GEOG 7015 - Introduction to Urbanisation

More than 4 billion people - over half of the world’s population - live in urban areas. It is projected that by 2050 our cities will be home to more than two thirds of the population. Urbanisation is one of the most profound demographic and social processes facing the world today. As places where demographic, economic, social and environmental concerns are closely intertwined within urban systems, cities are critical in shaping the lives of current and future generations. This course will guide students through an examination of the key concepts of urbanisation and introduce students to ways by which we can research, understand and synthesise urbanisation processes. During the course, students will be asked to consider the major causal factors influencing urban growth and change in cities, policy interventions used by governments to better manage population flows and increase adaptive capacities of diverse urban populations, and the socio-economic and environmental stresses of urban development. The course will address important concepts in urban studies, including demographic change and migration, social inequality, social justice, urban citizenship, green urbanisation, and environmental risk.