Course description
We take an innovative approach to spatial planning with specialist studies in transport, design, regeneration and the environment, which we draw from our sustainable communities and environments masters programme.
We have successfully trained planning professionals for work in the public and private sectors for the past 25 years and this course builds on our wide experience of teaching full and part-time postgraduate planning courses.
While the primary focus is on the British context, international perspectives run throughout the taught modules. We emphasise planning practice, which reflects our staff’s experience and the research activities of our course team.
We designed the course for full-time and part-time students from differing educational and practice-based backgrounds.
We welcome graduates from other subject areas, such as geography, sociology or business studies. We also encourage applications from people with practical experience gained from working in a planning or related field.
The course develops your expertise and prepares you for a successful career in planning. It reflects a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development, regardless of the sector you choose to work in.
Associated careers
The course equips you with the knowledge and skills to begin a career in the fast moving world of urban development and planning. It focuses your interest on people’s needs and the communities and environments they live in.
You can develop a specialism that prepares you for an interesting and varied career. There is a national skills shortage in this area and a real need for well-qualified planners to develop towns, cities and regions. Job opportunities in planning are better than they have been for many years.
Planning involves working with architects, housing and transport providers, construction specialists and developers to negotiate the best developments to meet changing needs. Planning in the modern world involves working with community groups and other organisations who are intended beneficiaries of planning actions.
Course content
Core modules
• economy, society and sustainability • development and management • design and the development process • spatial plan making • professional management skills • planning issues and policy evaluation • dissertation or major project
Options
You can choose one from five areas • transport • urban design/conservation • housing/regeneration • environment. You also study two specialist modules in your chosen area or take one specialist module and a consultancy project in a related area.
Transport planning
• transport appraisal • strategic land use and transport planning • geographical information systems (GIS)
Design/conservation
• urban design frameworks • heritage management • creative cities
Housing
• neighbourhood management • community safety • housing development and regeneration
Regeneration
• sustainable economic regeneration • regenerating labour markets • sustainable rural development
Environment
• environmental impact assessment • environmental project management • landscape planning and restoration • visitor and sustainable tourism management • cultural landscape and protected area management
• consultancy project
