Admission requirements
This course is available for students in the BA Urban Studies programme and to a limited amount of external students.
Description
Cities have always been inherently diverse and multicultural places, where a wide range of people, ideas, and cultures come together and interact. This is a big part of what makes cities so dynamic, interesting and creative. This course provides students with an overview of issues related to cultural diversity in the city from a comparative, historical and sociolinguistic perspective. Students will gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of key concepts regarding cultural diversity and linguistic diversity in urban contexts.
The course is divided into two clusters of six weeks each:
Cluster 1: Cultural and migration-related diversity in the city
Cluster 2: Linguistic diversity and multilingualism in the city
In the first cluster, we will look at the issue of cultural diversity in the city from a number of different perspectives and taking in a range of urban case studies. We will think about cities and cultural diversity in historical perspective, showing that cities have always been sites of cultural dynamism, exchange and interaction. We will think comparatively and globally about different urban experiences of cultural diversity. And we will explore some of the public policy and governance aspects of urban cultural diversity.
In the second cluster, we will investigate sociolinguistic questions such as how languages develop in a multilingual city, how city councils deal with linguistic diversity and how linguistic diversity can be accommodated in the educational system. In the seminars (work groups), students will expand their understanding of these topics and sharpen their critical thinking abilities by engaging in debates on topical issues (e.g. ‘every citizen of The Hague should be able to speak Dutch’; ‘ethnic diversity threatens the social cohesion of cities’) and complete assignments. In this way, the course lays the groundwork for students to follow courses related to the urban studies theme “The Multicultural City”.
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
At the end of the course, the student has:
1) A good understanding of the issue of cultural diversity as it pertains to the urban context, and from a range of intellectual and disciplinary perspectives
2) A working knowledge of key concepts and interpretive frameworks with which researchers and policy makers approach the issue of cultural diversity in the city
3) The ability to apply and compare theoretical approaches to multiculturalism and multilingualism within urban contexts.
4) The ability to discuss, analyse and evaluate local policies and debates relating to cultural diversity in cities
5) The ability to report and present comprehensively and critically, both orally and in writing.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Lecture
Tutorial (compulsory attendance)
This means that students have to attend every tutorial session of the course. If a student is unable to attend a tutorial or 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 tutorial without a valid reason, they can be excluded from the final exam in the course.
Assessment method
Assessment
Midterm exam
Written examination with essay questions
-measured programme's general learning outcomes: 1-2, 4, 8, 11, 13-14, 19, 21, 25
-measured course specific objectives: 1-5Final exam
Written examination with closed and essay questions
-measured programme's general learning outcomes: 1-2, 4, 8, 11, 13-14, 19, 21, 25
-measured course specific objectives: 1-5
Weighing
| Partial grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Midterm Exam | 50 |
| Final Exam | 50 |
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 all assesment components.
Resit
If the end grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), or one of the exam grades is lower than 5.50, there is a possibility of retaking the written examination material, replacing the previous exam grade(s). No resit for the tutorial grade is possible.
Faculty regulations concerning participation in resits are listed in article 4.1 of the Faculty Course and Examination Regulations.
Inspection and feedback
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 organised.
Reading list
To be announced.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
Students will be enrolled for Exams by the Administration Office, as long as they have a valid Tutorial enrolment.
General information about uSis is available on the website
The programme’s administration office will register all first year students for the first semester courses in uSis, the registration system of Leiden University.
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
None.