LV EN RU DE FR

Landscape Sociology

Course developer

Course abstract

Landscape Sociology encompasses social and ecological systems associated with public open space, urban agriculture, the urban and peri-urban fringe, regional towns and rural landscape. Landscapes make visible the biophysical and social links between nature and culture, especially between natural resource management, conservation (biodiversity) and agricultural food systems. Landscape is a vernacular scene, the product of everyday practice.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

• Knowledge: structure, functioning and development of society in relation with landscape. Individual practical work.
• Practical skills: work with various sources of information, discuss on the development trends of society, and evaluate socio-economic processes critically in the context of landscape architecture. 1 seminar. Individual practical work.
• Competence: students are able to deal with problem situations and make decisions using social knowledge in professional activities of a landscape architect by using the results of various research findings. 1 and 2 seminar. Individual practical work.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction. (lecture 2h)
2. Development of landscape sociology in Latvia. (lecture 2h)
3. Social processes. Methods. (lecture 2h)
4. Creating a survey in groups. (practical work 2h)
5. Field research. Group survey. (practical work 2h)
6. Summary of survey results. (practical work 2h)
7. Sustainability and social processes in the landscape. (lecture 2h)
8. Urban sociology. (lecture 2h)
9. Rural sociology. (lecture 2h)
10. Research of small towns in Latvia. (lecture 2h)
11. Creating an essay, reflecting the current events of the field. (practical works 2h) 1. Seminar.
12. Development of individual surveys in connection with the design subject.
(practical work 2h)
13. Development of individual surveys in connection with design
subject. (practical work 2h)
14. Compilation of results and methods of presentation. (lecture 2h)
15. Compilation of results and methods of presentation. (practical work 2h)
16. Presentation of results, interpretation, application of landscape
architectural practice. (practical works 2h) 2. Seminar.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Class visiting should be at least 75%. Assessment works have to be done in time. Works, that are handed in later (if there is no justified reason), evaluation is lowered by one mark. To pass the study course, study work assessments have to be positive.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1 seminar – modelling of project development process including all sides involved in project.
2 seminar – emotional map of environment in different scales.
Individual practical work - presentation of individual work on the theme topic gathered information and research.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Study course formal test assessment depends on seminar task assessment and study course practical work cumulative assessment.
Practical work and seminar is evaluated according to task evaluating form.

Compulsory reading

1. Bell M. M., Ashwood L. L. An Invitation to Environmental Sociology. SAGE Publications, 2015. 512 p.
2. Bell S., Herlin I.S., Stiles R. Exploring the Boundaries of Landscape Architecture. Routledge, 2011. 344 p.
3. Ferguson J. S.usan Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology. Mc Graw-Hill, 2012. 672 p. ISBN-10 : 0078026792
4. Mācību līdzeklis studiju priekšmetā Socioloģija LLU studentiem. A. Grīnfelde, D. Kaufmane, V. Korpa, L. Paula. Jelgava: LLU, 2007. 88 lpp.

Further reading

1. van Mansvelt J.D., van der Lubbe M.J. Checklist for Sustainable Landscape Management: Final Report of the EU Concerted Action AIR3-CT93-1210. Elsevier, 1998. 181 p.
2. Environmental Psychology. P. A. Bell et al. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publichers, 1996. Routledge, 2005.
3. Strautmanis I. Dialogs ar telpu. Rīga: Liesma, 1977. 136 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology. Online ISSN: 2044-8325
2. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology. ISSN: 0022-3514.
3. Latvijas Architektūra: arhitektūras, dizaina un vides apskats. ISSN 1407-4923.

Notes

Compulsory course in full-time studies of VBF study program "Landscape Architecture and Planning" (Bachelor). The study course is also taught in English.