Entry requirements

Fulfilment of the requirements for a Bachelor´s degree, from an internationally recognised university. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain and compare key theoretical approaches to space, place, scale, and flow in human geography;
• demonstrate how the concepts of space, place, scale, and flow, can be applied in critical examinations of how socio-spatial relations are produced, contested, and transformed;
• analyse contemporary societal phenomena using relational and multi-scalar perspectives;
• independently design and carry out a small-scale analytical project integrating theoretical concepts and empirical material;
• critically read, synthesise, and discuss advanced geographical literature;
• assess how spatial framings shape interpretations of power, inequality, and governance.

Content

The course introduces central theoretical debates within the field of human geography, with a focus on how society and space are understood and analysed. The point of departure is four overarching and organising concepts: space, place, scale, and flow.

The course begins by addressing space as an ontological question and examines different theoretical understandings of space and their significance for geographical analysis. Rather than viewing space as a neutral backdrop to social processes, the course explores how space is produced and transformed through social, material, and political relations.

Key themes of the course include: place as a meaningful and situated social and cultural context; scale as a political and analytical tool for understanding spatial framings and processes; and flows and circulation as fundamental dimensions of infrastructure, mobility, and spatial connections. Based on this foundation, the course analyses how the organising concepts of space, place, scale, and flow are theorized and used within human geography to understand both historical and contemporary socio‑spatial phenomena.

Instruction

The course is primarily organised around lectures and seminar-based teaching. Lectures introduce key conceptual debates and theoretical frameworks, while seminars provide opportunities for critical discussion, collaborative analysis, and application of concepts to empirical cases. Active participation in seminars is mandatory.

Assessment

The course is examined through written and oral assignments. Detailed information on the marking criteria and the assessments is provided during the course introduction.

Students who have been granted pedagogical support through the university’s disability coordinator may, where appropriate, be offered alternative forms of examination. Decisions regarding alternative forms of examination are made by the examiner with consideration of the student’s individual needs and in accordance with university regulations.

Uppsala University upholds principles of academic integrity. All students are expected to complete their work independently and to acknowledge sources appropriately. Suspected cases of cheating or plagiarism are handled in accordance with the university’s established procedures and may be referred to the Vice-Chancellor for review.