Geography and Planning BA (Hons)

The first year of study is a foundation year that provides an introduction to basic features of the planning system in the United Kingdom and an awareness of the broad social, economic and environmental context in which contemporary planning issues arise. You will also be introduced to a number of key issues in Geography including climate change, globalisation, sustainability and fieldwork, which will provide the basis of your degree. Essential study and communication skills are given early emphasis so that students are well equipped to take full advantage of the wide range of teaching and learning resources that are made available for their benefit.

Compulsory modules:

• Town and Country Planning: an Introduction
• Contemporary Town Planning
• Urban and Environmental Economics
• Living with Environmental Change
• New Horizons in Human Geography
• Research Frontiers in Human Geography

Plus one Skills module from:

• Understanding Places (Planning)
• Study Skills & GIS (Human Geography)

Two options normally selected from:

• Neighbourhood Planning
• Ecology and Conservation
• Human Geography through Merseyside
• Social Change & Social Policy in Contemporary Society 1
• Social Change & Social Policy in Contemporary Society 2: Changing Inequalities
• Foundations in International Politics

As a result of completing Year One, students will be expected to demonstrate:

• Basic study skills in social science methodology, information technology and various forms of communication
• An understanding of the key issues affecting contemporary society from the perspective of both the natural and built environment

An awareness of the scope and practice of contemporary town planning and regeneration.

• Study Skills and Gis (ENVS100) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

  To develop essential study and disciplinary skills required by Geographers, both for their current studies and future employment.

  • Introduce students to key approaches/concepts and ideas in Geography
  • To help students identify and effectively employ appropriate sources of data and information
  • Develop students'' study skills and provide essential training for subsequent years
  • Develop students'' personal transferable skills.
  •   To enhance student employability and make students aware of the key skills taught throughout the programme relevant to career and employability development.
  • To introduce the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to Environmental/Social Science
  Learning Outcomes

  Ability to record field observations and ideas. 

  ​Use IT tools to find accurate and up to date information. 

  Undertake independent GPS data collection.

  ​Demonstrate basic GIS interpretation and analysis techniques.

  Plan and structure written work to University standard. 

  Ability to critically evaluate academic publications.

  Prepare and deliver poster presentations.​

  Awareness of the importance of early planning for employability enhancement.

• Understanding Place (ENVS105) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

• ​To develop students'' understanding of how places function.

• To introduce and begin to develop the skills needed by students and practitioners of planning​

  
  

• ​To introduce students to the city of Liverpool and other cities from a planning perspective

Learning Outcomes

​Students will have developed their understanding of how places function and will have applied this understanding to Liverpool and other cities.

​​Students will have been introduced to the range of skills needed to study and practice planning, and will have applied these skills in a range of contexts.​


​Students will have spent time analysing different aspects of the city of Liverpool and other cities from a planning perspective.

• Town & Country Planning: An Introduction (ENVS110) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 75:25 Aims

  Disclaimer: Information correct at time of publication. Students should refer to the Student Spider Web for changes to Module Specifications and the Civic Design webpage /civicdesign for current Programme Structures.  Planned programme structure subject to Faculty approval. Students will be notified of any major changes to the Programme Structure by email.

  This module aims to provide an introduction to the history, theory and practice of town and country planning in Britain.   

  Learning Outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the module, students should:

  a)  be conversant with the growth and development of town planning in Britain;

  b)  be familiar with the operation of the current planning system;

  c)  be able to discuss selected issues in contemporary planning theory and practice.

• New Horizons In Human Geography (ENVS116) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 100:0 Aims

  The module aims:

  • to e xplain and analyse the dynamics of poverty, resistance and ethnic diversity;  
  • to u nderstand the causes of poverty and to evaluate the potential solutions to under-development;
  • to assess the nature of political geographies and social movement;
  • to understand how and why there are ethnic inequalities in contemporary society.
  Learning Outcomes

  ​To understand the complex causes of global poverty and under-development

  ​To ​​explore the possible solutions to global poverty issues

  To examine the political nature of social movement and collective resistance   ​

  ​To understand the spatial analysis of ethnic diversity

• Living With Environmental Change (ENVS119) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 100:0 Aims

  The over-arching aim of thismodule is to introduce students to the so-called ‘Grand Challenges’ facingsociety and what is being done to address them. Living with Environmental Change is a key interdisciplinaryresearch theme currently being addressed worldwide; from tackling climatechange and carbon emissions to promoting sustainable resource use and energyefficiency. This module illustrates that an interdisciplinary approach iscrucial to identifying the underlying problems faced by humanity and to findingholistic and sustainable solutions.

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  Learning Outcomes

  ​Obtain an understanding of the Grand Challenges facing society;

  ​Develop an appreciation of the significance of interdisciplinary working in addressing the Grand Challenges;

  ​Understand that Geography plays a key role in the Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) research agenda;

  ​Become familiar with the linkages between research, policy and sustainability.

• Contemporary Town Planning (ENVS152) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims
  

  The aim of this module is to: 

  A. extend understanding of the form and operation of planning systems at the local level; 

  B. to provide practical experience of data gathering, analysis and policy formulation for planning purposes; 

  C. to develop skills in group working, written, visual and aural presentation. 

  Learning Outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the module, students should:   

  1.     Be conversant with the process of plan preparation at the local scale and aware of current issues and debates in local planning practice;  

  
  

   

  ​2.       Be able to undertake simple local planning surveys, gather secondary data, present, analyse and interpret their findings and formulate simple plans for the development of small areas; 

  3. ​ Be able to work in a group and to present their work using written, visual and aural methods.

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• Urban and Environmental Economics (ENVS155) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 60:40 Aims

  Disclaimer: Information correct at time of publication. Students should refer to the Student Spider Web for changes to Module Specifications and the Civic Design webpage /civicdesign for current Programme Structures.  Planned programme structure subject to Faculty approval. Students will be notified of any major changes to the Programme Structure by email.

  The principal objectives of the module are:

  • To provide an introduction of some key micro and macro-economic concepts and principles relevant to urban and environmental policies.
  • To introduce basic spatial analytical techniques and methods used to analyse economic and demographic trends and issues.
  • To appreciate the ways in which economic and demographic analyses contribute to urban and environmental planning.
  Learning Outcomes

  Students completing the course will:

  1)     have a basic knowledge of the history of economic ideas and the core characteristics of differing schools of thought;

   2)    have a grounded understanding of the economic characteristics of land and environmental regulation; 

  3)     be familiar with the economic reasoning used to analyse issues in the built and natural environment and be able to relate this to spatial planning practice.

• Research Frontiers In Human Geography (ENVS161) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 80:20 Aims

  This module will provide students with an introduction to cutting edge debates in contemporary human geography.

  Learning Outcomes

  ​ Recognize the contribution and interplay of key subdisciplinary areas within contemporary human geography

  ​ Apply geographical thought to a range of ‘real world’ issues

• Neighbourhood Planning (ENVS102) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

• Develop students’ appreciation of the importance of planning at the neighbourhood scale

• Develop students'' understanding about planning for local need

• Develop students'' understanding of the value of ​community engagement in planning

• ​Improve student''s skills in critical reading & analysis, and group work & presentation​

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to explain the importance of planning at the neighbourhood scale

​​Students will have had experience of gathering data related to the neighbourhood level and presenting that data​
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​Students will...