These programmes are approved by the Institution of Economic Development and are designed for those who want to extend their field of academic knowledge and understanding of issues in economic development and policy, as well as for those who are more interested and concerned with policy in practice.
They will appeal to those working in local authorities, learning and skills councils, business links, and other national and local economic development and urban and regional development agencies.
Programme content
MSc students study four core modules, plus any two specialist option modules and a dissertation of 10,000–12,500 words.
Core modules are:
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Regional and Urban Economic Change
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The Political Economy of Cities and Regions
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Research Methods
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Economic Development Policy
Option modules include:
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Urban regeneration and renewal
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Tourism and culture in regional and urban development
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Regional development, policy and governance in the EU
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Urban governance institutions and processes
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Place marketing
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Qualitative research
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Towards urban renaissance – community involvement in the built environment
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Comparative European urban planning and regeneration (including field trip)
Graduate Diploma students have the same module choices as their MSc colleagues (as above) but are exempt from the dissertation element. Postgraduate Diploma students study three of four compulsory modules plus up to three other modules of their choice. Postgraduate Certificate students study two of four compulsory modules plus one other module of their choice
Skills gained
This programme explores current debates around economic development. It will give students a multidisciplinary research-based knowledge of key processes and issues at the local and regional level arising from economic and industrial change in the global economy.
Learning and teaching
Our students benefit hugely from the diversity of activity undertaken by CURS. Our extensive research and consultancy work ensures that our teaching is relevant, up-to-date and research-led, while losing none of its intellectual rigour.
Studying with us you will enjoy a favourable staff–student ratio and an informal ‘open all hours’ tutorial policy. The department provides a comfortable common room with newspapers and a coffee machine, and access to photocopying and computer facilities. Undergraduates have their own society (the Greenbelts) which organises regular social events and visiting speakers.
As well as having access to professional journals and magazines within the department, students can also use the University’s main library and the increasingly large variety of learning materials and library research services (eg, e-journals and WebCT) via the internet.
The programme uses a mix of teaching methods, with a focus on participative learning.