Urban Design (MRes)

Contents

Course length

Full-time: 12 months, concentrated with lectures and seminars delivered on two days per week
Part-time: 24 months

The MRes in Urban Design consists of compulsory modules, an additional module from an array of options, and the dissertation, representing 190 master's-level credits.

Please note: as courses are reviewed regularly, the modules you choose from may vary from those shown here.

The indicative core research methods modules include:

* The Philosophy of Research This unit aims to introduce students to the key debates and issues in research. It builds skills in critically understanding a range of approaches to research and begins to build up their critical awareness of their own role as a researcher. A key focus is to consider how to evaluate research and the factors that contribute to 'good' research. Finally the unit equips students with the essential skills to begin research such as: literature and library searches; reviewing books and articles and undertaking a literature review.


* Qualitative Methods and Inquiry by Design aims to build skills in critically understanding and applying a range of methods for the generation and analysis of qualitative and design-based data. It further develops students’ skills in research design as well as introducing them to the practical application of research methods. The unit covers particular methods such as inquiry by design, in-depth interviewing and documentary analysis as well as discussing key issues and debates in qualitative and design research. Drawing on work carried out in the Department, students are given the opportunity to critically appraise examples of the application of these methods.
* Statistical Analysis Using SPSS aims to advance your knowledge of techniques of collecting primary and secondary data and carrying out a statistical analysis using SPSS. The module will develop further skills in social surveys and will appraise the different kinds of published data that are available. Data analysis will cover descriptive statistics together with methods of significance testing and multivariate analysis. The intention is to supply students with the theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to critically conduct and appraise statistical methods and to communicate findings in a written report.
* Urban Design Studio is a studio project-based module in which students apply the theoretical and operational concepts of urban design to a 'live' study site. You work in groups to produce design policy, site analysis, site proposals at appropriate scales and design rationales for the site in question. Ideas are tested through a public exhibition of work in the locality under study and through feedback from local experts. You are supported in this work by a series of tutorials with academic staff and professionals in practice.
* Urban Design Practice is a studio workshop-based module that introduces students to the essential skills required by urban design professionals in order to deliver urban design solutions. The studio workshop content includes site analysis, techniques for place making, space syntax as a design tools, economic feasibility, and sensory experience of places.
* Urban Design Theory I is a lecture- and seminar-based module in which you are introduced to the theoretical concepts underpinning current urban design practice approaches. The module includes the history and theory of urban design, the introduction of design approaches, and urban morphology. You are made aware of how urban form is produced and consumed and of the political and economic context of development. Subsequent lectures and seminars also cover urban movement frameworks looking at competition between different users of public space, and building typologies, density and character.
* Urban Design Theory II is structured around a core compulsory lecture series and a set of optional seminars from which you choose to attend two. Following the module Urban Design Theory I, this lecture and seminar-based module presents more detailed urban design theory and method. The module covers design for the sensory experience of space, problematic building types and mixed use, density issues, regeneration, guiding, and theory and practice. You are presented with a generic and contemporary issue. Working in a group, you then refine the issue and define terms of reference and methods of working. The specific topic varies from year to year reflecting current concerns, but could include cover coding and briefing for local identity, community design involvement, designing for distinctiveness or applying good urban design in relation to modern economic practice.

You are also expected to attend urban design development seminars selected from a range of topics. The dissertation comprises the Research Design and Strategies module, and the dissertation itself.

The course is offered as an MRes (PGDip and PGCert, exit award only).