MODULE TITLE: Individual Professional Project	ENVSGO16	
MODULE TUTOR: Susan Batty	
YEAR: 1	TERM: 2	
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS: 

TEACHING & LEARNING METHODS
Hours of student’s time (Total = 200)	
Lectures		Seminars/workshops	1	Tutorials	10	
Private reading		Essays/projects	189	Site visits/field trips		

EDUCATIONAL AIMS

•	To research and write up an essay on a subject related to the practice of environmental planning and development that meets the assessment criteria.
•	To develop an understanding in depth of the chosen area of planning practice.
•	To develop and make use of academic skills in identifying and defining a research topic, applying appropriate research techniques and drawing relevant practical conclusions.
•	To display imagination and academic rigour in carrying out the agreed research programme and in presenting findings and recommendations for better practice.
•	To produce a high quality, fully referenced essay supported by appropriate statistical, qualitative and illustrative data.

OUTLINE

As part of the course requirements for the Diploma/MSc in Town and Country Planning, students have to prepare a project (extended essay) of 8,000 words maximum (excluding illustrations, table and appendices) on a subject approved by the Year Tutor and supervised by a member of staff.   

They are required to choose a topic of relevance to their chosen specialism.  This could, for 
example, be an evaluation of a specific policy, consideration of an emerging policy issue, or 
an evaluation of planning methods and procedures. They will need to demonstrate an 
understanding of the broader social and economic context within which, or in response to 
which, planning issues and policies emerge.

KEY SKILLS	
Conceptual/intellectual &
problem definition		Problem solving		Synthesis & application of 
knowledge to practice		
Written communication		Interpersonal communication		Oral presentation		
Quantitative & 
Qualitative analysis		Research & data
Collection		IT competence		
Design/spatial awareness		Management skills		Creativity		

ASSESSMENT

Coursework:  100%                    Written examination:  0%

Description of assessment(s):

A series of formal Project Panels will be convened to monitor the progress of students on their Professional Project, and for students to share their approaches with their peer group.

The essay itself will normally contain
•	an abstract of not more than 300 words
•	an introduction setting out the approach and the questions or issues to be explored
•	a conceptual/theoretical context and thorough review of the work already done in the particular field
•	an explanation of research design and methods
•	a presentation and analysis of the research material.  This will often be in the form of a case study
•	a generalisation of the findings leading to conclusions and recommendations.
Two copies of the final essay must be submitted to the planning office by the first day of the third term.

Students may be required to attend for an interview in June and, if required, it is the student's responsibility to present him or herself at the scheduled time. Attendance is compulsory.

Criteria for Assessment(s):
The extended essay should...
•	demonstrate detailed knowledge of a particular topic of relevance;
•	demonstrate the extent to which you have mastered and are able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the rest of the course to your own research;
•	demonstrate your ability to devise a methodology for undertaking research;
•	demonstrate an ability to reach reasoned, informed and well-supported conclusions to the arguments discussed.

ASSESSMENT TIMETABLE
	
Assessment Title	Week given out/topic to be approved	Week of deadline	Week of return/
Feedback 	
Final essay	Week 2 Term 1	Week 1 Term 3	Week 5 Term 3	

INDICATIVE READING 

Dependent on individual topic chosen.