The purpose of this module - MLA Thesis Landscape Research Dissertation - is to support and extend the personal, philosophical and intellectual intent of the MLA Thesis Landscape Design Project being undertaken in parallel during this fourth and final semester of the Master of Landscape Architecture programme. These two modules act together as the culmination of the landscape architecture programme where students synthesise their learning across all the modules they have undertaken during the first three semesters by developing a design research project to address in-depth a topic of the student's own choice. For students of Landscape Architecture, this module addresses the following required 'areas of knowledge and skill' as set out in Appendix 1 of the Addenda to the International Federation of Landscape Architects IFLA/UNESCO Charter for Landscape Architectural Education when implemented in the European Region: "The ability to interpret general goals in society, converted into specific objectives, into landscape design principles, strategies, and methodologies." "The development of the skills of communication, negotiation and presentation." -"Knowledge of the fundamental concepts of the relation between man and his physical and sociocultural environment. A general understanding of notions of changing values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviour in the course of time." -"Knowledge of the way in which our heritage of cultural landscapes was formed and transformed over time. The history of settlements, of land use, of sites and monuments. The notions and principles of conservation and renewal. Landscape as a continuous process from past to present to future." -"Knowledge of the contribution of the Fine Arts in the past as well as in the present to architecture, urban design and landscape architecture, as the basis of design philosophies, design styles, aesthetic standards and symbolic interpretation." -"A study of examples of designed environments and buildings in ancient and modern times. This in the context of cultural, political and economic developments." -"Principles and rules of government: Knowledge of the fundamentals of landscape and environmental policies. Environmental planning legislation and procedures. The role of international, national, regional and local government organisation in environmental planning and design."

The following is indicative of the content of the module. Through this MLA Thesis Landscape Research Dissertation module, each student will research, develop and prepare a substantive written dissertation that supports and extends the personal, philosophical and intellectual interests of the design thesis being undertaken in the parallel MLA Thesis Landscape Design Project. As a progressive piece of work, this dissertation is about 'writing through' the set of ideas that are the foundation for the exploration of the thesis topic through design. One way of describing the written work is: your ideas in written conversation with the ideas, projects and writings of others. Whilst predominantly circling landscape architecture, these ideas will, by necessity of the intellectual intent of the thesis topic, be multidisciplinary and cross a range of knowledges and will frame the design work through considerations of literature in, for example, theory, history, ethics, and methodologies. The first three-quarters of the module will guide students through the stages of preparing and writing a dissertation, through stages of developing an annotated bibliography, the development of an appropriate structure for the dissertation, the writing of the dissertation itself involving substantive individual feedback, all of which develops an advancement of skills in academic writing and editing. The final quarter of the module completes the dissertation with the preparation of a design report that synthesizes an edited collection of the design process for the MLA Thesis Landscape Design Project, including a written and illustrated presentation of the chosen site and wider context; a presentation in words of the programme the student has developed for the Thesis Landscape Design project; a written assessment of the statutory, policy and planning contexts within which the Landscape Design project is being developed; and the full final set of drawings of the Thesis Landscape Design project accompanied by a detailed written description of the project from strategy through to detail encompassing materiality and spatial experience.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Appraise recent and current literature research relevant to their self-chosen research topic. Evaluate the self-selected design research methodologies as means to explore their self-chosen research topic. Synthesise multidisciplinary content informing their self-chosen research topic. Revise their academic writing based on written and verbal critique and feedback received.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Value the role of academic research and writing in supporting design research.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Compile written and design research into a coherent, sequential and visually designed book-type format.

This module is taught in-part through seminars, with the substantive part of the teaching being individual supervision of the distinct research topics being explored in the dissertations. The learning environment is discursive, in the space of the classroom and in the one-to-one meetings between student and supervisor / module leader. The student is an active learner through the module, selecting the topic of their research themselves, and building the research and reading list themselves with the support of their supervisor / module leader. The learning is hands-on, with students writing drafts, receiving feedback, and learning to revise and develop the depth of their academic research and writing skills through tailored individual feedback. This module supports the students' CURIOSITY by encouraging their inquisitiveness through setting their own research topic of focus, and enabling them to become very knowledgeable in this area by encouraging them to find and then engage with the most current research in that area. The module encourages the students to be RESPONSIBLE for their learning, again by encouraging independence of choice in terms of topic and research materials. It encourages their COURAGEOUSNESS by pushing the boundaries of thinking in relating academic research to design.