Students

SOCX3015 – The Urban Century: Movement, Cities and Space

2026 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor, Lecturer, Tutor
Selvaraj Velayutham
selvaraj.velayutham@mq.edu.au
Email for appointment
Lecturer and Tutor
Justine Lloyd
justine.lloyd@mq.edu.au
Email for appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores how sociologists understand the collective challenges of a global world. Research into global issues includes international migration, global cities, the rise of information & surveillance capitalism, global value chains and transnational financial flows, global interconnections of everyday actors and elites and the global consequences of climate change. Students explore the role of local communities and cultures in reshaping and regulating global forces and power structures underpinning globalism, nationalism and cosmopolitanism. We will examine the changing roles of civil society and local community in creating alternatives to the twin powers of states and markets, from successes and failures to future opportunities and emerging risks. By exploring the relationships between space, place and people through contemporary case studies (for example, global cities and social infrastructures, the sociology of risk and crisis, resilience and disasters; global migration, border politics and citizenship rights) students will build on and extend previous learning in theory and methods, with the option of a fieldwork project focused on a case study.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1:   Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of sociological research into global forces, particularly affecting urban space, place and culture  
  • ULO2: Observe and reflect upon global forces through a sociological lens  
  • ULO3: Evaluate the impact of global forces on 21st century society and culture through a structured research project or other written work  
  • ULO4: Critically evaluate and justify both individual and group performance through active participation and continuous learning
  • ULO5: Analyse, synthesise and reflect upon the quality of empirical evidence from different scholarly sources
  • ULO6: Reflect upon the realities of global urban living that they regularly confront, and evaluate the tools of analysis that may best enable them to critically evaluate these processes.
  • ULO7: Demonstrate a level of research, reflection and writing appropriate for a third-year sociology student
  • ULO8: Explore topics in global and urban sociology they could pursue in graduate study or research

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of '0' (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to non-time sensitive assessment (incl. essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special Consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Research essay 40% No Week 13 - Sunday, 7 June 2026 Individual No Open AI
Group project 30% No As allocated Group No Open AI
Learning reflections 30% No Week 12 - Sunday, 31 May 2026 Individual No Open AI

Research essay

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 13 - Sunday, 7 June 2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

Research essay responding to one of six set questions or a negotiated topic relating to the unit content.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  •   Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of sociological research into global forces, particularly affecting urban space, place and culture  
  • Observe and reflect upon global forces through a sociological lens  
  • Evaluate the impact of global forces on 21st century society and culture through a structured research project or other written work  
  • Analyse, synthesise and reflect upon the quality of empirical evidence from different scholarly sources
  • Reflect upon the realities of global urban living that they regularly confront, and evaluate the tools of analysis that may best enable them to critically evaluate these processes.
  • Demonstrate a level of research, reflection and writing appropriate for a third-year sociology student
  • Explore topics in global and urban sociology they could pursue in graduate study or research

Group project

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: As allocated
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Group
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

Small group visual presentation on an allocated 'real world' topic.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  •   Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of sociological research into global forces, particularly affecting urban space, place and culture  
  • Observe and reflect upon global forces through a sociological lens  
  • Evaluate the impact of global forces on 21st century society and culture through a structured research project or other written work  
  • Critically evaluate and justify both individual and group performance through active participation and continuous learning
  • Analyse, synthesise and reflect upon the quality of empirical evidence from different scholarly sources
  • Reflect upon the realities of global urban living that they regularly confront, and evaluate the tools of analysis that may best enable them to critically evaluate these processes.
  • Demonstrate a level of research, reflection and writing appropriate for a third-year sociology student
  • Explore topics in global and urban sociology they could pursue in graduate study or research

Learning reflections

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 12 - Sunday, 31 May 2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

Students keep a regular learning diary with short entries drawing connections between 'real world' examples, lectures and readings.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  •   Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of sociological research into global forces, particularly affecting urban space, place and culture  
  • Observe and reflect upon global forces through a sociological lens  
  • Evaluate the impact of global forces on 21st century society and culture through a structured research project or other written work  
  • Critically evaluate and justify both individual and group performance through active participation and continuous learning
  • Analyse, synthesise and reflect upon the quality of empirical evidence from different scholarly sources
  • Reflect upon the realities of global urban living that they regularly confront, and evaluate the tools of analysis that may best enable them to critically evaluate these processes.
  • Demonstrate a level of research, reflection and writing appropriate for a third-year sociology student
  • Explore topics in global and urban sociology they could pursue in graduate study or research

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

OUA students should follow the unit's activities asynchronously. OUA students will be able to produce their presentation individually rather than in a group. 

From time-to-time, there will be scheduled field trips during the on-campus class times, and OUA students will be given an alternative activity to complete in their own time, however, OUA students are most welcome to join these field trips if they are able to.

Unit Schedule

NB: This is a provisional overview of the unit topics and may be subject to change. Final version will be posted in ilearn at the start of semester.

1

Intro

2

Global city

3

The Just City and Social Infrastructures

4

Community & Urban Commons

5

Diverse Cities

6

Arrival Cities

semester break

  

semester break

  

7

Regimes of Mobility

8

Methods/How to study the city

9

Field Trip

10

Writing up research/work-in-progress check-ins

11

no lecture: group presentations

12

Conclusion: Connecting the threads

13

No Class

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2026.02 of the Handbook