Urban Planning Theory and Methods

Rapid urbanisation has made urban planning theory and methods increasingly important. This course provides students with a rigorous understanding of urban planning and the social and cultural forces that shape planning thought and practice.

Course Outline

Week 1: Core Concepts in Urban and Rural Planning and the Urbanisation Process (3 contact hours)

• Fundamental definitions and characteristics of urban and rural areas
• Global urbanisation trends and their impacts
• Challenges and opportunities associated with urbanisation in China

Week 2: Urban Geography and Urban Sociology (3 contact hours)

• Foundational concepts and the scope of urban geography
• The relationship between urban sociology and urban development
• Intersections among urban space, power and identity

Week 3: Qualitative Research and Planning (3 contact hours)

• Introduction to qualitative research methods and examples of their application
• The value of in-depth interviews and fieldwork in planning
• Deriving planning insights from qualitative data

Week 4: Mixed-Methods Research Design (3 contact hours)

• Characteristics of, and distinctions between, qualitative and quantitative research
• Approaches to integrating qualitative and quantitative methods
• Applying mixed-methods research in planning projects

Week 5: Public Participation and Community Planning (3 contact hours)

• Definitions, forms and methods of public participation
• Case studies in community planning
• Differences and challenges in participation across urban and rural communities

Week 6: Transport Planning and Human Behaviour (3 contact hours)

• An introduction to qualitative approaches to transport planning
• Interconnections among commuting, leisure and everyday life
• The relationship between transport and quality of life in urban and rural areas

Week 7: Group Project Presentations: Urban Studies (3 contact hours)

Student groups present research projects on selected topics in urban studies.

Week 8: Applications of Cultural and Social Geography in Planning (3 contact hours)

• Foundational concepts in cultural geography and their significance for planning
• Analysing urban–rural relations through the lens of social geography
• Relationships among space, power and identity in urban and rural contexts

Week 9: Rural Geography and Rural Sociology (3 contact hours)

• Foundational concepts and research methods in rural geography
• The relationship between rural sociology and rural development
• Interconnections among rural space, culture and society

Week 10: Rural Planning and Rural Revitalisation (3 contact hours)

• Traditional values and contemporary challenges in rural areas
• Rural planning methods and strategies
• The relationship between rural tourism and rural revitalisation

Week 11: Public Space and Public Life (3 contact hours)

• Definitions, types and design principles of public space
• Differences and connections between urban and rural public spaces
• Public participation in the design and use of public space

Week 12: Urban Governance (3 contact hours)

• Definitions, characteristics and approaches to urban governance
• Urban governance case studies from local to global scales
• Participation, collaboration and conflict in urban governance

Week 13: Urban Regeneration and Old-City Renewal (3 contact hours)

• Definitions, methods and challenges of old-city renewal
• The cultural and social value of old-city renewal
• Applications of qualitative research in urban renewal projects

Week 14: Urban–Rural Interaction and Complementarity (3 contact hours)

• The urban–rural dual structure in China and abroad: historical evolution and contemporary conditions
• Challenges and opportunities in urban–rural relations
• Strategies and methods for strengthening urban–rural complementarity

Week 15: Group Project Presentations: Rural Studies (3 contact hours)

Student groups present research projects on selected topics in rural studies.

Week 16: Course Review and Future Directions (3 contact hours)

• Review of the concepts and methods covered during the semester
• Future trends and directions in urban and rural planning
• Student feedback and instructor guidance