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MSc City Planning and Design

Academic Year 2020/21

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

MSc City Planning and Design

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Master of Science

Programme Code

EVP-MSC-CP

UCAS Code

HECoS Code

100197

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Health Check Required

No

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

1 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

180

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Natural and Built Environment

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 7

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

Town and country planning (2008)

Accreditations (PSRB)

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 27-01-20

Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 10-05-16

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

N/A

Programme Specific Regulations

Students failing more than 20 CATS points worth of taught modules will not normally be permitted to progress on to the Thesis.

A student who has failed one 20 CATS taught modules will normally be allowed to progress to the Thesis Module as the student's risk.

If a student fails the Thesis Module on a second attempt, a post-graduate Diploma may be awarded.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

To understand the nature, purpose, methods and practice of planning and urban design; this includes knowledge about the political and governance context of urban change management, its impact on individuals and communities, often in a multicultural environment, and the techniques of policy analysis and project–making;

To reflect on the processes of change in the built environment and the relationships between the social, economic, environmental and physical factors associated with the development of the built environment;

To practice key regeneration-related skills, including the ability to manage the regeneration of urban environments, to mediate between competing development interests, to produce strategies, policies and plans and to communicate processes and outcomes;

To practice and strengthen competencies in key skills such as numeracy, literacy, use of ICT, problem solving, team work and aspects of urban design;

To demonstrate awareness of the value dimension of planning and urban design activity and the ethical responsibilities of those involved in regeneration and mediation;

To undertake a substantial piece of specialist independent research; and

To demonstrate the range of design competencies required for professional recognition by the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Plan, conduct research, and report upon Planning and Development issues.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Assignments, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

Practice the design process as a means of place-making and mediating space.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Fieldwork, workshops and studio sessions.

Methods of Assessment

Individual and group project work, thesis.

Exercise spatial literacy through skills in data visualisation including Photoshop, AuotCAD, Geographical Information Systems, spatial mapping of socio-economic data, data categorisation, design and evaluation.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Workshops, seminars, individual project work, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Individual and group project work, thesis.

Carry out and critically evaluate property valuation exercises.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars and field trips.

Methods of Assessment

Essays.

Synthesise academic and policy relevant literature when engaged in project applications of planning practice.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Essays, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Define and articulate problems, identify potential solutions and communicate these in a clear manner.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

Effectively use oral, written and graphic modes of communication that speak to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

Operate as a member of a team in work based situations.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Project work (group and individual), field trips.

Methods of Assessment

Small group project work, oral presentations.

Demonstrate independent judgement and personal responsibility, linked to an appreciation for ethical behaviour, when involved in professional City Planning and Design activities.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, seminars, project work (group and individual), role-play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

Demonstrate the skills required to complete a public consultation, understand and analyse the different and often conflicting perspectives and devise a strategy that mediates between opposing visions.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Live project and field work.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, oral presentations and thesis.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

The nature, purpose, methods and practice of urban analysis, designing solutions to urban issues and policy preparation

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

Processes of change in the built environment and the relationships between the social, economic, environmental and physical factors associated with the development of the built environment.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

The political and governance context of spatial regeneration and its impact on individuals and communities.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Essays, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

The value dimension of regeneration activity and the ethical responsibilities of those involved in regeneration.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

Sustainable development issues within the overall context of place making.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

To apply city planning and urban design knowledge and techniques in real, place-specific projects through production of strategies, policies and plans.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

To mediate between competing development interests.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercise, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

To demonstrate design competency in relation to the analysis of spatial regeneration and the preparation of site-specific regeneration documentation.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, project work (group and individual), role play exercises, field trips, one-to-one supervision of thesis.

Methods of Assessment

Reports, small group project work, individual project work, oral presentations, thesis.

MODULE INFORMATION

Programme Requirements

Module Title

Module Code

Level/ stage

Credits

Availability

Duration

Pre-requisite

 

Assessment

 

 

 

 

S1

S2

 

 

Core

Option

Coursework %

Practical %

Examination %

Thesis

EVP7044

7

60

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Urban Futures

EVP7040

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Spatial Literacy

EVP7039

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Comparative Urban Design

EVP7038

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Approaches to Development

EVP7041

7

20

YES

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Planning for Sustainable Communities

EVP7043

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Future Planning Practice

EVP7042

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Notes

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the structure of this programme of study has altered for academic year 2020-21 and your module choice may run in a different sequence. You should refer to the programme handbook / your School for specific module details or any queries.

Students failing more than 20 CATS points worth of taught modules will not normally be permitted to progress on to the Thesis Module.

A student who has failed one 20 CATS taught module will normally be allowed to progress to the Thesis Module at the student's risk.

If a student fails the Thesis Module on a second attempt, a post-graduate Diploma may be awarded.