Course description
International Planning and Sustainable Development MA.
Course overview:
This course is aimed at built environment professionals and others with a relevant background who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of planning and sustainable development, whether to improve career prospects in their country or enter international practice. Through the course you will examine the growing problems of sustainable development facing cities, regions and communities in a rapidly urbanising world, subject to growing climate change and other environmental, economic and social pressures and risks.
Based in London, you will have access to internationally recognised experience of spatial planning for sustainable development, and explore contemporary theories, public policy thinking and good practice in planning in both the developed and developing worlds. The University of Westminster is the UK's first Habitat Partner University. We work with UN-HABITAT and like-minded institutions to promote the socially and environmentally sustainable development of towns, cities and regions, in accordance with the UN Millennium Development Goals.
The course is primarily for full-time international, UK and EU students, but it is also open to part-time UK-based students who want to explore an international pathway for their career development. The MA course is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a "combined planning programme". Those offered a place are eligible for postgraduate scholarships offered by the University.
Course content:
This course addresses the growing problems of sustainable development facing cities and communities in a rapidly urbanising world. It explores contemporary theories, public policy thinking and good practice in planning that spans both developed and developing world contexts, and offers you the opportunity to explore one area of specialism in a related field in some depth.
Course pathways:
There are two RTPI-accredited pathways through the course. The Spatial Planning Pathway has a strong urban design component and an emphasis on the development planning process. The Urban Resilience Pathway provides a sustainable development-focused route with a core emphasis on climate change mitigation and adaptation planning. Both pathways cover all these aspects to some degree.
The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.
Core modules for both pathways:
Dissertation or Major Project
(40 credits)
This module offers you the opportunity to research in depth a spatial planning or related topic through primary or desk-based research. The Dissertation is 12-15,000 words in length. You may undertake a Major Project on a similar topic, producing a written report of a similar length, or a report combining planning or design proposals, or data presented in other formats, with a written analytical report of 5-10,000 words.
International Spatial Planning Practice
(20 credits)
Through the exploration of theoretical models of sustainable urban form and practical exercises, you will explore the principles, methods and techniques of land use, transport and infrastructure planning for new and existing towns and cities and their regions. The module examines strategic spatial planning policy and managing development in the context of rapid urbanisation and the challenge of urban governance in the developing world.
Planning in a Globalising World
(20 credits)
This module explores urban issues such as impacts of economic globalisation and sustainability in a range of development contexts (developed and developing worlds, and high, middle and low-income countries) using a comparative planning systems approach. You will analyse key urban policy concerns, debates, dynamics of urban change and planning responses comparatively and internationally, across different regional and historical contexts.
Research Methods and the Built Environment
(10 credits)
This module introduces you to research methods and methodologies specific to urban and spatial research, design and planning. You will explore the theory and practice of developing a research framework, with a particular emphasis upon methods, methodologies and frameworks used within the built environment professions. The module will allow you to begin developing your own research proposal for the Dissertation.
Skills for Planning Practice
(10 credits)
This module introduces you to a range of planning skills not covered elsewhere in core modules. You will cover core planning skills, appraisal techniques and technical skills including project management and communications. The module introduces assessments of need and capacity (for example retail, housing, leisure, transport) and tools and techniques to assist with these assessments, such as impact assessment, GIS, effective project management and engagement techniques.
Sustainable Cities and Neighbourhoods
(20 credits)
In this module you will explore 'next generation' cities, investigating critical issues relating to climate change and other large-scale environmental threats and challenges. The module adopts a cross-disciplinary perspective, at a range of scales from the global to the local. Using a UK-based case study and hands-on sustainability appraisal, planning and urban design exercises, you will develop a critical understanding of the concept of sustainability, encompassing notions of resource conservation, environmental, social and economic impact, and quality of life.
Sustainable Neighbourhood Development and Management
(20 credits)
In this module you will address the range of social sustainability concerns including housing and livelihoods. As well as introducing you to techniques such as participatory planning and community asset management, this module is concerned with local neighbourhood planning and introducing conceptual frameworks for understanding localised social and governance structures.
