Landscape Management
Department of Landscape Architecture,
Faculty of Social Sciences
Course description
This is a one-year course that teaches students about effective management of both natural and designed landscapes. It embraces environmental, social, cultural and economic factors to optimise the management of many of our most iconic landscapes. You’ll learn how to revitalise degraded, damaged or underused landscapes, while the Special Project and Dissertation allow you to explore topics of personal interest.
The programme is designed to allow landscape architects to develop a specialism within management, or to introduce landscape management to other professionals within the land-based, geographical or ecology sectors. It can be taken through either a Landscape Institute-accredited or non-accredited route.
Accreditation
This course has both an accredited and non-accredited route. The accredited route is accredited by Landscape Institute and the International Federation of Landscape Architects.
Modules
Core modules:
- Principles and Skills of Landscape Management
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This course introduces students to the principles and skills of Landscape Management. It highlights the principles of urban ecology and habitat management, and the specific skills sets that professional Managers require. These include, elements of management theory (team work, leadership, organisational skills), communication skills (verbal, written and graphic) and interpretation of land form and function (via Geographical Information Systems ¿ GIS). In addition the course introduces Managers to a research-based approach to knowledge acquisition and problem solving skills. The course is delivered through a series of lectures, workshops and seminars.
20 credits - Managing the Landscape
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This module aims to introduce students to landscape management, with particular focus on urban landscape management. It deals with the interactions between place, people and plants and how the function of open and green space is dependent on effective management and can be affected by who is involved and how decisions are made. The module highlights the social, political, cultural, economic, ecological, environmental and temporal dynamics that need to be considered when developing management strategies and plans for a given area. Students will explore how strategic approaches to greenspace management are made by considering who pays, who cares, who uses these spaces, and crucially, who makes the decisions and how. Students will develop their own management plans to improve one specific green space.
20 credits - Maintaining Green Infrastructure
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This module aims to develop student understanding of the maintenance and management of greenspace. The relationship between management and maintenance are discussed and the consequences of failure to integrate these. Current management approaches to care of landscapes are discussed, and how best value can be delivered on the ground through innovative practice. All of the major types of greenspace vegetation are discussed and their maintenance management reviewed from a contemporary needs perspective. The unit adopts a multidisciplinary approach and in addition to technical issues, also aims to address the underlying ideas and philosophies, which currently impinge, both positively and negatively upon the care and development of greenspace.
20 credits - Landscape Professional Practice
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The module covers three core areas relating to landscape architecture practice: Professional Practice, Environmental Law and Planning, and Landscape Contracts. These will touch on issues such as ethics, professional appointment and relationships, the Landscape Institute and Pathway to Chartership, relevant landscape and environmental law and contract law, contract documentation, forms of contract and procedures.
10 credits - Special Project For Landscape Managers
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This unit allows Landscape Management students to explore locations with the aim to improve existing management. There are two options –
50 credits
Management/Management where students improve the quality/functionality of the landscape through new management approaches. Students develop a Management Brief, Management Plan and Maintenance Plan to illustrate their site & intended improvements.
Concept/Management where students identify a location but also a concept of their own interest that can be applied to this location. Students investigate this concept through the literature and develop a Management Brief, Research Report and Maintenance Plan.
- Landscape Dissertation
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This module provides Masters students with the experience of undertaking research into an issue of significance to landscape architecture. For students on the MA in Landscape Studies it will build on LSC61004 and LSC61005. For students studying the MA in Landscape Management, it will focus on a management issue and build on LSC6310. The Dissertation involves an investigation of a selected topic by an appropriate research method, and the production of a 10-15,000. Students receive tutorial support from an academic advisor.
60 credits
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. We are no longer offering unrestricted module choice. If your course included unrestricted modules, your department will provide a list of modules from their own and other subject areas that you can choose from.
Teaching
Teaching takes place through lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, critical feedback sessions, site visits and practicals.
Teaching and learning take place in the studio and on site.
We’re unique as a landscape department in that we can deliver the full breadth of landscape specialisms in-house through our team of internationally recognised academics. We complement this by working with landscape practices and our alumni, as professional landscape architects, to ensure our teaching is practice relevant and address current issues.
Assessment
Assessment is by coursework assignments, dissertation, oral presentation and examination.
Duration
- 1 year full-time
- 2/3 years part-time
Student profiles
The department provides a stimulating environment for learning, through a collective of inspiring staff, modules and other students. I cannot speak highly enough of the Landscape Management masters course and would encourage anyone considering it to do so.
Entry requirements
Accredited route:
A degree in a relevant subject such as agriculture, botany, environmental science, forestry, landscape, ecology or countryside management and relevant work experience in the land-based, geographical or ecology sectors.
If you don’t have a degree, you’ll need relevant work experience and an alternative academic qualification. This will be subject to approval at faculty level.
Non-accredited route:
A degree in a relevant subject (as above).
If you don’t have a degree, you’ll need an alternative academic qualification and relevant work experience. This will be subject to approval at faculty level.
Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.
We also accept a range of other UK qualifications and other EU/international qualifications.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
Apply
You can apply for postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
landscape-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0617
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.