THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Undergraduate Course: Landscape Architecture Placement: Research (ARCH10030)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate)
Course typePlacement AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course is part of the MA (Hons) Landscape Architecture programme. Placement refers to the period when you undertake work experience or related research into professional practice. In this course you will be required to initiate an investigation of a landscape architectural topic of your interest negotiated with a member of academic staff. You will present a 4,000-word essay centred on the refinement and development of your own line of enquiry which will then be further developed in year four, in the course Landscape Architecture Dissertation or Landscape Architecture Dissertation-by-Design.
Course description The work placement period is a significant component of the Landscape Architecture MA (Hons) curriculum, introducing you to concerns involved in professional practice and, more specifically, in landscape architecture design work carried out during placement and before full graduation.

This course encourages you to initiate research on a topic of your interest within the discipline of landscape architecture, negotiated with a member of academic staff who has the expertise or shares similar interests in the theme.

The course requirement is to produce a 4,000-word essay that is coherently argued, fully referenced and appropriately illustrated. Building on skills previously developed in Landscape Architecture Context 2B (Year 2, semester 2), the written output should demonstrate a high level of critical enquiry together with an understanding of the scholarly protocols of research and acknowledgement. Preparation and research for the course will be supported remotely by lectures and video tutorials.

You will receive briefing lectures before going on placement in semester 2, and then you will be supported through Online Distance Learning. You will be allocated a dedicated tutor who will act as a mentor, ensuring that flexibility of contact is balanced with adequate support while you are studying off-campus. In most cases where feasible, your dedicated tutor will also supervise you on the dissertation in year 4.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is only available to students enrolled on the MA (Hons) Landscape Architecture programme.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  19
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 3, Online Activities 2, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Formative Assessment Hours 1, Summative Assessment Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 188 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The final grade for this course is based entirely (100%) on the submission of a written essay (4,000 words), due in Examination Period.

Students are marked against the Learning Outcomes, which are weighted equally.

The report is graded directly against the Learning Outcomes of the course.
Students can still pass the course overall if they fail one Learning Outcome.
Feedback a) Formative feedback

Week 4: You will submit digitally to LEARN the following elements:
Chapter outline including a very short summary of each chapter;
Introduction;
Main components of literature review;
Selection of case studies (if applicable);
Preliminary conclusions.

You will receive short written formative feedback from your allocated tutor within 15 working days, followed by a video tutorial. If necessary, the Course Organiser may also decide to conduct a 1-1 tutorial via video-call.

b) Summative feedback

After the submission of your 4,000-word essay you will receive short written summative feedback.
Summative feedback will comprise grading based on the course learning outcomes. All of the learning outcomes will be weighted equally.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Identify with clarity and rigour a research topic with appropriate relevance to the discipline of landscape architecture.
  2. Conduct fundamental research by following with precision a self-defined research methodology.
  3. Develop a structured, well-written, well-referenced and appropriately illustrated intellectual argument through a high level of critical enquiry.
Reading List
Reading List:
Booth, W. C.; Colomb, G. C.; Williams, J. M. (2008). The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press, USA
Russell, Terrence M. (1992). Essays, Reports and Dissertations: Guidance Notes on the Preparation and Presentation of Written Work. University of Edinburgh Library Guide No. 42.
Joyner, R. L.; Rouse, W. A.; Glathorn, A. A. (2013). Writing the Winning Dissertation: a step-by-step guide. Corwin Press, USA
Madsen, D. (1992) Successful Dissertations & Theses: a guide to graduate student research from proposal to completion

Editorial List for further reference:
Journals
Journal of Landscape Architecture, JOLA (2-2016) Editorial Papers
Landscape Research Editorial Papers

Web
Landscape Performance: http://landscapeperformance.org/
Scenario Journal: www.scenariojournal.com
Places Journal: www.placesjournal.org
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills This course has a substantial capacity for contributing to the development of personal and professional attributes and skills across all SCQF characteristics of learning due to the self-directed nature of the course. In addition, upon the successful completion of this course you will have:

1) Improved your independent, self-directed research skills, using methodologies, techniques and tools;
2) Improved your critical analysis skills in: thinking, writing, documentation and publication;
3) Improved your written and verbal communication skills in a precise and finely edited format.
KeywordsTheoretical development,Critical enquiry,Placement,Landscape architectural research
Contacts
Course organiserMs Tiffany Dang
Tel:
Email: tdang@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Brendan Sweeney
Tel: (0131 6)50 6329
Email: bsweeney@ed.ac.uk
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