Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA Urban Studies programme. Please note that passing this course is an entry requirement for starting the Urban Environmental Science graduation project in the third year.
Description
Biodiversity is the diversity of life on Earth and one of the most important resources for human society. As an increasing part of Earth’s terrestrial surface is becoming urbanized, habitat destruction by urbanization is one of the major causes of biodiversity decline worldwide. Yet, this also makes it increasingly important to look into the chances for biodiversity and novel ecosystems in cities. A proper understanding of biodiversity in cities is needed to enhance, restore, and protect biodiversity in our cities while optimizing their ecosystem services as much as possible. Such an understanding is a prerequisite for building sustainable, resilient, healthy urban communities.
In the Sustainable City Thematic Elective, we will introduce these aspects through an ecological lens:
how the interrelationships between biotic (including humans, native and introduced plants, and animals) and abiotic elements (including temperature, light, water, soils, and buildings) shape urban ecosystems and their interactions;
how evolution drives major ecological processes within the urban system;
how to manage all these elements to create an optimal green urban environment that supports biodiversity and benefits human society.
Teaching materials and methods includes lectures and workshops, reading articles and books, a field excursions in The Hague, and individual and group assignments.
Course objectives
General learning outcomes
See tab Additional information for the overview of the programme's general learning outcomes. In the assessment methods below is outlined which general learning outcome will be tested through which method.
Course objectives, pertaining to this course
The student has acquired:
1) Deepening knowledge of biodiversity, the ecology of urban landscapes, and the role of evolution in how species adapt to survive in cities;
2) Understanding of ecosystem services and disservices, nature-based solutions, and nature-inclusive urban design;
3) Understanding of current challenges and opportunities in urban greening initiatives to support biodiversity and human well-being.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Lecture (compulsory attendance)
This means that students have to attend every session of the course. If a student is unable to attend a lecture, they should inform the lecturer in advance, providing a valid reason for absence. The teacher will determine if and how the missed session can be compensated by an additional assignment. If they are absent from a session without a valid reason, they can be excluded from the final exam in the course.Seminar
Excursion
Assessment method
Assessment
Midterm essay
Individual essay on course books.Writing assignment
Investigative journalism group assignment.Final exam
Written exam consisting of short open questions and closed questions (e.g. multiple choice).
Weighing
| Partial grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Midterm individual essay | 35% |
| Group assignment | 30% |
| Final exam | 35% |
End grade
To successfully complete the course, please take note of the following:
The end grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of the midterm individual essay grade, group assignment grade, and final exam grade.
The weighted average of the midterm individual essay grade and the final exam grade needs to be 5.50 or higher.
This means that failing the midterm individual essay or final exam grades cannot be compensated with a high group assignment grade.
Resit
If the end grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), or if (one or two of) the grades are lower than 5,50, there is a possibility of retaking the written examination material, replacing the previous exam grade(s). No resit for the individual essay or group assignment grades is possible.
If students need to retake any course for a second time, they are required to retake all elements of the course assessment, and may not carry over individual assessment grades from previous years.
Faculty regulations concerning participation in resits are listed in article 4.1 of the Faculty Course and Examination Regulations.
Exam review
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Menno Schilthuizen - Darwin Comes to Town
Jacques Vink, Piet Vollaard, Niels de Zwarte - Building Urban Nature
Registration
- Enrolment through My Studymap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration Exchange
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Student Affairs Office for BA Urban Studies
Remarks
You may only sign up for one thematic and one methodological elective in each semester of the second year (via MyStudyMap). Only if there is place left, you can take up a second Thematic and/or Methodological elective. A week before the start of the semester, you will receive an email from the administration which will indicate if any spots are still available. If this is the case, you can enroll by replying to this message. If more students show interest in a second elective than the number of places available, students will be selected via a lottery.