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Global Rural Geographies

  • Module code: GG6030
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 6
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: GG5040 or GG5050 or GG4070/5070
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

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.

Aims

  • Examine and interpret the processes and patterns of contemporary change in the rural areas in both the developing and the developed world.
  • Analyse factors conditioning the restructuring of rural land use, and the economic, social and cultural systems in rural areas across the world.
  • Evaluate the contrasting food production systems shaping rural environments in developed and developing countries.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate contrasting theoretical approaches to rurality and within rural geography;
  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.
  3. Examine the restructuring of agricultural and food production systems across a variety of rural contexts;
  4. Evaluate processes of rural social change, contemporary rural problems and their effective solutions across a variety of rural contexts;
  5. Critically evaluate the effects of international, national and local policies on rural areas;
  6. Extend the key transferable skills of oral presentation and essay-writing.

Curriculum content

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.

  • Theoretical perspectives in rural geography.
  • Concepts and dimensions of rurality.
  • Sustainable rural livelihoods
  • Temperate and tropical farming systems
  • Relationship between local food production systems and global food distribution systems
  • Contemporary restructuring of agricultural systems.
  • Agricultural policy and practice.
  • Agri-environmental schemes and ecosystem services
  • Agricultural diversification
  • Rural social change.
  • Inequality and rural space.
  • Policies and rural lifestyles.

Teaching and learning strategy

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.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

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

Assessment strategy

Summative Assessment

  1.  Unseen Written Exam (50%) - The examination will be essay based. It will assess students' basic understanding and knowledge, and their ability to develop arguments, critically evaluate information and theories and present rationalised conclusions.
  2. Oral presentation (25%) - Students will prepare and deliver an oral presentation based on an identified theme in the lecture programme. The oral presentations will assess oral presentation skills as well as knowledge and understanding.
  3. Essay  (25%) - The essay assignment will assess critical reflection on concepts and theories, library research skills and concise written presentation (will assess learning outcomes 1-6).

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.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

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

Elements of Assessment

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%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module

Bibliography core texts

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

Bibliography recommended reading

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.

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