According to the ILOS (Intended Learning Outcomes) that are set by the degree to which this subject belongs, the main objective of the course is to provide an introduction to the central contents of the field of Cultural Geography, with special emphasis on those that connect more with the issues of Urban sustainability that are the central focus of this degree. In this way, the course will fulfil ILOs 1.1 and 4.1, as expressed below: 1.1.To review and describe some of the historical, social, political and economic processes and structures that have shaped the world. 4.1. Review and describe the underlying concepts, principles, academic literature and contemporary issues associated with urban sustainability. Therefore, the main objective of this course is to provide a broad overview of the history and recent transformations within the field of Cultural Geography, as well as to further examine contemporary theories and practices in recent currents of Cultural Geography, with a specific focus on sustainability and urban processes.

Students are able to¿ 1.1 ¿review and describe some of the historical, social, political and economic processes and structures that have shaped the world. 4.1 ¿review and describe the underlying concepts, principles, academic literature and contemporary issues associated with urban sustainability.

The aim of the course is to understand and critically analyse the social and political processes that give rise to cultural practices as they manifest themselves in spatial contexts over time. The course is divided into four main sections. -In the first section, the main objects and theoretical-methodological approaches of this sub-discipline will be analysed, with special emphasis on the comparison of the classical perspective with conceptual developments and recent trends, as well as on the close linkage of these trends with issues related to sustainability, environment and urban issues. -The remaining three sections will focus on some of the central themes and issues of Cultural Geography, namely: the study of the relationship between human beings and the environment and landscape; the interactions between culture, territory and identity in the context of globalisation; and the spatial production of class, race and gender differences in urban spaces. CONTENTS: 1. THE OBJECTS OF CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY. -Cultural Geography as a sub-field of Human Geography. -Main objects, topics and approaches in classical Cultural Geography. -Postmodern transformations: ¿New Cultural Geography¿ and contemporary concerns. 2. NATURE, LANDSCAPE AND CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY -Visions of nature, and nature-society relations in Western thought. - Geographical approaches to the cultural study of the landscape. -Nature as the object of environmental protection. -Cultural landscapes (I): case studies. 3. CULTURE, TERRITORY AND IDENTITY IN A GLOBAL WORLD. -Geographical experience: place, belonging and meaning. -Territory and nation-state: cultural-cum-political identities and territorial ideologies. -Globalization and deterritorialization: placelessness and non-places. -Cultural landscapes (II): case studies. 4. SPACE, DIFFERENCE AND POWER. GEOGRAPHIES OF IN /EXCLUSION. -The spatial construction of differences (sex, gender, race, etc.). -A cultural politics of space: producing space, contesting power. -The right to the city and spatial justice. -Cultural landscapes (III): case studies.

The course combines theoretical and practical sessions. Theoretical sessions present the basic contents of the syllabus and attempt to provide students with conceptual and methodological foundations of cultural-cum-spatial analysis. -Theoretical sessions will be developed through classroom lectures by the teacher, while practical sessions will be focused of discussion activities, based on the reading and critical analysis of selected texts, as well as on the analysis of specific cultural issues in their spatial manifestations. All in all, students shall prepare and hand in two types of assignments for the continuous assessment: -preparing a discussion activity for its oral exposition, based on the reading and critical analysis of texts; -and a final paper (group project) providing an analysis on a specific cultural landscape. This will entail a follow up process with both tutoring sessions and oral expositions. The point is to carry out work in progress and integrate the feedback provided by the instructoirs in the final (written) paper. -A final exam will be compuulsory for students to take. Tutorials will be carried out through the procedures established by the university.