This module is core in the Human Geography field. This module can be taken as an option module in several fields provided they have successfully passed Regional Geographies, Social and Cultural Geographies or Contours of Capitalism at level 5. It aims to provide students with an understanding of contemporary debates relating to rural areas in both the developed and developing world. It examines the processes and patterns of contemporary change in rural regions and analyses the factors conditioning the restructuring of rural land use and rural economic, social and cultural systems across the world.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
The module engages with rural geographical issues in both developed and developing countries. Changing rural livelihoods, in particular agricultural production systems, provide the context underpinning economic, social and cultural change.
This module is delivered through a variety of lectures and seminars. Lectures are designed to introduce students to the key features of each topic and to lay the preparatory ground for the application of knowledge and expanded discussion via the seminars. Students will further engage with key topics by being encouraged to lead seminar discussion.
Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | Formal lectures Seminars Presentations | 32 15 6 |
Guided independent study | Assignments and private study | 247 |
Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 |
Summative Assessment
A range of formative assessments will be undertaken in class and during independent study. Students will be encouraged to lead specific seminars. This will provide them with invaluable feedback informing their performance in their oral presentations. In addition, students will be expected to produce an essay plan which will be formatively assessed and will directly enlighten their summatively assessed essay. On-going discussion with the module leader will assist students in the development of strategies for improvement and enhancement. Students will also be made aware of their rate and level of progress through discussions in the seminar sessions and through the production of essay plans and progress updates.
Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
---|---|
1.Critically contrasting theoretical approaches to rurality and within rural geography. | 1, 2, 3 |
2. Critically assess rural restructuring in the context of the wider global political-economy and explore the changing relations between the rural economy, agriculture and the environment. | 1, 2, 3 |
3. Examine the restructuring of agricultural and food production systems across a variety of rural contexts. | 1, 2, 3 |
4.Evaluate processes of rural social change, contemporary rural problems and their effective solutions across a variety of rural contexts; | 1, 2, 3 |
5.Critically evaluate the effects of international, national and local policies on rural areas; | 1,2,3 |
6.Extend the key transferable skills of oral presentation and essay-writing. | 2,3 |
Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Written Exam | 3 hour exam | 50% |
Practical Exam | ||
Coursework | Oral Presentation (25%) Essay (25%) | 50% |
Total (to equal 100%) | 100% |
It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module
Woods, M. (2011) Rural; London: Routledge. .
World Bank (2007) World development report 2008 : agriculture for development.
Ingram, P., Ericksen, P., and Liverman, D. 2010 Food security and global environmental change. London: Routledge
Cloke, P. (2003) Country Visions, Harlow: Pearson.
Holloway, L. and Kneafsey, M. (2003) Geographies of Rural Cultures and Societies, Aldershot: Ashgate.
Jones, S. and Carswell, G. (2004) The Earthscan reader in environment, development and rural livelihoods.
Lyons, K, Wallingston, T. and Lawrence, G. (Eds). 2010 Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainability . London: Earthscan
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society B (2010) 'Food security: feeding the world in 2050' compiled and edited by H. Charles J. Godfray, John R. Beddington, Ian R. Crute, Lawrence Haddad, David Lawrence, James F. Muir, Jules Pretty, Sherman Robinson and Camilla Toulmin September 27, 2010; 365 (1554)
Rigg, J., 2007 An Everyday Geography of the Gobal South. Routledge.
Robinson, G. (2003) Geographies of Agriculture: globalisation, restructuring and sustainability, Harlow: Pearson.
Wilson, G. A. (2011) Community resilience and environmental transitions. Routledge.