Module Information

Module Identifier
RD10720
Module Title
People and the Countryside
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Field Trip 2 x 2 Hour Field Trips
Lecture 33 x 1 Hour Lectures
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Assignment considering issues in rural communities.  50%
Semester Exam 1.5 Hours   Short answer question paper.  50%
Supplementary Assessment Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module.  50%
Supplementary Exam 1.5 Hours   Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module.  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Explain the role of government in managing the countryside and the processes by which government policy is devised and implemented.

2. Describe how non-governmental organisations play a part in countryside management and identify their interrelationships with government and its agencies.

3. Describe the contemporary issues that affect rural communities

4. Identify and explain the benefits and conflicts for rural areas of recreation and tourism and describe how appropriate management can resolve issues that arise.

5. Identify appropriate methods by which information can be gathered to research a range of rural issues.

Brief description

This module explores the roles, responsibilities and actions of the main governmental and non-governmental organisations involved in the management of an increasingly multi-functional countryside. The political landscape of the countryside is examined and the development of policies and their translation into actions is considered. Students will be encouraged to develop an appreciation of the complex political, economic, environmental and social issues that are driving change in the countryside. Issues associated with life in rural communities will be examined, along with the opportunities and threats presented by people visiting the countryside for recreation and tourism. The module will introduce students to the methodological approaches that can be taken to surveying social issues in countryside areas.

Content

This module will cover the following areas:

  • The development of the British political system and its relationship to the countryside.
  • Government, the formulation of policy and its implementation through governmental organisations.
  • The role of non-governmental organisations associated with the management of the countryside and the interrelationships between such organisations and with government.
  • Rural communities - structure, issues and support mechanisms.
  • The nature and scope of countryside recreation and tourism and the benefits, conflicts, trends and management associated with it.
  • Introductory social science survey techniques.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication Oral discussion will be encouraged in lectures
Information Technology Developed through preparation for the assignment – searching for and using information from library and web sources
Personal Development and Career planning This module will highlight the types of organizations that students may end up employed by.
Research skills Social science research techniques such as questionnaires, counts, focus groups and observation will be introduced within the module and developed in a site visit

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4