Intensifying processes of urbanisation worldwide mean that cities will dominate the twenty-first century. This course explores some of the profound changes that are currently taking place in cities and evaluates what this means for understanding contemporary social transformation. Through a range of case studies, this course investigates how cities are the sites of some of the most significant technological, ecological, social and cultural challenges of our time. It introduces a range of critical urban theories that can help to explain these diverse challenges, in addition to pinpointing some progressive political and ethical responses that might improve the liveability and sustainability of cities as they swell in scale and diversity. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. understand historical and contemporary sociological accounts of cities and urbanisation;
2. evaluate the contribution that the discipline of sociology makes to the study of social transformation and social inequality in cities;
3. identify different forms of social transformation in cities and analyse their diverse effects; and
4. reflect on and discuss their own learning as it relates to the key themes, debates and theories of the course.

Research-Led Teaching

This course incorporates the research conducted by the two course lecturers, specialists in urban sociology. It also requires students to complete a small piece of research on an urban issue from a. sociological perspective.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	2 February Morning. Course Introduction and Classical Urban Sociology (Gavin Smith)
2	2 February Afternoon. Contemporary Urban Debates (Roger Burrows)
3	4 February Morning. Theorising the Global City (Gavin Smith)
4	4 February Afternoon. Global City Case Studies (Roger Burrows)
5	6 February Morning. Urban Planning and Governance (Gavin Smith)
6	6 February Afternoon. A Case Study of Geodemographic Technologies (Roger Burrows)
7	16 February Morning. Urban Disadvantage: Decay and Displacement (Gavin Smith)
8	16 February Afternoon. Case Study of Urban Disorder (Roger Burrows)
9	18 February Morning. The Asset Economy Thesis (Roger Burrows)
10	18 February Afternoon. Super-Gentrification and Urban Elites: A Case Study of Volumetric Urbanism (Roger Burrows)
11	20 February Morning. Health and the City (Gavin Smith)
12	20 February Afternoon. Rethinking Urban Ecology (Roger Burrows)

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial Participation and Engagement (10%)	10 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 4
Case Study Essay (35%)	35 %	13/02/2026	18/02/2026	1, 2, 3
Take Home Exam (55%)	55 %	27/02/2026	*	1, 2, 3, 4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

You must attend tutorials having already completed the core readings and bring questions with you for discussion.

Examination(s)

There is a take home examination at the conclusion of the course.

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial Participation and Engagement (10%)

Value: 10%

Due date: continuous assessment task

Students are expected to actively and generatively contribute to class discussion in the interactive tutorials. Participation marks will be awarded based on the quality of a student's contribution to the tutorial classes over the duration of the course.

Assessment Task 2

Case Study Essay (35%)

Word Length: 1500 words

Value: 35%

Due date: by 12pm on Friday 13 February 2026

Task instructions:

Choose one city or city-region you know well. In 1500 words, analyse a major issue shaping that place.

In your introduction state clearly: the city, the issue, and the one or two concepts from the course covered so far that you will use to frame your analysis. Use those concepts to make a clear argument about what is happening, why it is happening and who benefits or loses.

A brief comparison to one other city is optional.

Assessment Task 3

Take Home Exam (55%)

Word length: 2500 words

Value: 55%

Due date: by 5pm Friday 27 February 2026

Task instructions:

Select and address two essay questions in 2500 words from the following list:

1. Housing has replaced work as the primary engine of inequality in contemporary cities. Discuss this claim using the asset economy thesis, with reference to at least one national context.
2. To what extent does the concept ‘volumetric urbanism’ add new insight into elite power in cities, rather than simply re-describing existing inequalities in a different spatial register?
3. The concept of ‘super-gentification’ was analytically useful in the early 2000s. Does this continue to be the case in the contemporary period?
4. Urban violence should be analysed as an outcome of urban governance failures rather than individual deviance. Discuss this claim with reference to relevant examples.
5. Cities get under the skin. Evaluate this idea by examining how urban form, mobility or housing conditions shape health outcomes unevenly across social groups.
6. Do contemporary debates on urban sustainability and ecology require a fundamental rethinking of what counts as the “urban”, including non-human life?

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Students will receive graded feedback promptly after submission of their assignments. They will receive feedback on Canvas and in class.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students