Accessible Planning Qualifications to meet the Needs of the Region
South Coast Planning Education Initiative
A South East Region partnership initiative supported by:
SEEDA, Communities and Local Government, South East Employers and I&DeA.
MSc / Diploma and Certificate in Planning at the University of Brighton
An exciting new combination of courses in Town Planning will start in September 2008, in the School of Environment and Technology, at the University of Brighton.
One of the key objectives of the course is to address the shortage of qualified town planners available to work in local authorities, government offices and professional planning practises in the South East of England. The programmes have been designed in collaboration with local stakeholders and it draws on the experiences of existing practice by using professional mentoring system in collaboration with the local employers.
The programmes are designed for students from both the public and private sectors and will provide an accessible and flexible route to the skills needed to work in the current and future planning environment.
Courses are aimed at
Graduates in any “cognate discipline”- eg Geography, Architecture, Building Surveying, Law, etc. who wish to gain a higher or specialist planning qualification and make a career in planning.
Graduates with a first degree in planning who wish to study for a Masters qualification as a route to a professional career or further study at Doctorate level.
Students who can demonstrate significant work experience who wish to build a professional career. Such students will be considered by the university on an individual basis for entry on to the Certificate Programme. Such students will need to complete the Certificate level with a significant pass mark before being allowed to continue to the Diploma level.
All programmes can be taken part-time, one day per week. It is expected that the MSc will require attendance part-time, one day a week, over 2 years, plus the work based assignments and the production of a significant masters dissertation. The courses are built up from modules allows flexibility for periods of increased work-load in planning departments and private consultancy, recognises that mature students have life commitments, allows candidates to proceed at their own pace to reach the level of qualification that best suits them.
Course delivery will be through taught lectures, seminars and tutorials, practical workshops at the University: study visits individual supervision sessions, research and the completion of an individual professional learning log and with an industry based mentor. The majority of the courses are assessed by continuous assessment.
The courses have all been built in collaboration with professional in the region. Local authorities and professionals from the private practices will continue to be involved in the programmes as both guest lecturers, mentors and a sounding board to ensure that the programmes remain relevant to the local needs.
The content of the core modules are mapped against the Royal Town Planning Institute RTPI Policy Statement on Initial Planning Education and the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Town and Country Planning.
The RTPI have recently appointed a Dialogue Member for the University’s application for accreditation. It is hoped that accreditation will be achieved in due course.
The emphasis throughout the courses will be on practical learning within a sound academic context and is designed to produce planners who can devise innovative solutions to the region’s future planning needs.
Syllabus
The programmes are designed to provide students with the academic and professional core knowledge, understanding, skills and experience that are necessary to practice professionally. Students should be able to critically evaluate how the physical development of urban and rural places is regulated to bring about the best social and economic outcome.
Modules offered include:
- BEM27 Theory and Evolution of Spatial Planning (Mandatory) 20 CATS
- BEM28 Policies, plans and approaches to implementation (Mandatory) 20 CATS
- BEM29 Principles for designing Quality & Value (Mandatory) 20 CATS
- BEM40 Individual Learning Log (Mandatory) 20 CATS
- IAM29 Environmental Policy and Law (Optional) 20 CATS
- BEM34 Project risk and financial analysis (Optional) 20 CATS
- BEM31 Management of People and Organisation (Optional) 20 CATS
- BEM37 Sustainable Construction (Optional) 20 CATS
- MSM02 Spatial data analysis (Optional) 20 CATS
- IAM20 Impact of Buildings on the Environment (Optional) 20 CATS
- IAM27 Environmental Impact Assessment (Optional) 20 CATS
- IAM28 Systems for Environmental Management (Optional) 20 CATS
- GYM01 Application to GIS (Optional) 20 CATS
- GYM02 Air Quality Management (Optional) 20 CATS
- BEM13 Masters Project (Mandatory for MSc) 60 CATS
Typical Masters-Level 20 CATS Module
A 20 CATS module normally requires a total 200 hours of study time. The timetabled contact time for 20 CATS taught module is a minimum of two hours teaching and two hours tutorial per week. A minimum of eight hours per week per module is used for self study, structured assignments, open ended assignments, and team working. All students must complete the Individual Learning Log.
A Post Graduate Certificate requires the achievement of 60 CAT points
A Post Graduate Diploma requires the achievement of 120 CAT points
To be awarded the MSc students must achieve 180 cat points, 60 of which must come from the Masters Project.
Costs: £1,200 for Certificate, £2,400 for Diploma and £3,600 for Masters.
Contact: Carol Wheeler on ca.wheeler@btinternet.com or 07770611597 (mobile).