25420 - Culture and Nature Modulübersicht

Module Number: 25420 - module is no longer offered from SS 2013
Module Title:Culture and Nature
  Kultur und Natur
Department: Faculty 2 - Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. phil. Droste, Magdalena
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every winter semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:Rationale:
The rationale of the class is to provide an overview of the approaches to the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

Part 1: Culture
Students will gain an insight in the fields of material and immaterial cultural heritage from different perspectives, including art history, architecture and history of architecture, archaeology, conservation and urban planning. They will be able to
- describe and evaluate the heritage character of material and immaterial cultural expressions
- assess the importance of heritage sites and their qualities regarding authenticity and integrity
- discuss the question of outstanding universal value as related to cultural heritage
- understand the perspectives of various disciplines on the protection and use of heritage

Part 2: Nature
Objective is to give students an introduction to the module cluster Natural Heritage and Cultural Landscapes. Students will be able to
- Analyse the outstanding universal value of biodiversity as a natural treasure; the importance of natural habitats for the conservation of globally significant biodiversity; and the importance of ongoing biological and ecological processes for the maintenance of biodiversity,
- Analyse the importance of cultural landscapes and landscape aesthetics for natural heritage protection,
- Analyse the importance of geological features as exemplifications of earth’s history in a natural heritage context,
- Analyse justifications of nature conservation, landscape protection and heritage protection from an ethical point of view.
Contents:Part 1: Culture
- Methods and approaches in art history and important historical aspects
- Theory, application and history of architecture related to both sites and monuments
- Basic methods and techniques of conservation
- Immaterial meanings of material culture

Part 2: Nature
- Biodiversity as an object of protection according to the World Heritage Convention: natural treasure, natural heritage, natural capital,
- Cultural landscapes as objects of protection
- Geological heritage
- Philosophical aspects of natural heritage protection
Recommended Prerequisites:None
Mandatory Prerequisites:None
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Lecture / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Seminar / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:Part 1: Culture
The class is being held as a lecture with a seminar part. Questions can be discussed immediately.
Part 2: Nature
The class is being held as a lecture with a seminar part. Questions can be discussed immediately. Lecture notes and study material are available under http://www.tu-cottbus.de/BTU/Fak4/AllgOeko/.
Recommended readings:
Groombridge, B. & Jenkins, M.D. 2002. World Atlas of Biodiversity. Earth’s living resources in the 21st century. Univ. of California Press.
- The most important maps are also available under http://www.unep-wcmc.org
Further Weblinks:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/?search=&search_by_country=&type=natural&media=®ion=&order=
http://www.biodiv.org/default.shtml
http://www.iucn.org/
Module Examination:Unspecified - Specification from winter semester 2016/17 required!
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:Part 1: Culture
Attendance/Presentation/Written exam
Part 2: Nature
Assessment is based on a written exam at the end of the semester (50 %). The exam will comprise 20 questions, addressing key questions of the lecture. Before being admitted to the written exam students have to hand in an essay on a selected topic (annual change according to topicality, 50 %)
Overall grade
Overall grade is calculated as follows: Part Culture 50 %, Part Nature 50 %.
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • no assignment
Remarks:None
Module Components:lecture and seminar
Components to be offered in the Current Semester:
  • no assignment
Follow-up Module/s: Phase-out module since: 27.10.2010
  • without Follow-up Module/s