Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a Master's program in Landscape Architecture, with a focus on Urban Ecosystems: Structures, Functions, and Designs.

Program Description

The program seeks to combine urban design with scientific knowledge on how to optimize urban ecosystems, to obtain sustainable resource management and climate adaptation. This is done through lectures, paper readings, study tours, and exercises. The course focuses on the ability of green infrastructures to contribute to resource management, climate adaptation, and social-cultural performance of urbanized areas.

Learning Outcomes

The program provides an understanding of structures, functions, and dynamics of urban ecosystems, and how ecosystem services can be optimized, re-designed, and managed to support sustainable urban development. The course combines urban planning and landscape architecture with soil hydrology, environmental chemistry, agronomy, climatology, and biology.

Knowledge

• To be familiar with theory and principles of urban ecosystem science
• To understand causes and effects of climate change in urban areas
• To be familiar with urban growth and dynamics in Denmark and globally
• To know quantitative and qualitative components of the urban water cycle
• To be familiar with major factors controlling biodiversity in cities
• To understand relations between natural processes (e.g., urban climates, the water cycle, biodiversity, soils) and urban form and function
• To gain an overview of case studies of sustainable urban water management and climate change adaptation, from city to site scale

Skills

• To be able to transfer ecosystem concepts and principles to problem-oriented studies
• To be able to apply knowledge and methods for the analysis and design of sustainable urban ecosystems

Competencies

• To work in multidisciplinary groups and present results and knowledge to other students and external actors
• To undertake a problem-oriented study, design solutions, and make evaluations
• To acquire in-depth knowledge on specific aspects of urban ecosystems structure and function in an independent manner
• To reflect upon and discuss the value systems that underlie the structure and functioning of various urban ecosystems

Literature

A number of compulsory papers and book chapters constitute the course texts. Further literature will be recommended during the course in connection with specific themes.

Recommended Academic Qualifications

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree are recommended.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course consists of approximately 15 lectures, approximately 15 in-class exercises, a number of paper sessions, one full-day excursion or two half-day excursions, an individual written assignment, and a group project. Guest lecturers are included ad hoc.

Workload

• Category:
  • Colloquia: 6 hours
  • Exam: 7 hours
  • Excursions: 10 hours
  • Guidance: 30 hours
  • Lectures: 20 hours
  • Practical exercises: 23 hours
  • Project work: 90 hours
  • Theory exercises: 20 hours
  • Total: 206 hours

Assessment

• Type of assessment: Written examination, 2 hours under invigilation
• Written assignment, during course
• The written exam is a test in the mechanisms, potentials, and limitations associated with different ecosystem services
• The individual written assignment is prepared during the course and handed in during week 6 of the course
• The final mark is based on the individual written assignment (40%), individual reflection on group assignment (30%), and the written exam (30%)

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course code: LNAK10028U
• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 1
• Schedule: C
• Course capacity: 57
• Continuing and further education:
• Study board: Study Board of Geosciences and Management
• Contracting department: Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
• Contracting faculty: Faculty of Science
• Course Coordinators: Marina Bergen Jensen

Additional Information

The course has been selected for ITX exam on Peter Bangs Vej. Exam registration requirements include compulsory tasks completed, and group assignment must be presented and uploaded to Absalon. The aid allowed is without aids, and the marking scale is a 7-point grading scale. The censorship form is no external censorship, with several internal examiners. The re-exam is a 2-hour written examination under invigilation. Prior to the re-examination, students must upload the individual written assignment and group assignment together with individual reflections. The criteria for exam assessment are based on the learning outcomes.