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SSJ38260

Academic Year 2024/2025

Social justice and the city (SSJ38260)

Subject:
Social Justice
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Soc Pol, Soc Wrk & Soc Justice
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Michael Byrne
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module focuses on one of the key social justice challenges in the contemporary city. Housing crises are increasingly common in cities around the world. In Ireland this crisis is particularly acute; we face major issues with supply, affordability and homelessness. Indeed, it can sometimes seem that the richer a society becomes, the more difficult it is for people to access affordable housing. This throws up a number of questions around the economics and politics of housing: what value do we place on housing in contemporary societies? How do housing markets work and why do they fail? Can governments shape housing markets for the better, and if so how? How, as a society, should we provide housing? In this module, students will learn how to respond to all these questions based on social scientific concepts and empirical evidence.

A social justice perspective can both explain and critically analyze the current housing crisis. It can also develop creative, imaginative and realistic solutions to this crucial 21st century challenge. In doing so, we take the view that home is a fundamental human need; it is something that none of us can live without.

This module is also about concrete solutions. It engages with the challenge of creating socially just city in ways which engage directly with the real world problems faced by cities

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the social, economic and political processes that shape housing in the contemporary city
2. Understand issues of social justice and inequality in relation to housing in the contemporary city
3. Ability to critically analyze specific housing issues and policies
4. Develop skills in applying academic knowledge to address real world problems
5. Develop skills in communicating academic evidence and analysis

Indicative Module Content:

Housing markets, housing policy, the Irish housing system, the politics of housing, urban development

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

200

Total

200


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning; lectures; enquiry & problem-based learning; debates; case-based learning;

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): An essay examining the content of the first half of the module. Week 8 Graded No
50
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Students must develop a proposal for a model of housing provision based on social justice. Week 14 Graded No
50
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 12:00 - 13:50