MSc Urban Studies / Course details

This course unit provides an introduction to some of the most important debates in contemporary urban theory, planning theory and practice. It does not, and could not, attempt to cover all of planning theory and urban theory. Rather, it looks at the intersection of the two. The particular ‘take’ of this course unit involves exploring evolving issues in these two literatures around ‘the good city’ and ‘the good planner.’ The exploration of planning theory provides students the opportunity to re-evaluate the fundamental basis of planning activity and enables them to consider the role that planning should play in democratic society, which helps students become reflective practitioners in their future careers and rounded scholars.

The unit aims to:

Introduce students to the development of different, and often competing, modes of planning thought.

Enable students to identify and analyse the relationship between urban theory, planning theory and planning practice, for use in their future careers.

Equip students with the ability to critique the main functions of planning intervention.

Raise students’ awareness of the impact of ethics and values upon planning thought and practice, in relation to their future careers.
 

By the end of the course students will have developed:

1. Critical awareness of the broader social and environmental context to planning activity.
2. An appreciation of the dominant themes in planning theory and urban theory.
3. Awareness of the nature of the theory-practice gap.
4. Understanding of the impact of differing social and political agendas upon the direction of urban planning.
5. Have established an appropriate framework for reflective practice
    

For post-graduate students, the course will have at its heart a series of weekly 2-hour lecture slots, supported by five seminar classes, two assessment support drop-in hours and one essay workshop. You are welcome to email and to come and discuss issues with course unit director and by arrangement with other module teaching staff. 
 

Explain the main themes in planning theory and urban theory
Evaluate the impact of professional ethics and values upon planning thought and practice

Interpret the nature of the theory-practice gap in planning 
Critically analyse the impact of differing social and political agendas upon the direction of urban planning

Synthesise and critically evaluate arguments from academic literature in urban theory and planning theory
Apply appropriate theoretical ideas and debates to analyse planning practice and activity

Develop an appropriate framework for reflective practice
Compose analytical and reflective writing in relation to urban theory, planning theory and planning practice

Reflection on Seminar discussion (1000 words) 35% weighting

Essay (1500 words) 65% weighting

Feedback given as per Faculty’s timeframe. 

Allmendinger, P. (2017) Planning theory (3rd edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Fainstein, S.S. and DeFilippis, J. (eds.) (2015) Readings in Planning Theory (4th edition). Chichester: Wiley.

Fainstein, S.S. and Campbell S. (eds.) (2011) Readings in Urban Theory (3rd edition). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Haughton, G. and White, I. (2019) Why Plan?: Theory for Practitioners. London: Lund Humphries.

Healey, P. (1997) Collaborative Planning: Shaping Places in Fragmented Spaces. Basingstoke: Macmillan.

Lawhon, M. (2020) Making Urban Theory: Learning and Unlearning through Southern Cities. London: Routledge.

McCann, E. and Ward, K. (eds.) (2011) Mobile Urbanism: City Policymaking in the Global Age. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.

Pojani, D. (ed.) (2022) Alternative Planning History and Theory. London: Routledge.

Sandercock, L. (1998) Towards Cosmopolis: Planning for Multicultural Cities. Chichester: Wiley.