University of Bath | Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

MSc/Diploma in the Conservation of Historic Gardens and Cultural Landscapes
The MSc / Postgraduate Diploma in the Conservation of Historic Gardens and Cultural Landscapes, (which commences October 2007) together with the Department's complementary postgraduate programme in the Conservation of Historic Buildings, recognizes that historic buildings are inseparable from their context, whether these are urban, designed or natural landscapes or comprise semi-natural features.
The programme provides students from a range of backgrounds with analytical and practical skills and grounding in the theory and practice of garden and cultural landscape conservation and management, covering both designed and evolving organic landscapes, complex cultural landscapes, and large landscape zones. The course is taught by leading academics, and practising professionals.
The MSc in the Conservation of Historic Gardens and Cultural Landscapes contains the following taught units:

History and Theory
Survey and Assessment
Conservation and Management
Legislative Framework
The course which commences in October 2007 is either one year full-time or two years part-time. On either route there is the equivalent of two semesters of teaching (full or part-time day-release) followed by a dissertation. Where students do not wish to progress to the dissertation, or are ineligible to do so, a Diploma is awarded after successful completion of the taught course only. The taught units will also be available on a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) basis.
Diploma students attend the same taught programme as those on the Master's route. However, Diploma students who obtain an overall grade of 50% in the taught programme may choose to transfer to the Master's degree and thereby write a dissertation which is completed in the summer vacation following the end of the taught course.
The World-Heritage City of Bath is an ideal location for a specialist programme in the Conservation of Historic Gardens and Cultural Landscapes, because of the available study material with many important gardens within the region and as a place to live. Teaching and field visits in all units involve close contact with a wide range of leading academics and practitioners attending the programme as lecturers, workshop tutors and field visit leaders, directed by Marion Harney. The university has a well-established tradition of education and training based on interdisciplinary co-operation between architects and engineers, as well as experience in related areas and techniques, including urban management and computer modeling.

The programme is open to architects, landscape architects, archaeologists, horticulturists, land managers and other chartered surveyors and suitably qualified candidates from other fields including conservationists, planners, geographers, engineers, and historians with a first degree or equivalent professional qualification or relevant experience. The programme is also suitable for graduates in other fields such as History of Art who wish to gain a vocational degree.
At the discretion of the Board of Studies students without a first degree may be admitted on the basis of extensive professional experience in a relevant field: see Admissions Information.
The programme - New for 2007
The programme is offered from October 2007 as one year full-time, two years part-time or four years extended part-time, with the taught content being delivered over two semesters ending in June. The programme is based at the University of Bath, with some teaching taking place in the Gardener's Lodge at the Holburne Museum in Sydney Gardens, itself a rare survival of an eighteenth-century pleasure garden. Teaching takes place on Wednesdays and Fridays and part-time day-release students select either to attend on a Wednesday or Friday. The dissertation for the MSc is submitted in September. Assessment is continuous by coursework, essays, report writing and field studies and, for the Legislative Framework, a written examination at the end of the unit. Individual units are also available for CPD which are not assessed.
Educational Aims of the Programme

equip the programme graduates with academic, professional and personal skills and qualities to enable them to make an immediate contribution related to the conservation of historic gardens and cultural landscapes.
develop knowledge and understanding of garden and landscape history and theory in both rural and urban environments and of conservation philosophy in the historic environment.
ability to develop specialist knowledge and transferable skills in particular aspects of a range of philosophies that may inform the decision-making process in the conservation, maintenance and management of the historic environment and in the techniques and skills that are of direct practical application in the field for preserving the garden and landscape heritage.
a high level of competence to read and analyse the historic landscape and its significance from reports, plans and on-site surveys, and to produce or assess reports prepared by others.
A knowledge of survey equipment and techniques and an understanding of the monitoring process and quality of archaeological projects and the principles and techniques of archaeological science.
develop and enhance analytical and practical skills and grounding in the theory and practice of garden and cultural landscape conservation and management, covering both designed and evolving organic landscapes and complex cultural landscapes.
extend knowledge of the legislative framework relating to historic landscapes, including an understanding of planning law, casework, conservation and the historic environment at a national level, international charters and principles and an awareness of key relevant organisations relating to landscapes

More information on admissions, the programme content and a programme brochure is available.

To find out more
If, after reading this information you have any particular questions about the course or admissions procedure, please do not hesitate to contact Emma Greeley, Postgraduate Admissions Administrator, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY. Telephone and voicemail: +44(0)1225 386908/Email: e.s.j.greeley@bath.ac.uk