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Geographies of Economy, Politics and Culture unit (KGA205)

Location: Hobart, Online

This unit is available as an elective and is suitable for students with backgrounds including (but not limited to) economics, education, English, history, law, life sciences, philosophy, politics, psychology and sociology. Please contact the Unit Coordinator for information. This unit is delivered through a combination of asynchronous (in your own time) and synchronous (timetabled) activities.

Introduction

All aspects of human life are geographical. Our lives take place in space. Spatial practices and ideas are central to individuals and societies: they help determine who and what belongs where, who controls and owns which resources, and who has what advantages or disadvantages. In this unit you develop skills of geographical inquiry through readings, lectures/seminars, discussions and assessment tasks to investigate and intervene in human geographies. You explore the practical benefit of this inquiry through studying crucial challenges relating to economic value, political power and cultural identity. You analyse case studies from around the world on topics including precarious employment, sustainable and just development, decolonization, nationalism and migration. You apply field research methods to investigate human lives in the context of ideas of place, territory, mobility, landscape and environment at diverse scales. The critical skills of reasoning, researching and communicating developed in this unit are valued by employers in social and environmental policy, planning, development, research and management. This unit prepares you for advanced level units including KGA308, KGA318 and KGA319.

Summary

Unit name Geographies of Economy, Politics and Culture
Unit code KGA205
Credit points 12.5
College/School Sciences and Engineering
School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Discipline Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Coordinator Associate Professor Aidan Davison
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Intermediate

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

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 1 21/2/2027 15/3/2027 18/4/2027 12/6/2027

* 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 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Use critical, reflexive and evidence-based reasoning to investigate economic, political and cultural geographies;
  • Apply geographical research skills to generate insights into economic, political and cultural phenomena that are relevant to real problems;
  • Communicate human geographical inquiry and insight through clear, effective and ethical writing, speaking and collaboration.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

KGA171 OR KGA172 OR 25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

This unit is delivered through a combination of asynchronous (in your own time) and synchronous (timetabled) activities to both on-campus and off-campus students. Each teaching week includes a 30-minute prerecorded lecture, required readings, a 50-minute interactive seminar (recorded) and a 90-minute tutorial. Contact the Unit Coordinator if you are unable to attend tutorials to discuss alternative assessment.

AssessmentAT2: Short Essay Questions (20%)|AT1: Tutorial Activities (30%)|AT3: Research Project (50%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Weekly required readings are listed in the Unit Outline and in MyLO. Readings will be available electronically via links in MyLO and through the Library Reading List.

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