Programme description for Master’s Programme in Planning, Place and Process (2026–2028)

Upon completion of the program, the student will have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate will:

• Have profound knowledge of the Norwegian formal planning system and understand challenges related to planning outside this system.
• Have in-depth knowledge of key scientific theories in planning research and understand the connections between theory and practice in the planning field.
• Possess advanced knowledge of the scientific theoretical roots and developmental history of planning.
• Understand the driving forces influencing societal development, organization, and everyday life.
• Be well-versed in the most relevant governance, participation, and planning methods as tools for facilitating planning processes.
• Have a solid understanding of dimensions of sustainable transformation and the importance of context in understanding change.
• Understand how international development trends, such as migration, mobility, climate change, and urbanization, impact local processes.

Skills

The candidate will:

• Be able to analyze complex situations and challenges by applying relevant theories from the planning field.
• Be able to lead processes and collaborate with a wide range of actors in the development of knowledge-based, complex, and conflict-filled development and planning processes.
• Be able to reflect on theories and policies in various contexts.
• Critically evaluate the application of knowledge and the role of planners in the planning process.
• Use relevant methods to address challenges in planning.
• Handle complexity and conflict in planning and development processes independently.

General Competence

The candidate will:

• Have insight into the central concepts of the planning field and formulate academic research questions both in writing and orally.
• Be able to conduct an independent analysis and research project.
• Use relevant research methods independently.
• Master academic writing and communicate professional knowledge.
• Develop solutions and contribute to innovation when addressing challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Communicate professional knowledge with both specialists and the general public.

The general admission requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent education of at least three years (180 credits). The admission basis must include:

• Either: A specialization of at least 80 credits in social sciences, including at least 20 credits at the advanced level,
• Or: An integrated study of at least 2 years in social sciences.

Examples of relevant fields include social planning and/or cultural studies, geography, development studies, political science, sociology, or social anthropology. Social science methodology, at least 7.5 credits. A weighted average grade of C or better is required.

Admissions are conducted according to the regulations for admission to studies and courses at the University of Agder: https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2021-11-24-3370?q=uia

The master's program in Social Planning, Place and Process focuses on planning in both theory and practice to understand processes in the development of sustainable cities, regions, and communities. The program primarily draws on social geography and planning theory perspectives. Furthermore, it emphasizes the public planning system, planning practice, and the implementation of planning processes, collaboration, and conflict management. It also incorporates theoretical and methodological contributions from sociology, political science, social anthropology, as well as media and communication.

Through the program, students learn about changes and development in places and how these are inherently linked to national and global processes. Planning is increasingly considered essential for shaping future societies, particularly in the context of sustainability, democracy, and justice challenges. Competence and the ability to understand, analyze, and balance social, cultural, economic, and ecological values and interests in both planning and action are needed. Planning involves developing knowledge-based solutions and processes for future development in cooperation with a range of actors with different interests and time horizons. Thus, understanding how knowledge and action are linked in political processes and policy-making, and how power dynamics influence this, is crucial.

Through the program, students gain competence in managing planning processes both within formal legal procedures (the public planning system) and with actors and interests outside this planning system. The program provides students with collaboration competence and process understanding, as well as perspectives on place development and the role and opportunities of planning and planners. Students become equipped to face the complexity of challenges that the goal of a more sustainable and robust society and new governance forms entail. They learn to handle the complex and sometimes unclear planning situations planners face, whether in private or public organizations.

Students will work on issues related to the relationship between people and nature in general, urban transformation, place and area development, business and energy development, or similar topics. They learn to analyze, plan, and design processes in practice. This includes testing various models for designing dialogue workshops, developing collaboration competence, and critically reflecting on the planner's role in complex processes. This occurs through problem-oriented learning and cooperation with regional actors. Students gain knowledge and competence to collaborate with politicians, businesses, citizens, and public actors. They learn to meet and handle complexity, conflict, and potentials in the development of places/communities, cities, and regions.

The teaching methodology is based on problem-based learning, with extensive use of case-based teaching and field studies. Students receive training in working with case studies and proposing strategies for concrete planning challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective. The teaching emphasizes how students can approach their own and foreign cultures through a day-to-day perspective.

As part of the program, a one-week study tour/field course to a Nordic city/region is included in the second semester. For students unable to participate, an alternative teaching arrangement will be provided. Further information will be given at the start of the program.

The primary language of instruction in the program is Norwegian, but teaching in English may occur, as indicated in individual course descriptions. The program

utilizes international course literature in relevant subjects, and international and global perspectives on local and regional development are central.

Exchange is facilitated in the third semester. Students on exchange have the opportunity to choose from many interesting courses at partner institutions, such as Advanced Urban Planning, GIS, Geographies of Sustainable Futures, Geographies of Global Economic Change, Engaging with People and Place: Doing Geographical Research, Envisioning Sustainable Cities, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, Revitalising Neighbourhoods, Sustainability-Oriented Innovations, etc.

Students going on exchange choose courses that are pre-approved by the program leader to fit into the student's educational plan. Contact the program leader or student advisor for more information about our partner institutions.

Graduates from the master's program qualify for positions in public, private, or voluntary organizations in sectors dealing with social planning, local and regional development, urban development, communication, sustainability, social analysis, and citizen involvement. Possible careers include city and regional developer, planning advisor, social planner, project manager, or planning coordinator for various development and mobilization projects.

The program may qualify students for admission to a variety of PhD programs nationally and internationally.