Course

Mandatory

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

You register for activities through stads selvbetjening during the announced registration period, which you can see on the Study administration homepage.

When registering for courses, please be aware of the potential conflicts and overlaps between course and exam time and dates. The planning of course activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programmes, which should not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programmes, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

This course introduces the Nordic Urban Planning Studies programme by presenting core current approaches to urban planning and by discussing key theories, themes and forms of knowledge in the field. Drawing on varied social science disciplines, the course addresses how different forms of knowledge, understanding and visions can be used to develop plans and planning practices that frame and guide future action. The course starts by introducing and discussing distinctive histories, challenges and potentialities of Nordic urban planning, situating these in the context of the development of (post)welfare states. The following sessions present key themes and concerns within current urban planning more broadly, considering Nordic perspectives in relation to approaches developed in a global context where cities have become central to many social and environmental challenges of our times. Local and international case studies and empirical examples are used to exemplify and explore different planning theories, strategies and processes.

The course is framed by presentations and a panel discussion with lecturers from all three partner universities at NUPS (Roskilde University, Malmö University, and UiT The Arctic University of Norway). Themes addressed through later sessions in the course may include network planning, social innovation, participatory planning, sustainability and the commons, mobilities policies, and planning for diversity.

Readings for each session are provided on Moodle 14 days before each session. Texts that are relevant to the course as a whole are:

Fainstein, S & DeFilippis, J. (eds) (2016), Readings in Planning Theory. Oxford, Wiley Blackwell.

Beauregard, R. (2020) Advanced Introduction to Planning Theory. London, Elgar.

Study intensity

Outline

• The proposed study intensity for a student in this activity: 135 hours

• The proposed distribution of hours on teaching and learning activities:

Lectures (include discussions): 26

Preparation for lectures and discussions: 84

Course essay: 25

Teaching and learning activities

There are eight course sessions. These combine lectures, class discussions and a panel debate. Further details are uploaded to Moodle. There will also be an additional session to provide guidance on essay writing.

Sessions are on campus

Evaluation is via an anonymous online survey distributed to all participants. The course will also be discussed with participants in the final session and reviewed at the NUPS Education Committee with input from student representatives.

On completing the course, students should be able to:

• Show knowledge and understanding of different planning theories and approaches to planning

• Apply key theories to research questions, problems and potential solutions within the planning field

• Reflect critically on the strengths and weaknesses of different planning theories and their applicability for analysing and understanding specific cases

• Understand current urban and societal challenges, and how different planning theories address them and propose solutions in a Nordic welfare state context

• Appreciate different forms of knowledge used in planning processes and designing plans that involve and mobilize actors across the state, market and civil society

• Understand ways of engaging in planning processes as a bridge builder with a holistic understanding of the professions involved.

Type of exam The course is assessed through an individual written take-home assignment in the form of an essay.

Assessment criteria – essays will be evaluated according to the ability to:

• Identify, discuss and show understanding of urban planning approaches and theories from the course

• Reflect on the implications of using different planning approaches for analysing planning questions, problems and cases

• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different planning approaches and their applicability for addressing and understanding specific planning questions and cases

• To construct coherent arguments based on relevant source materials from the course.

Use of GAI in the exam

In this course, you may use generative AI (GenAI) tools during the course and for the exam so long as you follow Roskilde University’s guidelines for this and also the specific instructions that are on course Moodle page.

You must include a section in the assignment that clearly states which GenAI you have used and how. You must also reflect on the implications of using these tools in the ways you have, for example, for preparatory work on the assignment, to ask questions, search and process information, receive feedback and critique on your text, perform proofreading, or improve language and readability. It is important that you actively consider your choice of tools in this way, as it is part of the entire creation process of the assignment and thus part of your scientific method and academic communication. Your description and reflections are assessed as part of the overall assessment. The use of any specific text that is GAI-generated requires citation and critical evaluation, just like the use of any other sources from which direct quotes are taken. However, this must not replace the use of academic readings and course literature on which this assignment must be based.

You can see more about how to declare your use of GenAI and how to cite it in the library’s guide (https://libguides.ruc.dk/AIatRUC). Ordinary spell checking and other language suggestions from Word or other word processing programs are allowed without declaration.