Course code APL380

APL380 Environmental Governance for Planning

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Showing course contents for the educational year 2020 - 2021 .

Course responsible: Matthew Asa Cashmore
Teachers: Sebastian Peters, Synne Movik, Knut Bjørn Stokke, Timothy Kevin Richardson
ECTS credits: 10
Faculty: Faculty of Landscape and Society
Teaching language: EN
(NO=norsk, EN=Engelsk)
Limits of class size:
35 students.
Teaching exam periods:
Autumn. 
Course frequency: Yearly, autumn. 
First time: Study year 2019-2020
Preferential right:
Students on the Masters in Urban and Regional Planning.
Course contents:
In this course we will examine perspectives on the role of planning in governing sustainability transformations the world over. The course content addresses theories concerning the nature and extent of socio-political change that is deemed necessary and the ways in which change can be steered or governed. A substantial amount of the course will be spent critically examining case studies of environmental planning policies and practices that are intended to engender and/or steer societal change. The case studies include policy tools that are considered to be a cornerstone of existing environmental planning practice (notably, environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment), cross cutting environmental concerns at the forefront of discussions on change (nature conservation and climate change planning), and urbanisation as a particular locus for experimentation in planning. We will also address understanding and working with conflict in environmental planning and governance.
Learning outcome:

The principal learning outcomes that students will realise through this course are as follows:

  • Analyse and criticize key discourses on environmental planning ‘problems’ (such as the notion of ‘the Anthropocene’) and sustainability transformations.
  • Identify appropriate theories to comprehend and/or analyse pathways for sustainability transformations.
  • Argue for a particular governance approach or technique in steering socio-political change.
  • Recognise how political power is implicated in the socio-political changes associated with transformation pathways.
  • Explain environmental governance choices effectively to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
  • Appraise notions of planning ethics and defend the ethical choices underpinning your planning practices.
Learning activities:
Lecturers, seminars, problem based group discussions, student presentations, and field visit.
Teaching support:
Supervision in connection with seminar, group and assessed activities.
Syllabus:
You are expected to read one or more references prior to each of the taught sessions. Information on these core readings is posted on Canvas.  Additional resources (book chapters, articles, websites, etc.) covering the various themes covered in the course are also listed on Canvas.
Prerequisites:
There are no formal prerequisites for this course. However, attendance of one of the level two environmental planning courses (APL 240 & 241) or course LAA360 (Strategic landscape planning) is highly recommended.
Recommended prerequisites:
Attendance of one of the level two environmental planning courses (APL 240 & 241) or course LAA360 (Strategic landscape planning) is highly recommended.
Mandatory activity:

Attendance of 80% of taught classes and completion of all assessed assignments.

Absence due to illness or other serious impediment must be communicated to the course leader.

Assessment:
Essay and podcast. The assessed work will be evaluated using the A-F grading scale.
Nominal workload:
300 hours allocated for lectures, seminars, self-study, written course assessments and field visit.
Reduction of credits:
There is no overlap with other courses.
Type of course:

Lectures, seminars and in-class group activities: 50 hours.

Self study, inclusing reading, out-of-class group work, and course assignments: 220 hours.

Excursion/field visit: 10 hours.

Examiner:
An external censor will evaluate the assessed podcasts and verify the quality of marking for the assessed essays.
Examination details: :