The Global Metropolis (GEOG3003)

Course overview

The Global Metropolis' is an advanced course on the geography and planning of contemporary cities. It examines the growth and development of cities and urban regions around the world, applying social, economic, and technical lenses. Lectures focus on the diversity of global urban contexts, with practicals debating and discussing innovative solutions to the global cities' 'wicked problems'. The course will cover a broad range of topics, including housing, urban growth, sustainability, transport, energy, governance, and mobility.

Course requirements

Assumed background

None,ﾠbut students are expected to typically be in their third year of undergraduate study. Students should have an interest in urban issues. The course requires critical thinking and engagement on urban and national development issues in a variety of global contexts.

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

GEOG1000, GEOG2104

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

GEOS3203, PLAN7615

Jointly taught details

This course is jointly-taught with:

• PLAN7615

This course is co-taught between GEOG3003 and PLAN7615.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

The Global Metropolisﾠcourse is intended to provide anﾠexplorationﾠof urban developmentﾠand contemporary issues. The course is multidisciplinary in nature, focussing on areas of concern to Geographers and Planners as well as students interested in Development Studies and Regional studies. The course spansﾠa range of theoretical approaches and covers a number of themes central to the processes of contemporary global urban development. It provides an advanced understanding of several key themes in urbanisation, including planning, transport, spatial structure, mobility, land use change, and housing, and focuses on some of the more recent discourses in urban studies such as 'smart cities' and the 'sharing economy' that are positioned as solutions to global cities' 'wicked problems'.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Urban Systems Analysis and Review

• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Written

Category

Essay/ Critique, Practical/ Demonstration, Reflection

Weight

28%

Due date

9/09/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Online submission by Turnitin only by the due date and time. No hard copy or assignment cover sheets are required. Submission via email is not accepted..

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (the assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.

For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 

Strategic Urban Futures Framework

• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Written

Category

Essay/ Critique, Practical/ Demonstration, Reflection

Weight

14%

Due date

14/10/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Online submission by Turnitin only by the due date and time. No hard copy or assignment cover sheets are required. Submission via email is not accepted.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (the assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.

For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 

Shaping the Global Metropolis: Presentation and Report

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Oral, Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation

Weight

49% (Presentation 14% + Report 35%)

Due date

1. Presentation slides: 20/10/2025 4:00 pm

1. Presentations held: 21/10/2025

2. Report Digital Submission: 27/10/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Online submission by Turnitin only by the due date and time. No hard copy or assignment cover sheets are required. Submission via email is not accepted.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (the assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.

For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 

Participation

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Participation/ Student contribution

Weight

9%

Due date

Week 1 - Week 12

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Please contact your course coordinator if exceptional circumstances arise preventing you from attending any sessions.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Assessment Hurdle

In order to pass this course, you must meet the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):

• You must obtain 50% or more on Shaping the Global Metropolis: Presentation and Report.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to the UQ website for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.

Additional assessment information

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D): https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=184

Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/uq-policies-and-rules/requirements-medical-certificates

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Required learning resources for this course include readings and videos. Each week a list of required readings will be posted to Blackboard. You are expected to read, as a minimum, all of the prescribed readings. All of these are catalogued under the appropriate week in Blackboard under Learning Resources -> Course Readings and Videos. You are, however, highly encouraged to read beyond the prescribed readings. In addition to what you can find through the UQ Library and online, your instructor(s) can refer to further reading on each topic.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.