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HUGE - Master's in Human Geography: Programme Structure

Most courses during Term 1 and Term 2 are available as freestanding courses. This means that we welcome students from other programmes and universities to enrol in our courses. We believe that a diverse and dynamic student body creates a rich learning environment for all. It is also possible to pursue a one-year MSc in Human Geography. The formal regulations are described in the Programme Syllabus.

 

Different perspectives on Human Geography

Term 1 and 2

Terms 1 and 2 of the two-year MSc programme in Human Geography consist of intensive course work in advanced human geography. You are introduced to key theories and debates within the field, including the classic foundations as well as the research frontiers. The courses provide you with a solid theoretical and methodological foundation on which to develop your area of interest and specialisation in the following terms.

Term 3 and 4

Term 3 is flexible and can consist of an internship or, possibly in combination with a short internship, elective courses. Students looking for challenges in the applied world may choose to do an internship either in Sweden or abroad. Students seeking more in-depth academic training can select to pursue elective courses at Lund University or at other universities in Sweden or abroad. In both these tracks, you gain experiences and insights that prepare you for writing the MSc thesis.

Term 4 is set aside for researching and writing the MSc thesis.


Freestanding courses in Human Geography

Programme Syllabus of Master's in Human Geography


Geographical Thought

SGEM20 | 7.5 credits | Syllabus | Convener: Henrik Gutzon Larsen

The course offers participants advanced insights into the histories of geographical thought and current issues within the field of human geography. The aim is to develop the participants’ competencies to critically and independently engage with issues of geographical thought in their own work and in the work of others. The course addresses key examples of geographical thought and practice from the past and the present, and it investigates in greater depth selected overarching geographical concepts, debates and issues.  

Geographies of Economies: Transforming Places, People and Production

SGEM21 | 7.5 credits | Syllabus | Convener: Josephine Rekers

This advanced level course in economic geography focuses on some of the most important socio-economic challenges that today’s cities, regions and nations face. How does globalisation affect lives and livelihoods in particular places? Why do some regions continue to grow and prosper, whereas other regions struggle with industrial restructuring? What are the drivers of such changes and how can firms and regions cope with them? These themes are analysed from different theoretical perspectives to examine the underlying forces that shape the trajectories and transformations of economic spaces.

Transdisciplinary Critical Theories of Science

HEKM20 | 7.5 credits | Syllabus | Convener: Mirek Dymitrow

The course consists of three interconnected elements: (1) key concepts in the theory of science and central debates and positions in conventional theories of science, (2) the critical potential of transdisciplinarity, and (3) critical theories of science. On this basis, the course aims to develop the participants’ competencies to independently and critically engage with their own and others’ research practices.

Landscape and Political Ecology

SGEM22 | 7.5 credits | Syllabus | Convener: Martina Angela Caretta 

The course offers advanced insights into landscape geography and actively combines this with critical ways of thinking about the environment, environmental problems and solutions within the field of political ecology. Landscape and political ecology thereby weave together a number of critical issues concerning the ways in which the environment is transformed. Recognising that uneven processes of change shape the social and cultural geographic development of places and landscapes, the course seeks to examine the tensions and power relations that are at play on different scales in the intersection between nature, society and politics.

Geographies of Economies: Urban and Regional Planning

SGEM23 | 7.5 credits | Syllabus | Convener: Markus Grillitsch

This course focuses on some of the most important socio-economic challenges that urban and regional planning has to meet, and how these are addressed and dealt with in different planning contexts. With the background in contemporary economic geography theory, these challenges are analysed, aiming at a deeper understanding of the underlying economic forces that impact the scope and directions in urban and regional planning. Meetings with practitioners in the field of planning, through visits, guest seminars and excursions, are important elements to relate theory and practices.

Critical Urban Geography

SGEM24 | 7.5 credits | Syllabus | Convener: Anders Lund Hansen

This course examines interrelations between space, place, built environment, urbanity and society. Through lectures, seminars and readings, students will explore the critical urban theory. The course seeks to advance both comprehensive understandings of historical urbanisation processes, as well as stimulating insight into contemporary urban dimensions, questions, challenges and conflicts addressed by urban scholars, planners and social movements. On this basis, the course aims to foster critical and creative urban thinking, research and, eventually, practice.

GIS: Geographical Information Systems for the Social Sciences

SGER50 | 7.5 credits | Syllabus | Convener: Ola Hall

The course provides an introduction to the rapidly growing field of GIS for students interested in applying GIS in their research or work. The course is interdisciplinary in scope and appropriate for students from a diversity of backgrounds. This would include students from the social sciences, the humanities, economics, sustainability and development studies as well as students from a range of other disciplinary and professional backgrounds. The course introduces students to some key conceptual debates and developments in GIS, and it provides an introduction to the most important theories and practices of GIS. During the course, the students will learn about the potential applications of GIS within various fields of study.

GIS and Fieldwork Methodology

SGEM25 | 7.5 credits | Syllabus | Convener: Mads Barbesgaard

The course focuses on introducing human-geographical methodologies through applied fieldwork. The first course element is concerned with preparation of fieldwork, including formulation of research questions, selecting between research methods, organisation of data collection and introduction to several GIS-related techniques for data collection. The second course element is fieldwork, either in Sweden or abroad, where the prepared methods are applied and data collected. The final course element is analysis of the gathered data and communication of results. The course is not offered as a freestanding course.

Internship in Human Geography

In the internship course, which is an optional element in the Human Geography programme, participants conduct qualified tasks relating to applied human geography in a relevant organisation. Previously, the participants, for example, completed internships in municipal planning departments, private consultancy firms, NGOs and regional European Union representation offices in Brussels. It is possible to complete either a full term (30 credit) or a half term (15 credit) internship. The 15-credit internship can be combined with elective courses at Lund University or another university in Sweden or abroad.

Master’s Thesis

The master thesis is the culmination of the programme. For this course, participants plan, carry out and report and independent academic work on a topic of their own choice. A supervisor from the academic staff is appointed to each participant. The two-year master requires a 30-credit thesis (a full term), while the one-year master requires a 15-credit thesis (a half term).