MSc/ Diploma in Social Science Research Methods (Environmental Planning)
Environmental Planning Pathway Information
Research training in Environmental Planning, (including Housing Studies, Sustainability and Environment Studies, Transport, Spatial Analysis and Regeneration Studies) builds upon the internationally recognised research carried out by academic staff within the School of City and Regional Planning (CPLAN). CPLAN is a 6* Research Outlet as defined by the 2001 and 1996 RAE exercises. Its research programmes and projects are linked to one of five research groups, namely: Planning, Urban and Regional governance, Environment, Spatial Analysis and Housing. All research students are members of one of the research groups, and they may also participate and become members of one of the seven research-based centres now established both in the School and, in collaboration with other social science departments at Cardiff. These include: the ESRC Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society, the Centre for Rural Environment and Society, the Regeneration Institute, the International Centre for Planning Research, the Centre for Advanced Studies and the Centre for Local and Regional Government Research. In addition, the School plays a leading role in the development of the Research and Graduate School in the Social Sciences, which is centred in the Glamorgan Building. This is providing an interdisciplinary basis for cross-cutting social science research training matters, including seminars, workshops and public policy lectures as well as close engagement with users of research and collaborative research bodies. Students also benefit from the fact that the Centre for Education in the Built Environment is also located within the School which fosters leading edge debate on pedagogic issues in built environment teaching and learning.
The research training programme is now well-established and has been recognised by the ESRC for a number of years. Students undertaking the MSc in Social Science Research Methods take both generic research methods training and the subject specific content required for becoming competent educational researchers.
MSc in Social Science Research Methods
The MSc in Social Science Research Methods provides students with the opportunity to acquire generic research skills required by all social science researchers; as well as the subject-specific requirements of the ESRC’s Environmental Planning Subject Area Panel.
The course is based on a modular structure of 12 modules and a research-based dissertation. Seven of the modules are designed to equip students with generic research skills. Five of the modules are designed to address the research skills and knowledge specifically required for researchers in environmental planning. These include modules covering Debates in Policy Analysis, Seminars in Planning Research, Evidence and evidence-based policy and practice and two specialist options taken from a range of modules on our professionally accredited Masters Programmes. All the modules are taught by leading researchers in the field.
+3 Training Programme
The +3 Training Programme is built upon the foundations laid in the MSc. programme. It is designed to provide a standard of training in social science and planning research methods that gives students the opportunity to acquire familiarity with, and understanding of, a broad range of methodological approaches as well as the ability to apply advanced methodological techniques to empirical data.
For Further information please contact Dr Peter Feindt: FeindtP@cardiff.ac.uk.