Environment 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. Essential study and communication skills for academic study and future employability are given early emphasis so that students are well equipped to take full advantage of the wide range of teaching and learning resources resources including the Planning Studio, the Central Teaching Labs and external speaker series that are made available for their benefit. The ‘Understanding Places’ module includes a residential field class.

Compulsory modules:

• Town and Country Planning: an Introduction
• Contemporary Town Planning
• Neighbourhood Planning
• Urban and Environmental Economics
• Ecology and Conservation
• Understanding Places

Two options normally selected from:

• New Horizons in Human Geography
• Living with Environmental Change
• Human Geography through Merseyside
• Social Change & Social Policy in Contemporary Society 1
• Social Change & Social Policy in Contemporary Society 2: Changing Inequalities

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.

• 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 be able to understand and explain why community engagement is important in planning, in theoretical and practical terms

  ​Students will have practiced and improved their skills of critical reading and analysis

• 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.

• 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.

• Ecology and Conservation (ENVS157) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 70:30 Aims

  Aims Using certain key themes, to introduce students to the complex and multifaceted nature of environmental issues and ecological science, particularly stressing the interrelationships between their biophysical and human dimensions.

  To encourage students to manage their own learning.

  Learning Outcomes

  Learning Outcomes Students completing this module should have:

  an appreciation of the complexities and multifaceted nature of environmental issues.

  an understanding of land-use change, its history, the main drivers and their interactions.

  an overview of natural disasters and irreversible environmental change.

  an introduction to the politics of natural resources and energy.

  a basic understanding of ecological principles,

  an understanding of the complexities of conserving biodiversity.

  an understanding of the scientific debate about evidence for global climate change, the possible socio-economic impacts of various climate change scenarios, and possible ameliorative measures.

• 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.

• Human Geography Through Merseyside (ENVS162) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

  This module is designed with the following aims in mind:

  • Introduce students to key areas of human geography inquiry practised at the University of Liverpool through engagement in intensive day-long practical exercises.
  • Ground learning in a particular geographic context through focus on human geographic processes in Merseyside and Liverpool.
  • Provide students with practical experience in a variety of methods for collecting and analysing geographic data.
  • Allow students to practise speaking and writing about geographic concepts and linking these concepts to real-world examples.
  • Provide experience working independently and in groups.
  • Prepare students for studying Human Geography in subsequent years.
  Learning Outcomes

  Upon completion of this module, successful students will be able to

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