SOC142 Urban Sociology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Aleš Burjanek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Timetable
Thu 16:00–17:40 U35
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 35 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/35, only registered: 0/35, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/35
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is devoted to the broader social context in which cities are developing and functioning. After the concise introduction of the discipline, the problem of urbanization is discussed. Commentary then follows various definitions and classifications of cities, including category of the world / global cities respectively. Internal structure of the city is examined in detail and several useful tools developed for measurement of urban space differences are introduced. The course also helps to analyze results of wide scope of community studies and the different features of urban neighborhoods. Influence of 'new urban sociology' is discussed and several different perspectives on urban way of life are offered. The final part of the course deals with 'problem' (deprived, excluded) urban neighborhoods and their typologies. Students will be able to interpret and explain problems associated with urban issues with use of relevant sociological concepts and theories.
Syllabus
  • (1) Basic topics and approaches in urban sociology;
  • (2) Urbanization;
  • (3) Definitions and classifications of cities;
  • (4) Internal structure of the city (a) Classic theory of land use; Typology of urban neighborhoods;
  • (5) Internal structure of the city (b) Residential segregation; gentrification;
  • (6) Internal structure of the city (c) How to measure urban internal structure by means of factor and cluster analysis;
  • (7) Community studies;
  • (8) Neighborhoods;
  • (9) New urban sociology;
  • (10) Socially excluded urban localities.
Literature
  • Burjanek, A. 2005 „Co je residenční segregace“. In: Sýkora, L. (ed.) Segregace, formy, příčiny, důsledky, řešení. Sborník. (On-line) http://old.mmr.cz/upload/files/060420_Publikace_segregace.pdf
  • Wacquant, L. 1997 „Three Pernicious Premises in the Sudy of the American Ghetto“ International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 21(2): 341-353.
  • Fischer, C. 1984. The Urban Experience. San Diego, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publ.
  • Castells, M. 1993. „European cities, the informational society, and the global economy.“ In: Deben, L., Heinemeijer, W., van der Vart, D.: (eds): Understanding Amsterdam. Amsterdam, Het Spinhuis.
  • Robson, B. 1989. Those Inner Cities. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
  • GOTTDIENER, Mark and Ray HUTCHISON. The new urban sociology. 3rd ed. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 2006, xvii, 409. ISBN 0813343186. info
  • Changing cities : rethinking urban competitiveness, cohesion and governance. Edited by N. H. Buck. 1st pub. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2005, xv, 317. ISBN 1403906807. info
  • HORSKÁ, Pavla, Jiří MUSIL and Eduard MAUR. Zrod velkoměsta : urbanizace českých zemí a Evropa. Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2002, 352 s. ISBN 8071854093. info
  • Globalizing cities :a new spatial order? Edited by Peter Marcuse - Ronald van Kempen. 1st pub. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2000, xviii, 318. ISBN 0-631-21290-6. info
  • GIDDENS, Anthony. Sociology [Giddens, 1993]. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1993. ISBN 0-7456-1114-1. info
  • SCHWAB, William A. The sociology of cities. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1992, xiv, 514 s. ISBN 0-13-817610-8. info
Assessment methods
Students (selectively) elaborate papers based on the selected literature.
Exam: written test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Autumn 2016.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2009/SOC142