About this course

The course introduces students to a selection of key concepts and topics of the Master program Landscape Architecture for Global Sustainability. Historical and current meanings of concepts such as ‘landscape’ and ‘sustainability’ are critically explored. Moreover, the course provides insights into global trends in landscape change and drivers thereof, and how societies respond to these changes. Lectures addressing theoretical perspectives are combined with practical exercises to reflect on how landscapes and landscape change can be approached and understood.

Learning outcome

The course aims to provide students with knowledge about different ways of approaching landscape and landscape change, global trends of landscape change, their drivers and challenges to sustainability.

Knowledge: Students gain insight into key concepts addressed in the GLA program, core drivers of landscape change and challenges to sustainability.

Skills: Students are able to critically assess different ways of approaching landscape and sustainability.

General competence: Students get an understanding of how local and global processes and conditions manifest themselves in the landscape and to which degree knowledge of transformation processes in a certain landscape can be transferred to others.

  • Learning activities

    Lectures, exercises, group discussions and workshops

  • Teaching support

    Feedback and discussions in small peer groups and in plenary sessions

  • Syllabus

    Relevant literature will be available through CANVAS

  • Prerequisites

    Relevant bachelor

  • Assessment method

    Portfolio evaluation

    Portfolio consisting of assignments; all assignments need to be passed to complete the course

    Grading: pass/no pass

    All assignments are given and have to be submitted in English only.



    Portfolio Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed

  • About use of AI

    K2: Portfolio evaluation: AI can be used as a source of inspiration for the assignments. In case AI is used, its usage should be briefly explained including information about the programs that have been used.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    An external examiner approves the assessment scheme of the course.

  • Mandatory activity

    Expected full-time attendance

  • Teaching hours

    Ca. 30 hours of structured teaching

  • Preferential right

    Students enrolled in M-GLA are given priority.

  • Admission requirements

    Admission to M-GLA, fourth- or fifth-year M-LA. Students from M-GLA are given priority.