Sweden´s social geography, 7.5 Credits

Contents

This course introduces you to the range of possible topics in social geography. In the course we will use the term "social" to mean virtually all interactions among human beings. Therefore, "social" can refer to political, economic, or cultural issues, as well as those more conventionally thought of as social. Because we are casting such a broad net, the course will range widely across issues such as health, migration, demography, rurality, and globalization, with a particular focus on Sweden and the Swedish welfare system.

Social geography takes a spatial approach to understanding society. It starts from the premise that geography and social relationships are inescapably linked. People are not floating randomly in some sort of detached ether, interacting with each other only based on class, or race, or gender. They are rooted in a real geography that has a profound influence on their social relationships. Understanding how society and geography interact is the central goal of this course.

Expected learning outcomes

After completing the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding
1. Explain general theoretical approaches in human geography.
2. Describe basic theories and concepts in social geography covered in the course.

Skills and abilities
3. Collecting geographical information and data, for example, via interviews or  statistical databases, and conduct basic summaries of this information.
4. Write written reports, individually and in groups, and present it orally in accordance with the instructions and deadlines.

Judgement and approach
5. Apply social geographical theories on changes in population and migration patterns and welfare.
6. Illustrate how economic and political processes and power structures at the local, regional, national and global levels affect individuals and communities living conditions and freedom of action.

Required Knowledge

Form of instruction

The course uses a problem-based learning approach. Instruction will consist of lectures, seminars, a group assignment, and a written individual assignment. Participation at seminars and assignments is obligatory. It is a halftime course. The spoken and written language of the course is English.

Examination modes

The examination consists of

Three Seminars (U/G)
One written group report (U/G)
One group presentation (U/G)
A report written individually (U/G/VG)

The grades used are: Fail (U), Pass (G), and Pass with distinction (VG). To pass the course and receive a grade, all examinations must be completed and receive a Pass grade. A Pass with distinction grade on the individually written report is required to get the course grade Pass with distinction. Students may receive the grades A-FX upon request.

Examiners may decide to deviate from the modes of assessment in the course syllabus. Individual adaption of modes of assessment must give due consideration to the student's needs. The adaption of modes of assessment must remain within the framework of the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus. Students who require an adapted examination must submit a request to the department holding the course no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adaption of the examination, after which the student will be notified.

It is not possible to appeal against a received grade, i.e., to get it examined by a higher authority, but a student can always criticize the grading or ask the examiner to reconsider the examination.

Students who have passed an examination cannot redo the examination to receive a higher grade. For students who have not passed an ordinary examination occasion, a new occasion for examination (a resit) is offered according to Umeå University's Grading and examination regulations for first- and second-cycle studies (Regulation FS 1.1.2-553-14). A resit shall be offered no later than two months after the ordinary examination occasion, but no less than ten working days after the results of the ordinary examination have been announced. For examinations conducted during the months of May and June, the first resit may be offered within three months after the ordinary examination occasion.

A student who on two occasions has failed an examination has the right to have another examiner appointed if there are no specific reasons for not doing so (HF chap. 6, §22). Such a request shall be processed as soon as possible. A written request for an alternative examiner should be handed to the director of undergraduate studies.

ACADEMIC CREDIT TRANSFER

Credit transfer is always examined individually.