ORIENTATION WEEK MA Urban Design, PG Diploma Urban Design, PG Certificate Urban Design 2018/19 Dear student, We look forward to welcoming you to MA Programme in Urban Design at orientation on Tuesday 18 September. We are enclosing a programme for the day. There is an additional orientation day on Wednesday 19th September for full time students only this is especially important for students from abroad. Teaching starts 26 September 2018 and classes will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Full details of your timetable will be provided at orientation. Part time students will attend on Thursday in semester one and Wednesday in semester 2. Please keep the following dates in your dairy: The course includes a compulsory field trip, which is planned for 5 days between 3rd and 10th of November please keep this period free, exact dates will be advised once confirmed. We enclose further details about the field trip and a copy of our pre-course reading list, which some of you will have already received by e-mail. We will also be running a series of induction visits on Mondays during the first half of. Please ensure that you bring the passport details specified to orientation. We look forward to meeting you in September. If you have any specific queries before the course starts, please contact us at the email address shown below. I attach some information to enable you to prepare for the course. Yours sincerely, Bill Erickson Course Leader MA/ Diploma Urban Design W.N.Erickson@westminster.ac.uk
MA Urban Design / PG Diploma Urban Design / PG Certificate Urban Design ORIENTATION SCHEDULE TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2018 10:00am Arrival and Welcome 10:15am Introductions 11:30am 11:50am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2.00pm 2.30pm 3.30pm Tour of the Marylebone Campus Introduction to Members of Staff University Procedures and Introduction to Blackboard LUNCH Site Visit The introductory project is a quick exercise exploring public space and its design. You will need to bring appropriate clothing if it looks like rain. Workshop Personal objectives for the course Room M207 5:00pm Enrolment Chiltern Hall WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2018 [FULL TIME STUDENTS ONLY] 11:00am 11.00am 11:30am Personal tutoring Challenges for international students approaches to learning Room M207 12.00 noon Urban history of London 14.00 pm Orientation walk; the city of London You will need to bring appropriate clothing if it looks like rain. ALL ORIENTATION EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE AT MARYLEBONE CAMPUS, 35 MARYLEBONE ROAD, LONDON, NW1 5LS. NB: Elements of the programme may be subject to minor modification
Preparatory reading As part of the course, you will be expected to undertake general reading and background research to support your studies. However many textbooks are written around specific issues and are best approached in an integrated way as part of your study so knowledge can be applied in your project work. For this reason we do recommend specific preparatory reading. However, the course will assume a level of background knowledge. You are likely to have done some reading on the topic in the past perhaps out of interest or else as part of a previous degree. Much of the critical thinking on urban design originates in key texts form the 1960 s in particular Gordon Cullen, Kevin Lynch, and Jane Jacobs. It is expected that you will be familiar with their work if not you are advised to look at it. Useful starting points: Kevin lynch The Image of the City Gordon Cullen The Concise Townscape Jane Jacobs The Death And Life Of Great American Cities If you are joining us from a non-european country you are might find it useful to read a general urban social history to understand the evolution of the European city such as; Mark Girouard Cities and People, A Social and architectural history Richard Sennett, Flesh and stone the body and the city in Western civilization Spiro Kostof The City Shaped Alternately you may like to consider the substance of urban design and approach some of the current issues, such as public space, sustainability or the future of the city. Jan Gehl Life between buildings: using public space Richard Rogers Cities for a small planet Adam Ritchie MCIBSE.; Randall Thomas Sustainable urban design: an environmental approach If you are considering buying general text book o help you on the course and undertake you project work we recommend the following: Roberts, M & Greed, C (2001), Approaching Urban Design: The design Process: Longman, Harlow Carmona,M.;Heath, T.;Oc,T. & Tiesdell,S. (2003) Public Places Urban Spaces: The dimensions of urban design, Architectural Press, Oxford Levitt, David (2010) The housing design Handbook, Routledge, Abbingdon Carmona,M, Heath, T, Oc,T. & Tiesdell,S. (2010) Public Places Urban Spaces: The dimensions of urban design, Architectural Press. (2nd edition Gehl, J (2011) Life between buildings: using public space, Washington: Island Press. Cullen, G. (1971) The Concise Townscape Architectural Press (New ed.)lynch, K.(1960) The Image of the City MIT Press Girouard, M 1985 Cities and People, A Social and architectural history Ritchie, A and Thomas, R (eds) (2008) Sustainable Urban Design: An Environmental Approach. 2nd Edition. Abingdon:Taylor & FrancisDavoudi, S, Crawford, J and Jacobs, J (1992) The Death and Life of Great American Cities. London: Penguin Books (first published 1961) Kostof, S. (1991) The City Shaped: Urban Patterns and Meanings through History Thames and Hudson. Lynch, K. 1960. The Image of the City. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press Roberts, M and Greed, C (Eds) (2001) Approaching Urban Design: The Design Process. Harlow: Longman
MA and Diploma. Standard Diet of Modules Full time MA Urban Design Programme code PMPLH03F [ 180 credits ] PG Dip Urban Design Programme code PDPLH03F [ 120 credits ] 7PLAN027W Urbanism and Design MA and Diploma Thu am 7PLAN021W Urban Design in context MA and Diploma Thu pm 7PLAN024W Urban Design Field Trip [ 0 credit ] MA and Diploma 7PLAN019W Sustainable Cities MA and Diploma Wed pm 7PLAN030W Place and Experience [10 credits] MA only Wed am 7PLAN017W Research Methods [10 credits] MA only Wed am 7PLAN015W Public Realm OR other option* MA and Diploma Wed am 7PLAN023W Development Process MA and Diploma Wed pm 7PLAN008W Master Planning MA and Diploma Thu am and Summer 7PLAN002W Dissertation / Project [40 credits] MA only Part time year 1 MA Urban Design Programme code PMPLH03P [ 180 credits ] PG Dip Urban Design Programme code PDPLH03P [ 120 credits ] 7PLAN027W Urbanism and Design MA and Diploma Thu am 7PLAN021W Urban Design in context [ 0 credit ] MA and Diploma Thu pm 7PLAN024W Urban Design Field Trip (can be taken in second year ) MA and Diploma 7PLAN015W Public Realm OR other option* MA and Diploma Wed am 7PLAN023W Development Process MA and Diploma Part time year 2 7PLAN019W Sustainable Cities MA and Diploma Wed pm 7PLAN030W Place and Experience [10 credits] MA only Wed am 7PLAN017W Research Methods [10 credits] MA only Wed am 7PLAN008W Master Planning MA and Diploma Thu am and summer 7PLAN002W Dissertation / Major Project [40 credits] MA only PgCert in Urban Design. Standard Diet of Modules PG Cert Urban Design Programme code PCPLH03P [ 60 credits ] First year part time 7PLAN021W Urban Design in context Thu pm 7PLAN015W Public Realm - OR other option* Wed am 7PLAN023W Development Process Wed pm
Programme of study and Option modules Which modules should I take? Most students take what we call the standard diet of modules. This set of modules has been designed to give you a well rounded grounding in urban design including the theoretical underpinning, opportunities to explore design propositions and some of the more technical aspects. There are possible variants and if you are thinking of taking a nonstandard programme you should make an appointment with the course leader to discuss it. Selecting options Most people take the option module in the spring term. For urban design students the 7PLAN015W Public Realm is the most popular and recommended. We will give presentations on options later in the year and you can change. We recommend you sign up for 7PLAN015W Public Realm at enrolment so you can sort out your fees. If you wish to change your choice you can do so up to December. Urban Design Field Trip The field trip is a compulsory module for the MA/Dip UD and forms an integral part of the taught course. The trip enables students to develop skills that enable students to perform better in other modules. Student feedback over many years has demonstrated that it is a highly valuable part of the student experience. Visiting a foreign city enables students to look at the impact of planning policy and design solutions in a differing cultural setting helping them question their own preconceptions about appropriate approaches to planning policy and models for design. This year we will be visiting Montpelier. It is a historic city that has developed over many centuries and is continuing to grow. You will study a broad range of examples, both historic and current. As well as providing the opportunity to learn new skills the field trip provides an opportunity to build good working relationships with staff and other students. Students from MA Urban and Regional Planning and MA Urban Design will be going on the field trip together. You will need to provide us with your passport details (your name as spelt on passport, place and date of issue, passport number and expiry date) at induction in order for us to book tickets, so please make sure you have this information with you. Non EU students may need visa for France, we can provide you with a letter confirming that the trip is part of the course, that the University is booking accommodation both outward and return travel, and that the University holds appropriate travel insurance on behalf of students attending the trip. If you would like a letter please contact the course leader, Bill Erickson (ericksb@westminster.ac.uk) The field trip is planned to take place between 3 rd and 10 th November 2018 it will last 5 or 6 days and exact dates will be posted shortly. So please keep these dates free. We will visit Montpellier in France.
Other study visits As part of the orientation we will arrange a series of short itineraries in and around London. These will include short lectures and walks to areas including: City of London, London Olympic site, Georgian London, London Kings Cross Development and others. These will run on Monday during first half semester one and are completely optional. We apologise that they may be awkward for part time students but are mostly intended for students new to London and the UK. We will also be arranging visits to recent urban design projects in the region these will take place on normal teaching days and are intended for all students. A detailed programe will be issued at induction. Key Dates 18 Sept 2018 Orientation and Enrolment 19 Sept Additional orientation for full time students only 26 Sept Teaching period begins Week of 5-11 Nov Field trip [exact dates to be confirmed may vary by a day or two] 14 Dec Teaching period ends 17 Dec-04 Jan Vacation 2019 14 Jan Final submission for modules 23 Jan teaching period begins 12 April teaching ends. 15 April-26 April Vacation [including Easter holiday] 20 May Final submission for modules 08 July Final coursework deadline for Referral/Deferral assessments: 28 May-14 Sept Preparation submission and assessment of dissertation/project Late August Submission of dissertation [date to be confirmed] 13 Sept 2019 End of academic year. Graduation Graduation ceremony takes place in November [date to be confirmed] Attendance The university has 3 terms: Autumn - September to December Spring - January to April Summer - May to July Taught courses are organised into 2 semesters. Each semester has 12 teaching weeks during which classes take place together with some additional assessment weeks where students are working on projects prior to assessment. teaching runs from September to December with submissions in January teaching runs from January to April with submissions in May. some options run in the summer term between May and July A taught masters course is considered a year long course this means the dissertation is submitted in August. So while most taught courses are finished by May MA Students will continue working on their dissertation/project and submit this in August.
Typically taught modules consist of one 3 hour taught session each week for the duration of the semester [12 weeks]. Some times assessment will include a presentation which may take place in another week during term time. Some modules take place outside the normal semester period. Most modules are delivered in either a morning or afternoon period. For the MA Urban Design modules are timetabled on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The timetable is arranged so that; MA students taking the standard diet of modules attend one full day a week for part time students and two full days a week for full time students. MA students will be working on their thesis over the summer of their final year. Pg Diploma students attend in a similar pattern but have few modules in semester two. Pg Cert students will attend one full day a week in one semester and one half day a week for the other. Students taking a single module would attend half a day for one semester. Additional attendance; Students taking the MA or Pg Dip are expected to attend the induction day on 19 September Full time students should attend an induction day on 20 September in addition. Some modules take place out side the normal semester dates. You will be advised of these on enrolment. All students on the MA or Pg Diploma need to attend a filed trip. Note the summer school counts as a filed trip. During the first several weeks of semester 1 we will run additional induction visits. These will typically take place on Mondays and are designed to introduce students to Urban development in London and near by. End of year The official end of the academic year is 15 September 2019. However depending on the modules you take, taught classes may end in April or May. During June, July and August students are working on their dissertation. Students arrange tutorials to suit their programme of study. Normally one a week or once every two weeks. It is preferable that these sessions are face to face especially in the early stages however it can be done my email in the later stages, this can be helpful for foreign students who wish to return home. Submission of thesis is in August and there is no interview at this time so you can submit your dissertation by post. The degree ceremony is normally in November. Bill Erickson