Urbanization and Environment
The course examines urbanization and the environment from an interdisciplinary perspective. The focus is on livelihood strategies and resource use in fast-growing, poor cities in the global south.
Half of the world’s population now resides in urban areas. Many lack access to sufficient incomes, housing, safe water and sanitation. The course analyses city and slum growth, environmental consequences and economic and social inequalities. The focus lies on local environments in cities of the South, on people’s provisioning strategies and their individual and collective actions.
Information for admitted students spring 2025
Congratulations! You have been admitted at Stockholm University and we hope that you will enjoy your studies with us.
In order to ensure that your studies begin as smoothly as possible we have compiled a short checklist for the beginning of the semester.
Follow the instructions on whether you have to reply to your offer or not.
universityadmissions.se
Checklist for admitted students
-
Activate your university account
The first step in being able to register and gain access to all the university's IT services.
-
Register at your department
Registration can be done in different ways. Read the instructions from your department below.
-
Read all the information on this page
Here you will find what you need to know before your course or programme starts.
IMPORTANT
Your seat may be withdrawn if you do not register according to the instructions provided by your department.
Information from the department - courses
Welcome to the Department of Human Geography at Stockholm University! Here is important information for those who are going to start one course (or more) in the spring semester 2025.
Before the semester starts, you must activate your university account and register. You should also familiarize yourself with the education by looking through the first course's schedule and reading list and by visiting the course's page on the learning platform Athena, where there may be additional important information.
Registration
You who have been accepted and have accepted the place at universityadmissions.se or antagning.se are welcome to register. To keep your place, you must register during the January 7–15 registration period. Please note that January 15 is the last registration day for all courses given in the spring semester 2025. In order to register online, you must first activate your university account. It is no roll-call. You only need to confirm your course selection by registering.
Activate your university account
Register
If you need help activating your university account or encounter technical problems, you can contact IT support via Serviceportalen.
If you have problems registering, contact our student affairs office before the last day of registration at studentexpedition@humangeo.su.se. Include your full namne (or your Swedish personal identity number) and which course or courses you are accepted to.
Learning platform
Log in to the learning platform Athena and go to the page for your first course. But first you need to activate your university account and register, see above.
Course start and education
After registration, you are welcome to the course introduction. Exact time and place can be found in the coure schedule. At the introduction, you meet the course coordinator(s) and all other students on the course. You also receive information about the course's goals, content, form, examination and practicalities, such as possible group division.
Teaching starts immediately at the start of the semester.
In the course description for the first course there are links to the reading list and the schedule. The description can be found in the course catalogue.
On the course page on the Athena learning platform, there may be more information before the start of the course. You will receive a course guide and more at the course introduction.
Conditionally admitted
If you are conditionally admitted, you must show that you meet the programme's eligibility requirements before you can register. If you have questions, please contact student affairs office.
Studying with a disability
Do you need special study support? Don't forget to apply in Nais in time! Read more about it at su.se/english/education/student-support/studying-with-a-disability.
Contact in the Department of Human Geography is Veronica Hohl, e-mail studievagledare@humangeo.su.se, phone +46 8 16 48 37.
More information and contact
Welcome activities
Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities that stretch over a few weeks at the beginning of each semester. The programme is voluntary (attendance is optional) and includes Arrival Service at the airport and an Orientation Day, see more details about these events below.
Your department may also organise activities for welcoming international students. More information will be provided by your specific department.
Find your way on campus
Stockholm University's main campus is in the Frescati area, north of the city centre. While most of our departments and offices are located here, there are also campus areas in other parts of the city.
Read more
For new international students
Half of the world’s population now resides in urban areas. Many lack access to sufficient incomes, housing, safe water and sanitation. The course analyses city and slum growth, environmental consequences and economic and social inequalities. The focus lies on local environments in cities of the South, on people’s provisioning strategies and their individual and collective actions.
-
Course structure
The course starts with overarching theories about urban growth, economic and political processes and applications within city planning and urban politics. Students then go more in depth with these issues in sector specific studies of housing, water provision, sanitation, waste management, energy and transportation.
Different methods are tested during the course for studying and describing urban environmental questions. Different theoretical approaches for understanding urban environments will be compared as well.
Special emphasis is placed on the varying spatial scale of different urban environmental questions, their varying effect and who is advantaged and disadvantaged. Gender issues are also considered as are differences between the rich and poor.
The issues raised and discussed in the course are concretized in independent work to produce environmental profiles of cities of the student's choice.
Teaching format
Instruction is conducted in the form of lectures, seminars and experimental exercises.
Several assignments and independent papers will be presented orally and/or will be submitted in writing during the course.
Obligatory attendance can be required.
Detailed information, including grading criteria, is presented at the course and module introductions and via the collaboration and learning environment Athena.
Learning objectives
After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- Analyse complex physical, social and economic processes in the resource use and environmental impact of cities.
- Describe and reflect on different perspectives on urban development, globalization, people’s livelihood strategies, and how these relate to each other.
- Analyse urban planning and management processes and structures involving infrastructure and service.
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different methods for studying the living conditions of people and urban environments.
Assessment
Examination takes place via oral and written assignments, throughout the course, including a take-home exam.
Examiner
Several teachers assess and grade within the course.
Examiner: Ilda Lindell, Department of Human Geography
-
Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course. -
Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course. -
Course reports
-
Contact
Course coordinator
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X305
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
Academic Counselling
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X331
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
Student Affairs Office
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X326
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
- Office hours
Tuesday and Thursday at 10.00–12.00.
- Phone hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10.00–12.00.
