Reflecting on the Masters of Planning Course: Challenges and Insights

This assignment is a reflective piece by a student enrolled in a Masters of Planning program, focusing on the challenges encountered in the learning process. The student highlights the difficulties of achieving objectivity in sociological studies, which is a core component of the course. The reflection emphasizes the multidisciplinary nature of sociology and its blend of theoretical and pragmatic approaches. The student critiques the current curriculum's emphasis on empirical learning, suggesting a need for a more balanced approach that considers both instrumental and intrinsic views of learning. The paper also discusses the evolution of society and the importance of adapting planning strategies to suit current social dynamics. The author advocates for revisiting the learning strategies in the course to ensure a comprehensive understanding of urban planning and sociological principles.

Running head: MASTER OF PLANNING: REFLECTION
MASTER OF PLANNING: REFLECTION
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author Note

1MASTER OF PLANNING: REFLECTION
Masters of Planning is a separate branch of study of Sociology which is combined by
both theoretical as well as pragmatic approaches to cover and understand the significance of
urbanization, policies, theories, practices and planning laws (Illeris, 2014). It is a
multidisciplinary subject which also deals with training and education regarding positioning
strategies and approaches for an efficient planning for the students. Urban development process
is the most important part of the course of Masters of Planning which prepares the students to
enter into negotiation with developers and landowners.
As I have enrolled in the course of Masters of Planning in the university, I have been
observing and noticing certain problems that have aroused in the learning process of the
discipline. The most important and significant problem that every discipline of sociology face is
the study of the discipline objectively. Sociology is a massive field of study which is
multidisciplinary and multidimensional in nature. The sociologists have tried to deduce a
conclusion with the help of facts, figures and information obtained from qualitative as well as
quantitative methods. However, it has to be remembered that society is not static. Society is
fluid. It changes from time to time according to the dynamics of science and psychology. Culture
and society are ever evolving and is in a constant state of getting rejuvenated and re-invented.
Therefore, to understand the social dynamics and social statics of a particular society, a universal
pragmatic approach is needed, however, it should not be forgotten that, with an amalgamation of
theory as well as pragmatism, a proper study can be conducted but amalgamation of subjectivity
as well as objectivity is difficult to perform and achieve. Sociological disciplines and sub-
disciplines are based on certain rules, theories and practical bases but sociology has not
performed well in the case of objectivity (Illeris, 2014). Every person or individual in a society is
different. An amalgamation of collective consciousness is called a society. A society is the

2MASTER OF PLANNING: REFLECTION
producer as well as a holder of different and diversified viewpoints. In order to understand the
society, objective approach needed to be taken. As I was enrolled in the course, throughout the
coursework that I have attended, I have experienced that the practical experimentations which
the students are supposed to carry out which is also a part of the curriculum is not sufficient as a
disciplinary initiative. The approach towards introspecting, analyzing, interpreting and deducing
various social happenings and reasons are insufficient according to my perspective.
It has to be remembered that sociology is not only a discipline which is largely based on
art and skills, it is a discipline which is scientific enough and also deals with the theories of
probability and pragmatic scientific observations and experimentations on a larger extent (Illeris,
2014). A discipline such as sociology needs to be founded and supported on the basis of ground
reality and not empirical or universal reality. Therefore, according to my opinion, the learning
strategy or approach of masters in planning which is highly empirical is needed to be revisited
and more stress should be given to objectivity which includes instrumental as well as intrinsic
view of learning.

3MASTER OF PLANNING: REFLECTION
References:
Illeris, K. (2014). Transformative learning and identity. Journal of Transformative Education,
12(2), 148-163.