Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To introduce students to the history of landscape (designed, planned, managed), relating developments in landscape to the social and economic conditions which prevailed during various periods and in various locations, and also to environmental/ecological, cultural and scientific developments. Students are also encouraged to explore the linkages between landscape architecture, planning, and management and related disciplines, e.g. art, architecture, geography, botany/ecology and town planning at these various stages.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module is based around a course of lectures, that are organised around core themes to cover the most significant ecological, economic, social, cultural and political concerns shaping landscape. Topics typically include:
- Medicine (botany, health, wellbeing)
- Improvement (science, engineering, aesthetic)
- Water (management, design, spirituality)
- Gender (EDI)
- Race (EDI)
- Trade and transnational flows (seeds, plants, landscapes)
- Park (green space management, parks)
- Conservation (national parks, protected habitats)
- Character areas
- Participatory (co-production, conflict resolution, landscape futures)

These are supported by student-led seminars that see students working in interdisciplinary teams, allowing them to research, synthesise, and present work in clear and concise manner.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will acquire:
- a broad understanding of the history of the designed, planned and managed landscape and its evolution in relation to prevailing environmental/ecological, socio-economic conditions, and cultural and scientific developments;
- the ability to translate historical landscape designs and planning/management principles/strategies/plans into contemporary landscape projects
- the ability to relate landscape design, planning and management to related disciplines and to work with others from interdisciplinary backgrounds to generate ideas and improve understanding for the benefit of people, nature and environment.
- Develop practical experience in communicating accurately and clearly in a style appropriate to the audience.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will develop critical reading, critical thinking, oral presentation, interdisciplinary teamwork, and essay-writing abilities.

Fieldwork will allow students to hone their practical skills in historic/contemporary management plans at various scales, evaluation of physical/cultural assets, landscape characters, geomorphology and some species.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

A course delivered through lectures (PIP) is the most suitable way to introduce students to a range of core themes and theoretical perspectives, drawn from diverse historical and geographical contexts. The lecture material will be the means to support and encourage students in their independent reading while seminars will facilitate critical thinking, data/policy analysis, interdisciplinary working, and presentation skills.

A guided fieldtrip will support students to apply this thinking to real world contexts (parks and green space management, heritage, enhancement, conservation) and develop their pactical skills.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The written essay is intended to assess understanding of the material presented in the module and to provide an opportunity to respond critically to this material drawing upon examples from various geographical contexts and scales (micro-to-macro).

The oral presentation will build students interdisciplinary, data analysis and presentation skills. This will include critical-reflexive piece from the fieldwork.

General Notes

N/A