The purpose of this module is to deepen students' critical understandings of their design methods and processes, in particular to understand the role of research as an inherent and integral aspect of the process of design in and with landscape. 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."

The following is indicative of the content of the module. The module focuses on the integral role of research in the processes of designing in and with landscape and brings students through a range of relevant and supportive research approaches and methods. Design research refers knowledge produced through design, along with the methods, practices and processes by which that knowledge is developed and disseminated. The location of this module in the third semester of the programme is strategically prior to the students' undertaking of their final MLA Design Thesis in their final and fourth semester. The module brings students through a range of research strategies and methodologies, in a way that students can explore and test, and through the work of the module, brings them to a position to articulate the topic of their final thesis. The module prepares students to undertake their MLA thesis in the final semester, as well as setting them up to engage research strategies and methods in a structured manner in their professional practices as landscape architects, post-graduation.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Describe in depth a range of research methodologies utilised in the practice of landscape architecture. Analyse the utility of a range of design research methodologies for diverse set of issues in the discipline. Integrate the practice of design research as fundamental to their practice of landscape architecture. Synthesise a range of design research methods into the formulation of an individual research topic and set of research questions to prepare the ground for their MLA design thesis in the next, and final, semester of the programme.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Judge which design research methods and strategies best suit their proposed MLA thesis research topic.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: n/a

The module is taught through discursive seminar, through a focus on close reading and case study investigations of a range of research methods in / through design and their impacts and benefits to the design process in landscape architecture. This module enhances students' capacity to be ARTICULATE about the methodological influences on the development of their critical positions. The module enables them to develop their CURIOUSITY through supporting their independence and self-directed learning to establish their own pre-thesis set of questions and position. The focus of the module encourages students to take RESPONSIBILITY for the direction of the discipline of landscape architecture by affording them critical space to work through and formulate a set of research methodologies that will best suit their design practice in their thesis in addressing whatever contemporary issue in landscape that they set out to explore.