Undergraduate Course: Landscape Theories: Society (ARCH08067)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Landscape Theories: Society introduces students to critical frameworks for understanding and analysing urban landscapes and global cities. The course explores how societal, cultural, political, and/or environmental processes shape urban landscapes, with topics such as public space governance, food security, community participation, infrastructure in relation to global crisis and climate adaptation. Students engage with interdisciplinary perspectives, drawing on landscape architecture, geography, urban studies, sociology, and urban planning, and examine diverse theoretical frameworks, including non-Western approaches. The course encourages reflection on how cities are both shaped by and respond to human and ecological processes, fostering awareness of equity, resilience, and cultural specificity in urban landscapes. |
| Course description |
Understanding how urban landscapes and global cities result from and impact society is essential for Landscape Architecture. In Landscape Theories: Society, students will learn how to situate their work within complex societal, infrastructural and ecological systems. This course equips students with critical, analytical, and interdisciplinary skills to interpret urban contexts, integrate theoretical insights into design thinking, and develop socially and environmentally responsive interventions. By studying global urban examples and diverse perspectives, students gain the ability to critically reflect on urban landscapes that are inclusive, contextually informed, and globally aware, preparing them for professional practice in diverse urban environments.
Students can expect a highly participatory learning experience, combining lectures, tutorials, classroom activities and online discussions/exercises during seminars. Weekly sessions involve discussion of key readings, case studies, and thematic topics, supported by preparatory individual work such as reflective notes and short exercises. Summative assessments are integrated into learning through an Urban Case Study Presentation and a Reading Journal, allowing iterative development of critical reflection, synthesis, and communication skills. Students are expected to engage both in structured weekly sessions and in independent and/or small-group preparation, building a deep and applied understanding of urban landscape theory and societal challenges
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically interpret key landscape theories and interdisciplinary perspectives relevant to societal and climatic challenges in urban landscapes and cities.
- Analyse and compare theoretical approaches through the examination of diverse global case studies, demonstrating critical awareness of how concepts shape urban landscapes and practice across cultural contexts.
- Communicate informed and well-structured arguments through written, visual, and verbal means, demonstrating critical reflection on diverse theoretical positions and their societal implications.
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Reading List
Hagan, Susannah (2015) Ecological Urbanism: The Nature of the City. London: Taylor & Francis.
Harvey, David (2013) Rebel Cities: From the Right to the City to the Urban Revolution. London: Verso.
Orff, Kate (2016) Toward an Urban Ecology: SCAPE / Landscape Architecture. New York: The Monacelli Press.
Rajendran, Lakshmi Priya; Odeleye, NezHapi-Dellé; Can, Aysegul (2025) Resilient Cities in the Global South Rethinking Informality in Urban Planning and Design. London: Taylor & Francis.
Sassen, Saskia (2001) The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Wall, Ed, Waterman, Tim and Wolff, Jane (eds.) (2021) Landscape Citizenships. Routledge.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Through engagement with Landscape Theories: Society, students will develop a broad set of intellectual and transferable skills aligned with the University's Skills for Success Framework (SFSF). The course cultivates curiosity, critical thinking, and creative communication while encouraging students to situate their disciplinary learning within diverse societal and global contexts.
Critical Thinking
Students will question prevailing theories and practices in urban landscape and urbanism, identifying assumptions and biases within dominant Western paradigms. By engaging with interdisciplinary and non-Western perspectives, they will learn to evaluate evidence, discern significance, and articulate well-informed arguments that connect theoretical discourse to contemporary societal and climate challenges.
Collaboration
Group discussions and shared seminar tasks will develop students' ability to listen actively, respect diverse viewpoints, and work collectively. Collaboration will be used as a means to deepen understanding of how social, cultural, and environmental systems intersect within global urban contexts.
Reflection
Students will engage in guided reflection on their own positionality, values, and approaches to knowledge. Reflective exercises embedded in class activities will help them recognise their evolving understanding of landscape theory, and how this knowledge connects to future professional and ethical practice.
Communication
Through oral presentations and written argumentation, students will learn to communicate complex theoretical ideas with clarity and creativity. They will develop skills in academic writing, supported by effective referencing and visual literacy.
Inclusivity
The course embraces diverse voices and case studies, fostering an inclusive learning environment where students engage respectfully with different cultural and intellectual traditions. Students will develop global awareness and sensitivity to issues of equity, representation, and environmental justice in landscape theory and practice.
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| Keywords | Urban landscapes; landscape theory; urbanism; Global cities,socio-environmental challenges. |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Penny Travlou
Tel: (0131 6)51 5825
Email: p.travlou@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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