Undergraduate Course: Landscape Architecture: Contemporary Theory & Practice (ARCH10050)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores the relationship between theory and landscape architectural practice. It introduces students to writings and writers that comprise the core of contemporary landscape architectural theory, and traces the theoretical roots of landscape architecture in related disciplines, such as geography, ecology, architecture, sociology and art. At the end of this course, students will understand the value and make use of theory in design, and will be able to articulate the diverse intellectual, social and political dimensions of landscape. |
| Course description |
The Landscape Architecture: Contemporary Theory & Practice course explores how theory can challenge assumptions and offer new ways of thinking about key problems and research causes in contemporary landscape architecture. The course encourages you to define, plan and complete landscape architectural research on a topic of your interest and author a written essay with the support of the course organiser and dedicated tutors.
Through the production of a coherently argued, fully referenced and appropriately illustrated piece of academic writing you will learn about contemporary core research methods, theories, tools, and techniques in landscape architecture. We expect that you will engage in robust interdisciplinary research that will set up the basis for your research project.
Preparation and research for the course will be supported by research methods seminars to help you to plan and organise the study materials and research methods required in the writing of the research project. Tutorials will be provided at strategic moments in the revision and development of your work. The course engages you in developing research and writing skills and communicating academic work to a professional standard.
This course runs through weeks 1-11, involving group seminars and lectures, alongside 1-to-1 tutorials that will be communicated via Learn and course tutors.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is only available to ECA students on degree programmes belonging to Landscape Architecture. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 25 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 6,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 13,
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
174 )
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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 1 assessment component.
Essay (4000 words) 100%, due in week 12
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| Feedback |
Formative feedback
In week 6, each student will submit a short written proposal for their final Essay (max 500 words), outlining a plan for an original work of research including a description of the topic, the key research question(s), sources and method(s). Written and verbal formative feedback will be provided.
Summative feedback
Summative feedback will be offered against all LO's and provided with the final course marks, as per University regulations.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary design theories and the ways in which they can inform specific approaches to, and practices of, landscape architecture.
- Analyse through careful argument how landscape architecture fits within wider theoretical discourses.
- Produce a coherent, well-written and illustrated piece of academic writing, following appropriate referencing conventions.
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Reading List
Bishop, K. & Corkery, L. (2023) Routledge Handbook of Urban Landscape Research. Routledge, London
Booth, W. C. Colomb, G. C. & Williams, J. M. (2008). The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press, USA
Dessler, A. (2016) Introduction to Modern Climate Change. 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press
van den Brink, A. Bruns, D. et al. (2016) Research in Landscape Architecture: Methods and Methodology. Routledge, London
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research and enquiry: conduct research and enquiry into issues relevant to contemporary landscape studies, including either quantitative or qualitative methods, synthesised into a designed written outcome.
Personal and intellectual autonomy: think independently and exercise personal judgment, to recognise and address ethical dilemmas, social responsibility and sustainability issues, with relevance to landscape studies.
Personal effectiveness: have an ability to prioritise, plan and effectively use resources to achieve self-directed aims, while managing time effectively.
Communication: be able to communicate complex ideas and arguments to produce clear, structured written work. |
| Keywords | Landscape Theory,Cultural Practice,Reflective Writing |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Michelle Bastian
Tel: (0131 6)51 5779
Email: Michelle.Bastian@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Abbie Humphreys
Tel: (01316) 502306
Email: ahumphr2@ed.ac.uk |
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