Purpose and learning objectives

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:
– carry out a suitable fieldwork assignment in a European region,
– orally and in writing conduct an academic discussion on planning questions.

Content and teaching methods

The course focuses on analyzing planning challenges, approaches and practices “on the ground” I a selected city or region abroad. The module entails a 10 days field course, which is prepared with exercises and seminars. After the field course emphasis is on analysis and presentation.

The course investigates how urban and regional police, planning agendas and projects are being debated, negotiated and implemented on-site. The student collets information in the field, engage with policy-makers, practitioners and other planning professionals in one particular city or region abroad (preferentially in Europe) in order to do in-situ analysis of planning and development challenges at the local or regional scale. The course provides the student with advanced critical knowledge about actual planning work and thus prepare for a future professional commissions. The international perspective helps the student to become more sensitive about different planning approaches, concepts and development-paths across Europe or elsewhere and to compare these with their hitherto made experiences in their own national, regional or local context. In addition, the student will be able to conduct qualified field work, most likely within a so far unknown national, regional and local context.

The module contains supervision, seminars and exercises, and a field course with excursions, field work and study visits.

Course facts

Course coordinator: Peter Schmitt.
Course code: KG7234.
Cycle: Second Cycle.
Main field of study: Urban and Regional Planning.
Language of instruction: English.
Pace percentage: 100%.
Course start: Spring Semester.
Semester period: B.
Module sharing: No.
Special eligibility requirements: Bachelor degree incl. 90 HECs in Human Geography or Urban and Regional Planning, or accepted to a master programme in Human Geography, Urban and Regional Planning or Globalization, Environment and Social Change, and English 6.
Selection: The course is open for master students in the Department of Human Geography only. (Exchange students can be accepted.)
Application: See the University course and programme database.

Note: The course builds on knowledge and skills acquired during studies for the bachelor degree and in the second cycle courses KG7230 Theoretical Perspectives on Planning, 7.5 credits, and KG7231 Planning Practices in Cities and Regions, 7.5 credits.

Detailed information, including grading criteria, is presented at the course and module introductions and via the collaboration and learning environment Mondo. Course syllabus, required reading and timetable will be available below.