ASOC 25A18 - Investigating the City: Linking theory and evidence

How can we apply social science concepts to the world around us?

This course uses key sociological readings, case studies, and in-the-news topics, to study the city as a complex space where buildings, people, laws, policies, and international financial flows intersect to produce our lived experience. The aim is for us to be able to see sociological concepts even as we walk around in the city.

The first four weeks lay the foundation, and the rest of the course addresses specific urban topics related to inequality, the climate crisis, crime, global finance, housing, AI, and so on. The readings address different parts of the world, allow us to explore research methods and to think about how concepts apply in the global north and global south.

Prerequisite – at least one prior course in any of the following is required: sociology, political science, urban studies or development studies.

Before the first session, students are requested to read one of the following readings which will also be emailed to them beforehand:

Jacobs, Jane. 1961. The Uses of Sidewalks. Book chapter from The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

Samuli Schielke. 2018. A City of Walls. A Photo Essay on Writing on Walls in Alexandria, 2011-2017. Égypte/ Monde arabe [Online], 17 | 2018.

The assessment for this class is based on weekly writing exercises, a take-home exercise and a final exam.

• 6 short in-class weekly writing exercises to prepare you for class discussion 30%
• The take-home exercise will be completed in the first month and will involve a paired walk (a one-hour walk with another classmate), careful observation of a city block, and linking evidence to theory. It will be hand-written and individual submission (30%)
• The final exam will be based on lecture slides and readings from the class (the readings that will be used in the final exam will be told to you beforehand. The focus will be on assessing your logic and argumentation, and not on factual recall) (30%)
• Attendance will be taken and will count for 10%