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City Lives unit (HGA341)

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Unit year 2026

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Location: Online

Introduction

City Lives brings together practical skills in urban analysis and observation to promote critical consideration of the pressing urban issues of our times. In particular, this unit tackles contemporary issues of urban inclusion, exclusion, diversity, and creativity. It interrogates who and what is given ‘place’ in the city and the norms which shape urban governance, encounter, interaction, and resistance. Foregrounding urban social theory focused on race, gender and inequality, City Lives engages with intersecting explanations for the current structure of life in cities and what is needed to promote sociospatial inclusion and liveability into the future. The unit locates theoretical thinking in local and international examples of urban poverty, stigma, disaster, activism and innovation, with a focus on how the communities, identities, and bodies of city dwellers are enabled, disabled, celebrated and erased in cityspace.

Summary

Unit name City Lives
Unit code HGA341
Credit points 12.5
College/School Arts and Society
Humanities and Social Sciences
Discipline Sociology and Criminology
Coordinator Associate Professor Catherine Robinson
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Advanced

Sustainable Development Goals

The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Online Semester 2 This unit is available through off-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
  • Key:
  • This unit is available through on-campus delivery On-campus
  • This unit is available through off-campus delivery Off-Campus
  • Available to International Students International students
  • Available to Domestic Students Domestic students
Note

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Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 2 5/7/2026 27/7/2026 30/8/2026 24/10/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain contemporary urban social theory to inform understanding of cities and city dwellers.
  • Utilise observational research methods reflexively to investigate urban social spaces.
  • Analyse observed urban social spaces independently using a theoretically informed approach.
  • Communicate effectively and accurately in written work.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
090301 $2,174.00 $1,020.00 not applicable $2,562.00
  • Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
  • HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
  • FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

25 points at introductory level in any discipline in any faculty

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

Weekly online lecture

Weekly online tutorial

Weekly reading and tutorial preparation

Independent learning activities (including weekly observation activity and reflections)

Independent learning activities (including observation fieldwork)

Assessment work

AssessmentReading the city (20%)|Problematising the city (40%)|Solving the city (40%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

There are no required textbooks for this unit.  Essential and recommended readings will be set each week and will be available via quick links in the weekly MyLO content and through a Reading List for the unit.  Questions to help guide your critical engagement with essential readings will also be set each week.

It is expected that you have thoroughly engaged with weekly essential readings prior to undertaking Thinking-Doing Tasks and attending weekly online tutorials.

Reading Lists provide direct access to all material on unit reading lists in one place. This includes eReadings and items in Reserve. You can access the Reading List for this unit from the link in MyLO, or by going to the Reading Lists page on the University Library website.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.