Master of Science in Urban Planning and Design

Objectives of the Programme

The overall objective of the programme is to produce highly skilled professionals with the knowledge to respond to the demands of the practical

world and to bridge the present knowledge gap between architectural competence and planning competence in urban development.

Our graduates need to be able to develop the following abilities:

 

• To enable students from architecture and design disciplines to develop skills and employ their knowledge in developingcomplex socially, environmentally and economically sustainable urban and spatial planning strategies.
• To use design thinking as a critical, interrogative process through which to explore the broader parameters of the researchwithin a particular situation or environment.
• To conceptualize, define, and analyze design problems and opportunities at the urban scale.
• To analyze and evaluate the performance of design projects and policies.
• To understand the processes which generate urban form.
• To synthesize and manage strategies for implementation in urban planning and design involving public and privatedevelopment actions.
• To work successfully with the public and the planning and design professions that shape the urban environment.
• To contribute creatively to the resolution of urban problems through design.
• Promote the acquisition of advanced practical and demand driven skills in the area of Urban planning and Design.
• Independently and effectively solve multi-faceted issues of the day to day activities in the field.
• Communicate ideas in clear and compelling ways – visually, orally, and in writing – as is demanded by the urban designer’spublic role.

Target Group
The programme targets graduates with Honours degree in a discipline related to the built environment and the city (e.g. Architecture, Planning,

Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, Land use Planning, Geography, Landscape Planning/Architecture). Candidates with alternative

professional experience may also be considered.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for admission, a candidate must fulfil the general Makerere University entry requirements for a Masters degree, and in addition the

candidate must be a holder of either

• A postgraduate diploma in Urban Design, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture or its equivalent from a recognizedUniversity/Institution; OR
• A bachelors degree in Urban/Regional/Physical/Town and Country Planning, Architecture, Landscape Design, Civil Engineering,Construction Management, surveying, or its equivalent from a recognized University/Institution.
• Students who have obtained first and second class degrees should be free to join after completion.
• Students who have obtained pass degree can only join after two years professional working experience and demonstratingprofessional growth in the relevant field to the degree programme, such as a Post Graduate Diploma or evidence of presenting academic papers inconferences.

NATURE OF THE PROGRAMME

This is a day/evening programme with duration of two years. Courses generally start in August and finish in the beginning of June. Students on the

MSc Degree Program can follow Plan A or Plan B study plans.

Plan A

Students under Plan A are required to take two semesters of course work and two semesters of dissertation. To qualify for plan A, a student shall

have completed all their course work and have a research proposal latest by the second week of semester three.

Plan B

Students under Plan B are required to take three semesters of coursework and one semester of a project. To qualify for plan B a student shall have

completed all their coursework and also have a research proposal by the second week of the forth semester.

Duration

The duration for the M.Sc in UPD degree programme is two (2) academic years comprising of 4 semesters.

MSc. Urban Planning and Design – Options

 

(Plan A and B)

 

SEMESTER I
Course Code	Course Name	LH       PH       CH      CU
Core Courses (COMPULSORY)
UPD 7101	Planning Theory and Practice	45        –           45        3
UPD 7102	Planning and Design Fundamentals	45        –           45        3
UPD 7103	Theory and Methods of Urban Design	45        –           45        3
UPD 7104	Computer Applications for Planning and Design	30        30        45        3
UPD 7105	Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Systems	45        –           45        3
Total Credit Units = 15
SEMESTER II
Core Courses
UPD 7201	Research Methodology and Scientific Writing	30        30        45        3
UPD 7202	Neighbourhood Planning and Design	30        30        45        3
UPD 7203	Action and Strategic Planning	30        30        45        3
UPD 7204	Landscape Planning and Design	30        30        45        3
UPD 7205	Sustainable Zoning and Land Use Regulation	45        –           45        3
Total Credit Units = 15
SEMESTER III & IV
Plan A
One Core
UPD 8101	Masters Dissertation	–           300      300      10
UPD 8102	Seminar Series	30 – 30 2
Total Credit Units = 12
Plan B
SEMESTER III
Three Core Courses
UPD 8103	Planning and Design Quality	45        –           45        3
UPD 8104	Urban Regeneration (Studio)	30        30        45        3
UPD 8105	Planning Practice and Management	45        –           45        3
Two Elective Courses
UPD 8106	Planning for Disasters, Recovery and Resilience	45        –           45        3
UPD 8107	Urban Systems Modelling and Design	30        30        45        3
UPD 8108	Concepts and Techniques of Urban and Regional Planning	45        –           45        3
UPD 8109	Advanced GIS Application for Urban Designers	30        30        45        3
UPD 8110	Planning and Sustainability	45        –           45        3
Total Credit Units = 15
SEMESTER IV
Two Cores
UPD 8201	Master’s Project in Urban Planning and Design	–           150      150      5
UPD 8202	Seminar Series	30           0           30        2
Total Credit Units = 7 (Project work = 5CU and Seminar = 2CU)

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