MA TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING

This course provides access to high level professional development in spatial planning for students across the North of England. The course welcomes full-time students with a wide variety of backgrounds, to further studies in spatial planning, building on their initial education and/or qualifications in a variety of ways. Part-time students are mostly engaged in planning practice or planning-related work in the public, private or community sectors, although those with related backgrounds are also welcome to apply.

The course aims to provide a critical understanding of the rationale for spatial planning and encourages students to be reflective practitioners, based on self-awareness and the development of an ethical standpoint in planning practice.

MA graduates are eligible for full membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) once they have completed two years of relevant planning experience and successfully completed the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

The Course is located currently in the School of the Built Environment, who have excellent links across the relevant sectors of planning, construction and aftercare. As host of the industry sector body, the School is establishing networks across the major clients, contractors and supply chains in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. This also includes links to the relevant professional bodies including the Royal Town Planning Institute, who accredit this award and via the Department of Communities and Local Government we receive a number of full time bursaries for students. This link and excellent opportunity is a mark of the standing and quality of the award. The Centre for Urban Design and Environmental Management (CUDEM) is the key research centre to which teaching practice is linked. This link also provides a rich learning environment and offers opportunities to access case studies, site visits and interaction with local practitioners via regular conferences and seminars that are hosted via the centre.

Develops and enhances research skills, connections between theory and practice, the capacity to conceptualise and theorise, together with independent and reflective learning. It serves as the key mechanism for students to develop specialist knowledge and skills in a research topic of their choice. Considers how places came to be, various attempts over the years to shape them according to visions of how we should live, an appreciation of current thinking regarding the criteria to be applied to planning contemporary development, the role of development managements in the English planning system, and an understanding of some key methodologies for evaluating the quality of existing places. This is used as the foundation for on which to put forward a development proposal for a city centre site. Reviews the historical evolution of the spatial planning system in the UK, to review its key purposes and principles, and to offer opportunities for students to prepare planning policies for localities of their choice. Critically examines the political, material and organisational context for public policy implementation and evaluation by considering roles and functions of its key players and the influences of previous policy outcomes. It also evaluates a range of approaches to policy resource generation, monitoring and evaluation and their outputs and outcomes. Explores the nature of research, the identification of researchable agendas, choice of methodologies and development of research plans and protocols together with techniques of data collection and usage. It is a key support mechanism for students to undertake the Dissertation. Requires students to reflect on the interplay of economic, spatial and environmental priorities and their impact on the development and use of land with regard to the potential of different approaches to spatial regeneration in different European regions. A foreign field trip forms an assessed part of this module.

Critically examines historical interpretations of sustainable communities and their policy dimensions and expressions. Students undertake a systematic analysis of a locality and generate sustainability strategies, working to local practitioners as clients and relating proposals to local delivery mechanisms. Aims to develop students' understanding and critical awareness of the contemporary dynamics of places and communities, seen from a variety of theoretical viewpoints. It also seeks to develop a critical appreciation of the links between these theoretical concerns and changing priorities in planning and regeneration policies. Ethical and personal development considerations form an essential part of this module.

Forms of assessment are consciously selected across the course so as to support student attainment of the learning outcomes of individual modules. A variety of forms of assessment are employed, namely written assignments of various types and lengths, reports, essays, briefs or protocols, presentations, research papers and dissertations.

Given that students come from different professional and academic backgrounds and bring different experiences of learning, the MA programme deliberately offers a variety of teaching and learning methods. It therefore uses lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, projects, short study visits and a European field trip.

All modules, except Research Methods and Dissertation, normally operate on the basis of weekly classes which combine keynote lectures by staff or visiting specialists, with small or whole group teaching and learning. Some timetabled sessions may alternatively require students to undertake directed research tasks or reading. The Dissertation is managed by individual tutorials supplemented by group meetings to discuss shared issues.

The course team expects students to continue their learning outside timetabled sessions, both individually and where appropriate in mixed groups. There is a progressive level of learning independence through the course, with students expected to demonstrate a substantial degree of initiative and self reliance in the preparation of their Dissertation.

The property and built environment sector is one of the largest contributors to the nation's GDP. Many clients wishing to develop land and property need access to experts able to advise on the use of land, who are able to understand local authority controls relating to many aspects of policy including transportation, communities, the environment and quality of the built environment. Graduates of the course will access a wide range of career options in the planning sector. This will normally include working with local and regional authorities and in the private sector aiding the property sector. The course team have good contacts with the industry and via course seminars and conferences there are numerous opportunities for students to network and access prospective employers. Examples of work opportunities include placements and internships. Opportunities also exist for graduates to access a research degree to Doctorate level.