Course Focus
A well-planned system of infrastructure facilities is the primary prerequisite for development in any country. There is a pressing international need for professionals capable of directing the conception, planning and construction of infrastructure facilities for transportation, water and waste management on the urban as well as on the regional lev- el, while integrating economic, social, ecological and management aspects. With the Master’s Programme Infrastructure Planning, the University of Stuttgart has been offering an internationally acclaimed Master of Science programme since 1983. Faculty members from different institutes and experienced practitioners offer their knowledge to a limited number of 40 students per session. Special emphasis is placed on an interdisciplinary approach to planning in an intercultural context, which is an essential qualification for modern infrastructure planners in large scale and complex projects, especially in international project cooperation. The tightly structured programme is divided into four semesters. Whereas the first semester provides a number of basic mandatory modules to broaden the professional horizon, the second semester offers a variety of electives to the advanced students. In the third semester, besides additional electives, an extensive case study deals with the complex problems of infrastructure planning and the challenges of interdisciplinary teamwork. Intensive group work provides train- ing in methods and techniques applied successfully in Germany. Dur- ing the fourth semester students write their Master’s thesis, where interdisciplinary subjects can deal with a problem or project relevant to the individual student’s home country. Modules offered in the Master’s Programme include: Case Study, Statistics and Information Processing, Integrated Planning, GIS, Economics, Social Aspects of Planning, Project Management, Development Policy and Planning, Urban Planning, Ecological Aspects of Infrastructure Planning, Regional Development Planning, Energy Supply, Transportation, Water and Waste Management, Project Appraisal, Planning and Financing, Tendering and Contracting.
Target Group
Civil engineers, architects and urban planners as well as graduates from related fields of study who wish to gain insight into infrastructure planning in a broad, integrated context and who want to prepare for international and complex planning tasks. Career goals might be: infrastructure planner in the private sector/consultant, civil servant dealing with various aspects of infrastructure planning on the regional/ national level or decision maker in policy and planning. Graduates will be capable of directing and coordinating the work of international and interdisciplinary teams of specialists from a wide variety of infrastructure-related fields.