Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture

The Master Program in UPLA, provide the local and international academic institutions with graduates as researchers and lecturers in the field of urban planning and Landscape Architecture.

Provide the local, regional market with professional in the field of urban planning and Landscape Architecture.

Enrich the academic arena with research thesis related to the discipline.  

  • Developing students’ planning and designing skills in the fields of study, developing their abilities in evaluating the dynamic elements in the surrounding physical environment due to natural, social, economic and political changes in this environment and increasing students’ awareness of the natural environment and its relationship with the planning and designing processes on the various levels of societal cooperation.

Developing students’ abilities in conducting scientific research and enabling them to use scientific methodologies in the field of urban planning and landscape architecture and comprehending the science, skills and means necessary for implementing them. Improving students’ planning and designing practices in the fields of urban planning and landscape architecture in Palestine, enabling Palestinian academic organizations to educate students and to provide them with the necessary skills in the fields of urban planning and landscape architecture. Supporting Palestinian planning organizations on all levels to ensure the integration of all natural elements in the processes of urban planning, as well as to achieve a sustainable development and progress in Palestine.

  • Develop knowledge about  the principles of regional and urban planning 
  • Improve the skills in Infrastructure Planning.
  • Introduce principles in regional and urban economics
  • Improve scientific research methodology.
  • Develop urban planning skills
  • Improve urban conservation and rehabilitation techniques
  • Develop skills in landscape design and construction
  • Introduce theories in transportation planning.
  • Introduce skills in management of the urban environment.
  • Introduce skills in photogrammetry and mapping
  • Illustrate and explore landscape history
  • Explore Policies and Theories of Planning and Social Issues
  • Introduce Land Management theory
  • Private urban planning firms (private sector)...
  • Governmental sector(ministry of local government)
  • Municipalities.
  • Local and international consultancy firms.
  • Research Institutions
Program Requirements

The completion of no less than 36 credit hours distributed as follows:

 

1. Remedial Courses:The program committee might request that students register for no more than 6 credit hours of remedial courses, from undergraduate programs to ensure that students from all fields have a common knowledge base.

 

2. Compulsory Courses (for both concentrations):(13 credit hours)

Course No.

Course Title

Prerequisite(s)

UPLA621

Research Methods and Analysis         

 

UPLA623

History of Landscape

 

UPLA631

Principles of Regional and Urban Planning

 

UPLA632

Integrated Urban Development Project

 

UPLA635

Policies and Theories of Planning and Social Issues

 
Note: All students are required to complete UPLA621 within the first 15 credits of their registration in the program.

 

3. Concentration Courses:(11 credit hours)

Credit Hours

Course No.

Course Title

Prerequisite(s)

Urban Planning Concentration Courses (11 credit hours)

Compulsory Courses

(5 credit hours)

UPLA6332

Infrastructure Planning 

 

UPLA6222

Regional and Urban Economics

 

Urban Planning Concentration Elective Courses (6 credit hours; one course from each of the following groups)

Group One:

Transportation, environment and
management of the urban environment

UPLA6342

Transportation Planning 

 

UPLA7322

Management of the Urban Environment

 

UPLA7362

Photogrammetry and Mapping

 

UPLA7382

Special Topics in Urban Environment 

 

UPLA7392

Land Management 

 

Group Two:

Urban design and development

UPLA6372

Urban Development Models 

 

UPLA6382

Urban Conservation and Rehabilitation

 

UPLA7332

Social Aspects in Housing Design

 

UPLA7342

Advanced Urban Design 

 

UPLA7372

Special Topics in Urban Design

 

Landscape Architecture Concentration Courses (11 credit hours)

Compulsory Courses

(5 credit hours)

UPLA6321

Landscape Ecology and Horticulture

 

UPLA6241

Landscape Design and Construction I

 

Elective Courses
(6 credit hours)

UPLA7311

Landscape Design and Construction II

 

UPLA7331

Virtual Reality in Landscape Architecture

 

UPLA7341

Design of Public and Residential Spaces

 

UPLA7351

Design of Open Spaces for Special Needs

 

UPLA7361

Design of Open Spaces for Infrastructural Needs

 

UPLA7371

Special Topics in Landscape Architecture 

 

UPLA7381

Landscape Management 

 

 

4. Track “A” or Track “B”:6 Credit Hours; Thesis or two Seminars

 

Track Title

Course No.

Prerequisites

Track A

Thesis

UPLA860

Complete no less than 12 credit hours from the program

Track B

Two Seminars

UPLA830 

UPLA831

 

5. The completion of 6 credit hours chosen by the student from the two concentrations, or from another program, after the approval of the Program Committee.

  1. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, architectural engineering, landscape architecture or urban planning from a university recognized by Birzeit University, with a minimum overall assessment of “Good”.
  2. Knowledge in the field of Geographic Information Systems: Applicants should have successfully completed one course in the field of GIS. Students who have not completed this course are required to register for the GIS course offered by the Departments of Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering; the course will be considered preparatory courses.
  3. A personal interview, if required by the Program Committee.
  4. Fulfilling the admission requirements according to the Academic Regulations for the Master’s Degree.