This module seeks to provide an in-depth analysis of the role of Global Cities in globalisation and the world economy.

The module will be broken down into three themes which together will guide students through the concepts of global city and cities in globalisation. These themes will be 1) Global Cities: Key Concepts; 2) Cities in Globalisation; and 3) The Culture of Global Cities. The variety of networks comprising different aspects of globalization - economic, cultural, social, and political - will feature in the module.

The concepts of world city, global city, cities in globalization, and mega-city will be explored, and the ideas of leading theorists such as Hall, Friedmann, Castells, Sassen, and Taylor will be covered and critiqued, through the course of the module.

1. A critical case-study essay, 1500-1750 words in length. [Learning outcomes: 1 to 6].
2. A two hour exam consisting of one essay question (50%) and one seen essay question (50%). [Learning outcomes: 1 to 5].

Additional Assessment Details:
The essay will evaluate the global cities literature with relation to a specific global city selected from a given list.

Formative Assessment:
Elements of the case-study workshops will be student-led and conducted in small groups in order to foster team-working skills, discuss and present initial ideas and collect data together. Students will be provided with the opportunity to receive feedback on their coursework essay plans, and will receive feedback from lecturer and peers on workshop presentations, which will feed directly into case study essays.

University Library, Sciences Learning Resource Centre, Internet and Email facilities.

Taylor, PJ, Ni, P, Derudder, B, Hoyler, M, Huang, J and Witlox, F (2010) (eds.) Global Urban Analysis: A Survey of Cities in Globalisation. London: Earthscan.
Brenner, N and Keil, R (2006) (eds.) The Global Cities Reader. London: Routledge.
Taylor, PJ (2004) World City Network: A Global Urban Analysis. London: Routledge.
Sassen, S (2001) The Global City. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP.

The module will be delivered through a combination of:

1) 10 weekly 2-hour lectures that will deliver substantive knowledge and introduce key theories, concepts, models and case-studies.
2) 5 hours of workshops which will look at specific case studies of global cities, including student-lead activities.
3) Independent learning through guided reading, project work and the use of internet sites.

It is essential for this module that independent reading, preparation of the written assessment, and revision for the exam, are undertaken concurrently through the course of the module using the 125 hours of allocated independent learning times, as all three activities inform each other.