Core modules

• Site Studies and Urban Design

  This module is designed to give students and understanding of the inseparable nature of the place and its context, a 'sense of place', and how this affects the design of new buildings and place-making that contribute to the built environment. The primary elements that form the physical environment in its historic, present and future context are studied, together with the relative legal and planning constraints that affect the built environment. Students have the opportunity to survey, study, investigate and evaluate a real site or building, and develop the ability to analyse and evaluate elements of townscape, in particular the design elements that contribute to urban form and place shaping. Planning policy and guidance, and design procedures and processes, are examined and a design brief is developed for a selected site, proposing a new building and placing it within the context of the existing townscape. Drawing and sketching skills are utilised to facilitate an enhanced understanding of the place, spaces between buildings, and the urban environment.

• Sustainability and Environmental Management

  Aims to facilitate an understanding of the history and current position with regard to the environment and sustainability and to explore the interaction between society, development and the environment. Students across built environment disciplines develop a systematic understanding of environmental issues and concepts of sustainable development in relation to the planning and the development sector. A broad understanding of the pressures facing organisations to address environmental and sustainable development issues is discussed, together with an overview of the strategies and practices needed to address environmental and sustainable development. Students examine the assessment and monitoring of projects in terms of environmental and social sustainability, and are challenged to transfer the broad ideas and principles of sustainability and environmental management to project implementation at a site level.

• Sustainable Place Shaping

  Climate change, sustainable development and the effective consideration of community interests and impacts e.g. 'localism' / 'big society', are at the top of the political agenda for action at local and global levels. The module enables students to consider how they (can) contribute actively to sustainably shaping the built environment in private practice, planning authorities and/or community networks. The learning and teaching process will initially draw upon Chelmsford as a local laboratory, supplemented by other UK locations, overseas best practice, as well as input from specialists in place-shaping. Students will examine the assessment of projects in terms of environmental sustainability and social engagement.

• Project Management Systems

  Provides urban designers with a thorough understanding of the process of project management, together with the complex and diverse range of resources and activities that project managers must plan, co-ordinate and control to achieve a successful project. The process provides the framework into which the project manager integrates these resources and activities, and to which he/she applies the necessary management skills and knowledge to successfully execute the project. This module aims to cover these aspects of project management to provide a sound basis for the application of management and specialist skills to enable students to develop their project management abilities.

• Urbanism and Culture

  Provides a sound understanding of the wider context for Urban Design and enables students to develop an appreciation of the history and development of Urban Design, together with a critical consideration of contemporary Urban Design. The phenomenon of urbanism has been evolving from the earliest pre-historical settlements. The range of historical, economic, social, political, cultural & geographic factors involved in this evolution will be explored - with a particular emphasis on the cultural dimension.

• Urban Design Strategies

  Provides an understanding of the process of urban design, together with the complex and diverse range of resources and activities that the designer must plan, co-ordinate and influence to achieve a successful project and shaping of places. Urban design has continued to rise on political agendas and plays an essential part within the cultural shift from a passive towards a pro-active 'spatial' planning system seeking successful and high quality 'place-making'. Students will explore the legal, regulatory and policy background to urban design and how it is embedded in the planning system, including master-planning and regeneration objectives - with European and global dimensions, drawing on multi-disciplinary foundations. Embedded in a framework provided by lectures seminars and an optional European city visit, the learning and teaching process will initially draw upon Chelmsford as a local laboratory, other UK locations, overseas best practice, as well as input from specialists in practice and local government.

• Sustainable Energy

  Aims to develop an in-depth understanding of sustainable energy systems and energy efficient options for development. A major concern is that of global warming resulting from rising carbon dioxide levels from electrical generation, heating and transport. The module is designed to help self-motivated students explore sustainability issues relating to the use of renewable energy in more detail. Students will have the opportunity to design and model aspects of renewable energy sources for a project (Electrical generation using wind, waves, solar, tides, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal. CHP, fuel cells. Passive solar design, energy for transport). Students will design and evaluate their project performance against a set of environmental criteria set at the boundaries of the subject. They will also be able to explore the validity and reliability of a number of approaches to the production of energy at a local and global level.

• Research Design and Methods

  Is designed to provide postgraduate students with an in-depth understanding of the theories and methods of research and research design. It seeks to develop a theoretical and practical foundation in research that will enable students' to undertake their Major Project/Dissertation. The Module provides an understanding of a range of approaches to research, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, together with an understanding of a number of specific research methods and their application to master's level research. The Module is structured to enable students to develop their knowledge of research design in order to critically consider the design for their research project and to prepare an acceptable proposal, including the consideration of ethics and ethical issues.

• Major Project / Dissertation for MSc Built Environment

  Provides the opportunity for students to identify and pursue a topic relevant to Urban Design that is of interest and in which to develop a significant level of expertise. The Module enables students to demonstrate their abilities for self-learning and the application of research. Students undertake a significant piece of independent research using appropriate, recognised methods based on current theoretical research knowledge and to develop a critical understanding of current knowledge in relation to the chosen subject and to critically analyse and evaluate information and data, which may be complex or contradictory, and draw meaningful and justifiable conclusions. The Module provides an understanding of a range of approaches to research, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, together with an understanding of a number of specific research methods and their application to master's level research. The Module is structured to enable students to develop their knowledge of research design in order to critically consider the design for their research project and to prepare an acceptable proposal, including the consideration of ethics and ethical issues.