Undergraduate Course: Landscape Theories: Critical Zones (ARCH08061)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Landscape Theories: Critical Zones covers aspects of physical geography (e.g. geology, geomorphology, hydrology, soils, and climate) that are relevant to landscape architects, introducing students to the processes underlying the physical development of landscapes. The course combines theory, practical exercises and field trips to provide students with a basis to understand the constantly evolving Critical Zone: the near-surface environment of the Earth where rock, soil, water, air and living organisms interact. |
| Course description |
Starting with physical geography and the main Earth systems (geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere), this Landscape Theories course provides students with fundamental knowledge about the various processes that modify our planet's surface at different spatial and temporal scales. We focus on the Critical Zone, where cause-and-effect relationships between different spheres determine the availability of life-sustaining resources.
A theoretical understanding of the way different forces shape landforms is deepened through practical exercises designed to help students understand how landscapes emerge from, and continue to evolve as a result of, complex material interactions in the Critical Zone. Field observations, sketching and modelling tasks allow students to develop analytical skills, to see landscapes as interconnected and dynamic. The ability to recognise and interpret historic and current patterns, as well as their underlying processes is crucial in helping students understand why landscapes look and function the way they do, while also grasping the nature and impacts of climate change.
Landscape Theories: Critical Zones runs through weeks 1-11. The weekly lecture (2 hours) is supported by a related seminar/workshop (2 hours), organised as a combined teaching event, one morning per week. This routine teaching will be punctuated by individual tutorials (30 mins each) and varied durations of directed fieldwork within the greater Edinburgh area, which will be communicated through course materials. Together, these ensure theory is firmly grounded in landscape architecture practice. Over the course of the semester, students will develop their own self-directed inquiry into how a given landscape has come to be, then attempt to predict its future changes.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Only open to students studying on the MA (Hons) Landscape Architecture |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
| Course Start Date |
15/09/2025 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 2,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 18,
Fieldwork Hours 24,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
127 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course comprises of 2 assessment components
- Field sketches (5-7 drawings), 30%, due in week 7
- Workbook (10-15 pages), 70%, due in the December exam diet
Field sketches should stem from direct fieldwork, as a first stage assessment of your ability to visually record field base observations. In the subsequent workbook submission, these sketches can be refined and synthesised with other elements of coursework. The field sketches submission is graded against LO1 only.
The workbook should have a narrative that synthesises knowledge acquired during the semester and makes use of completed practical exercises as well as re-drawn field sketches and written up field notes. Details on how to construct this narrative and collate and present material will be given in the course syllabus. The workbook is graded against all three learning outcomes. |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback
To support the development of their work, students will receive regular verbal feedback and feedforward during fieldwork and workshops as well as through tutorials. Written formative feedback will be provided by course tutors specifically for the workbook submission around the mid-point of the semester.
Summative feedback
At the end of the course students will receive written feedback from the course tutor on their final submission, as per University regulations. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an analytical awareness of the various processes that contribute to shaping the Earth's surface and how their interactions produce landscapes.
- Apply a range of methods to analyse and interpret landforms, patterns and terrain history at different spatial and temporal scales.
- Articulate findings through written and drawn material that synthesises theoretical knowledge and practical interpretation.
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Reading List
Barry, Roger G., Chorley, Richard J. & Serreze, Mark C. (2009) Atmosphere, Weather and Climate. Routledge.
Bell, Simon (2012) Landscape: Pattern, Perception and Process. (2nd edition). Routledge.
Holden, Joseph (2017) An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment. (4th edition). Pearson.
Huggett, Richard J. (2011) Fundamentals of Geomorphology. (3rd edition). Routledge.
Swailes, Janet (2016) Field Sketching and the Experience of Landscape. Routledge. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research and Enquiry: The ability to recognise landscape patterns, analyse them and research how they've been formed over time as a result of different processes happening at different scales as well as speculate on how they might change as a result of climate change.
Personal and intellectual autonomy: The ability to deploy a variety of geomorphological analysis methods, which can be applied in subsequent planning and design studio courses.
Communication: The ability to effectively synthesise and communicate research findings, such as field notes, in writing and drawing. |
| Keywords | geomorphology,processes,patterns,landforms,field sketching |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Milja Tuomivaara
Tel:
Email: mtuomiva@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Chloe Hancock
Tel: (0131 6)50 4124
Email: chancock@ed.ac.uk |
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