After successful completion of the course, students are able to present a space, time and theory-based understanding of city and of city societies and to place them in the planning context. By focusing on the translation of social processes into (mostly metropolitan) space, students are enabled to critically discuss theoretical approaches to current problems in spatial planning and urban development.  

The structure of the lecture is based on the historical process of urban and regional sociological knowledge (Chicago School, New Urban Sociology), additionally to the urbanization and industrialization process respectively on the transition to post-fordist and post-industrial structures. The central theories, methods and empirical findings of the sociology of settlement are conveyed in a historical outline. On the other hand, the topics perception and behavior of space, spatialization of social inequality, segregation, suburbanization, public space and urbanity set priorities withing the lecture in which the link between the two disciplines spatial planning and architecture as well as sociology is to be explicitly established.

Lecture, Reading, Discussion

written examination