Print Syllabus

Syllabus

MP0006 Outdoor Environments for Children and Youth, 15.0 Credits

Utomhusmiljöer för barn och ungdom

Subjects

Environmental Psychology Landscape Architecture

Education cycle

Master’s level

Modules

Title	Credits	Code
Single module	15.0	0101

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

The equivalent of 120 credits and English 6

Objectives

The overall aim of the course is to give insights about the role of outdoor environments for children and youth in their everyday life, and how these spaces can be located, developed and maintained to support their health and social life, with benefits for their play, learning and development.

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

• Describe characteristics of outdoor environment important for children’s social life including opportunities for play, learning and development

• Apply relevant strategies to investigate children’s experiences of and perspectives on place

• Analyse what a specific setting implies for children concerning its location, content, design and management

• Suggest general principles for planning and designing an outdoor environment for and with children and youth

• Discuss the interaction between physical and social planning on issues related to children and youth

• List documents regulating the planning and design of children’s outdoor environments

Content

The course is about outdoor environments for children and youth and the different strategies used to investigate their relationship with place and developing its benefits. The knowledge can be used to improve planning, design and management for and with children to make outdoor settings adventurous, safe and health-promoting. The first section of the course elaborates on the role of outdoor environments for children’s social life with benefits for their play, learning, and development. The second section of the course deals with planning, design and management of both formal and informal outdoor spaces in cities, neighbourhoods and the natural surroundings. The third section deals with planning practices related to children and youth as part of social and physical planning at national and international level. Special attention is paid to the role of natural environment and its variation related to season, geographic location and the role of specific elements, as edible plants, animals and water.

The course comprises lectures, literature seminars, study visits, project work, exercises and a written exam. Besides a project work, a written exam and examined assignments the course requires the student to carry out assignments and exercises during study visits and seminars.

The course combines mandatory Campus meetings with tasks carried out independently.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Successful completion of assignments and exercises as part of lectures, seminars, study visits and a written exam.

• 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

The course is given as a distance course, with mandatory Campus meetings, at 50% speed.

Responsible department

Department of People and Society