Strategic Urban and Regional Planning, 15 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  or 
  other relevant subject area.
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6).
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to 

• describe and explain key concepts in urban and regional planning
• critically examine and analyse planning theories and planning practices
• explain how digitalisation, urbanisation, climate change globalisation and social equality are key challenges for strategic urban and regional planning
• apply models and theories for management, organisation and steering of projects
• manage geographical information for spatial analysis
• demonstrate academic writing competence by applying rules for citations and references
• explain the meaning and consequences of plagiarism

Course content

The course's starting point is to introduce urban and regional planning as a theoretical topic and how it relates to planning practices. This course introduces three main tracks; (1) how strategic urban and regional planning relates to challenges such as climate change, digitalisation, urbanisation globalization and social equality and also how it contributes to spatial patterns and changes at a local, regional, national and global level; (2) how projects function as a form of work and how projects can be planned and managed with the help of different methods and tools in urban and regional  planning; (3) introduce fundamental planning tools such as GIS. The course also addresses the planner's role in decision making, working methods and approaches in strategic planning. Furthermore, the course introduces scientific discussion forms and critically examines academic literature. In the course, students also study the significance of an academic approach and apply fundamental rules for academic references and citations.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching at the course consists of lectures, seminars, oral presentations and laboratory exercises. Homework and independent study are a necessary complement to the course.
Language of instructions: English

Examination

The course is examined through:

• Individual written exam, grading scale EC
• Individual written assignments, grading scale EC
• Written group work, EC
• Active participations in seminars, grading scale EC
• Laboratory exercises, grading scale EC

To pass the course (E) as a final grade, it is required that all examinations using the pass-fail grading system (active participation in seminars and laboratory exercises) obtain a passing score and at least ‘E’ on the written exam, individual written assignments and written group work.

For ‘D’ as the final grade in the course, the student must also obtain at least 75 percent ‘D’ on the individual written exam, individual written assignments and written group work.

For C’ as the final grade in the course, the student must also obtain at least 75 percent ‘C’ on the individual written exam, individual written assignments and written group work.

For ‘B’ as the final grade in the course, the student must also obtain at least 75 percent ‘B’ on the individual written exam individual written assignments and written group work.

For ‘A’ as the final grade in the course, the student must also obtain at least 75 percent ‘A’ on the individual written exam, individual written assignments and written group work.

Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

About teaching and examination language

The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows: 

• If teaching language is “Swedish”, the course as a whole could be given in Swedish, or partly, or as a whole, in English. Examination language is Swedish, but parts of the examination can be in English.
• If teaching language is “English”, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
• If teaching language is “Swedish/English”, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English depending on teaching language.

Department