Summer 2023 - URB 691 G100
International Field Studies (6)
Class Number: 4745
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Fieldwork based study of a selected city, including its built form, policy initiatives and events. Emphasis is placed on experiential learning approaches, learning across cultures and contexts, team-based work and relationship building.
COURSE DETAILS:
Preliminary sessions in the Vancouver region in May/June, followed by a field school in the Helsinki region from August 1-12, 2023. See the course website for more information:
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
This course takes a comparative and interdisciplinary approach to urban sustainability. Nordic countries are well-cited in the realm of urban sustainability literature and practice. This circumstance often leads to Nordic terms, policies, and practices being adopted elsewhere. However, while a great amount of literature focuses on Nordic urban sustainability practices and outcomes, this field course offers insights that aim to go beyond the textbook explanations. This course will explore sustainability practices in relation to their linguistic and cultural context, both in the Vancouver region and through selected case examples from the Nordic countries, particularly from the Helsinki region in Finland. The course will include critical insights from local experts on urban sustainability, and include exercises and fieldwork that aim to broaden understandings of how cultural contexts, languages, and histories shape sustainability knowledge and outcomes. The overarching learning objective of this course is to advance an understanding of sustainability beyond familiar knowledge and context.
This field course will encourage participants to think beyond their individual ideas and cultural biases around sustainability. Comparisons between places and concepts will be drawn through interdisciplinary discussions and exercises, and course participants will engage with global issues in an active and experiential manner. Case examples, visiting speakers, and lecture materials will further push participants to think more critically and challenge often taken-for-granted understandings of sustainability.
Grading
- Sustainability perspectives (team work) 20%
- Readings and Discussion Facilitation (individual work) 20%
- Photo journal (individual work) 30%
- Blog (individual work) 10%
- Participation 20%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Course readings will be made available on Canvas and through SFU library.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Graduate Studies Notes:
Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the semester are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.