MA in International Development and Planning: The structure of the course
Autumn Semester
The first semester provides an introduction to planning and development practice at a variety of spatial scales. The modules link together to provide an understanding of these scales and how practitioners might act in these.
International Development and Planning: Theoretical Perspectives (15 credits)
Introduces contemporary debates in international development, and their relationship to parallel debates within planning. It examines both 'mainstream' and 'alternative' perspectives within planning and development theory through work grounded in the global South.
Spatial Planning and Development in the South (15 credits)
Looks at the challenges to spatial planning in the context of the global South: how are conflicting imperatives of ecological sustainability, social inclusion and economic competitiveness being balanced by practitioners, and what implications does this have for those living there?
Values in Planning (15 credits)
Looks at planning practice and shows how theory might be used to inform our understanding of it. The professional roles and dilemmas faced by planners will be explored, partly through reflection on a short work placement.
Research Methods (15 credits)
Develops core skills essential to undertaking research in international development and planning. Includes grounding in quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as helping understand the types of research carried out and used in professional practice.
Placements
As part of the MA you can choose to spend at least one week during the Christmas vacation gaining work experience in a planning department.
Spring Semester
The second semester allows you to develop and apply the skills and knowledge gained through the autumn semester as well as starting to focus on specialist areas of planning.
International Planning Project (30 credits)
This will help apply your recently-acquired knowledge and skills to a real-life planning issue. Through a virtual learning environment, the project will develop your skills in urban design and policy-making and help you to apply these to a real-life scenario. The project will give you direct contact with academics from a partner institution in the Global South as you develop your response to a planning problem.
From Spring 2013 this module will be replaced by the *International Field Class* (15 credits) and *Urban Design in the global South* (15 credits) (subject to final approval by the University.) As well as covering the same planning and design elements, this will give students first-hand exposure to one of the world's great cities.
Choice of two option modules (15 credits each)
Students select two option modules to reflect their particular specialist interests. An indicative list of modules is:
- Cities of Diversity
- Cities of the South: Planning for Informality
- Public Participation
- Issues in Housing
- Planning Law
- Property Market Analysis
Summer
Dissertation (60 credits)
The dissertation will let you explore a research topic in detail with the individual guidance of your personal supervisor. It will help you develop specialist knowledge and skills as well as personal, generic and research skills.
Follow this link to see a list of dissertation topics from the class of 2008-9.