Syllabus

LK0382 People and Environment, 15.0 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Modules

Advanced study in the main field

Grading scale

Language

Prior knowledge

Objectives

The aim of the course is to provide insights into how the interaction between people and the physical environment functions and what different outdoor environments can mean for quality of life, well-being and health. The course will provide training in the ability to analyse and investigate people’s relationships to their surroundings and to translate this knowledge into design and planning processes.

After completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe perspectives and concepts within social science and behavioural science, mainly within environmental psychology and urban sociology, that are relevant for the knowledge area of Landscape Architecture

• apply a selection of the methods used for investigating how people use, experience and evaluate external environments (e.g. interviews, street walks, observations or surveys)

• problematise and analyse people’s different needs and interests in external environments on the basis of e.g. gender, age, social situation, cultural context and disability

• analyse and critically examine people’s relation to place and use this understanding in design and planning contexts

Content

The course is characterised by perspectives of social- and behavioural science on problem issues within Landscape Architecture, Architecture and Town Planning. Seminars and exercises will provide training in the ability to investigate and analyse people’s situation in relation to their surroundings. Students will also be posed different design problems and will be given the opportunity to translate their knowledge within environmental psychology and urban sociology into planning and design proposals.

The course comprises lectures, literature seminars (compulsory), excursions and exercises (compulsory), project presentations (compulsory), group assignments, literature studies and individual tasks work with reading and writing.

Grading form

Formats and requirements for examination

Literature seminar, submission and presentation of exercises, written examination. Active participation in compulsory elements. Approved participation in literature seminars. Successful completion of exam and exercises. Specifications of compulsory attendance and assignments are given at course start. Students’ knowledge and their ability to engage each other in critical and analytical discussions will also be assessed in the reviews and in the literature seminars.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

Responsible department

Department of People and Society