallings et al (1994) Community Identity and Participation in Local Democracy CLD