Town and Regional Planning MA

Program Overview

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This Master's program in Town and Regional Planning provides comprehensive knowledge and skills in spatial planning, urban design, and spatial modeling. Graduates gain expertise in analyzing and solving complex planning issues, developing sustainable solutions, and navigating the ethical challenges faced by planners. The program offers three specialization pathways and prepares students for careers in planning-related roles within public and private organizations.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This Master's course is designed for graduates with limited prior knowledge in town and regional planning. The program offers three pathways for specialization, allowing students to tailor their studies to their specific interests.

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Objectives:

• Develop a critical understanding of the challenges facing modern society in reconciling economic growth with environmental protection.
• Gain knowledge of diverse planned interventions at various spatial scales, focusing on effective and implementable solutions to policy dilemmas.
• Acquire a range of analytical skills and techniques for developing appropriate solutions to complex problems.
• Apply knowledge, skills, and understanding to real-life problems and achieve feasible solutions.
• Develop strong professional values and ethics, recognizing the diverse interests served by planning.
• Explore ideas, perspectives, and debates within a specialized area of planning.

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Outline:

The program is structured into three pathways: Spatial Planning, Urban Design, and Spatial Modeling. Each pathway includes compulsory and optional modules.

• Trends, Outcomes and Impacts (ENVS469): This module introduces statistical analysis and mapping techniques for analyzing contemporary spatial planning issues.
• Making Plans (ENVS427): This module provides a knowledge base of spatial planning disciplines, covering the historical evolution of plan-making approaches, methods and techniques used in plan preparation and implementation, and critical thinking skills for reviewing contemporary plan-making practices.
• Dissertation MCD/MA/MSc Planning (ENVS491): This module supports students in developing, researching, and executing an independent research project under academic supervision.

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Optional Modules:

• Making Places (ENVS439): This module explores the processes and issues involved in the making and remaking of urban places, providing skills for analyzing place quality and characteristics.
• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF POLICIES, PLANS, PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS (ENVS529): This module introduces environmental assessment theory and practice.
• Spatial Planning Challenges (ENVS411): This module examines the conflicts faced by planners in delivering sustainable development, exploring social, economic, and environmental issues.
• Applied Geographic Information Science (ENVS609): This module introduces the use of GIS tools for creating digital representations of the world and reviews potential problems and pitfalls.
• Environmental Planning and Management Project (ENVS560): This client-led module involves a mini-project executed in groups, allowing students to apply their knowledge of environmental assessment and management in practice.
• Green Infrastructure Planning (ENVS545): This module introduces green infrastructure and green space planning, addressing its principles, values, utility, and multiscale implementation.
• Implementing and Managing Change (ENVS459): This module explores the statutory and practical basis of planning and the challenges faced by planners in managing change.
• Spatial Planning and Design Project (ENVS467): This project-based module involves working with a client to develop a strategy for improving a selected area.
• Urban Design Studio (ENVS463): This studio- and client-based module supports a local community group or a Community Interest Company, providing practical design experience.
• Dissertation MCD/MA/MSc Planning (ENVS491): This module supports students in developing, researching, and executing an independent research project under academic supervision.

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Optional Modules:

• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF POLICIES, PLANS, PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS (ENVS529): This module introduces environmental assessment theory and practice.
• Making Places (ENVS439): This module explores the processes and issues involved in the making and remaking of urban places, providing skills for analyzing place quality and characteristics.
• Planning for Housing and Home (ENVS635): This module examines the relationship between housing, home, and planning through social, economic, and political processes.
• Spatial Planning Challenges (ENVS411): This module examines the conflicts faced by planners in delivering sustainable development, exploring social, economic, and environmental issues.
• Trends, Outcomes and Impacts (ENVS469): This module introduces statistical analysis and mapping techniques for analyzing contemporary spatial planning issues.
• Environmental Planning and Management Project (ENVS560): This client-led module involves a mini-project executed in groups, allowing students to apply their knowledge of environmental assessment and management in practice.
• Green Infrastructure Planning (ENVS545): This module introduces green infrastructure and green space planning, addressing its principles, values, utility, and multiscale implementation.
• Implementing and Managing Change (ENVS459): This module explores the statutory and practical basis of planning and the challenges faced by planners in managing change.
• Spatial Planning and Design Project (ENVS467): This project-based module involves working with a client to develop a strategy for improving a selected area.
• Trends, Outcomes and Impacts (ENVS469): This module introduces statistical analysis and mapping techniques for analyzing contemporary spatial planning issues.
• Applied Geographic Information Science (ENVS609): This module introduces the use of GIS tools for creating digital representations of the world and reviews potential problems and pitfalls.
• Dissertation MCD/MA/MSc Planning (ENVS491): This module supports students in developing, researching, and executing an independent research project under academic supervision.

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Optional Modules:

• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF POLICIES, PLANS, PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS (ENVS529): This module introduces environmental assessment theory and practice.
• Making Places (ENVS439): This module explores the processes and issues involved in the making and remaking of urban places, providing skills for analyzing place quality and characteristics.
• Planning for Housing and Home (ENVS635): This module examines the relationship between housing, home, and planning through social, economic, and political processes.
• Spatial Planning Challenges (ENVS411): This module examines the conflicts faced by planners in delivering sustainable development, exploring social, economic, and environmental issues.
• Environmental Planning and Management Project (ENVS560): This client-led module involves a mini-project executed in groups, allowing students to apply their knowledge of environmental assessment and management in practice.
• Green Infrastructure Planning (ENVS545): This module introduces green infrastructure and green space planning, addressing its principles, values, utility, and multiscale implementation.
• Implementing and Managing Change (ENVS459): This module explores the statutory and practical basis of planning and the challenges faced by planners in managing change.
• Spatial Planning and Design Project (ENVS467): This project-based module involves working with a client to develop a strategy for improving a selected area.

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Assessment:

Students are assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations. Coursework includes essays, reports, seminar presentations, and group projects. Examinations test knowledge, understanding, and critical reflection on course materials. The final project, based on a topic related to the student's specialization, involves independent research and is assessed based on the initial presentation, research outline, and dissertation.

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Teaching:

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, project work, and field visits. Students are encouraged to take a proactive approach to their learning, planning and organizing their studies individually and in groups.

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Careers:

Upon completion of the program, most graduates pursue planning-related employment with public and private sector organizations outside of the UK. The program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to specialize in areas of planning with high demand for graduates.

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Other:

• The program is not accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institution.
• The Department of Geography and Planning is home to the world's first planning school and is a leading provider of professional education.
• The department edits two international journals: Town Planning Review and Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management.
• The program is available for study on a part-time basis, subject to visa regulations.
• The program includes a field trip, with an estimated cost of £500.
• The program is offered at the University of Liverpool, a member of the Russell Group.

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Tuition Fees:

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UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)

• Full-time place, per year
£11,600
• Part-time place, per year
£5,800

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International fees

• Full-time place, per year
£22,400
• Part-time place, per year
£11,200