Master’s Degree in Land Management

The master’s program in Land Studies aims to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary for efficient and effective work in various land management fields, as follows:

Provide learners with multidimensional theoretical and applied knowledge related to land management and its various functions, including legal, institutional, technical, and developmental aspects.

Enhance learners’ professional and research capabilities to enable them to perform administrative and field tasks related to the land sector effectively, responding to their institutions’ need for qualified personnel.

Develop learners’ intellectual skills in critical analysis and constructive scientific thinking. This contributes to raising learners’ self-efficacy, improving their institutions’ performance, and maximizing the national and developmental impact of the sector.

Enable learners to develop a deep understanding of sustainable land management, including tenure, value, use, development, and the institutional and legal framework governing it and its implications for overall development.

Qualify learners in land information management by teaching them to identify the types of data required, their sources, and methods of collecting, analyzing, and documenting them using modern tools and techniques that support sustainable decision-making.

Provide learners with the knowledge and skills to manage land tenure and ownership. Focus on land valuation and development mechanisms and familiarize learners with legal and alternative paths to resolve land-related disputes.

Introduce learners to the nature of the services provided by institutions working in the land sector in Palestine and the mechanisms used to monitor and analyze the land market.

Help learners manage digital databases and statistical information. Develop their ability to read and analyze paper and digital maps and plans related to land.

Improve learners’ written and oral communication skills to enhance their ability to represent their organizations or stakeholders in land administration issues.

Develop learners’ scientific research skills to enable them to contribute effectively to research and development projects inside and outside their organizations.

Graduates of Al-Quds University’s Master of Land Administration program are expected to have:

1. Demonstrate theoretical knowledge of sustainable land management, land tenure and property rights, land dispute resolution, and land use planning
2. Demonstrate theoretical knowledge and skills in land valuation, appraisal, and market monitoring
3. Demonstrate applied knowledge and skills related to land management services provided by organizations working in this sector at the Palestinian level
4. Technical skills related to maps, land administration information, and statistics
5. Demonstrate research skills related to land administration and its functions

The program seeks to attract students with the following backgrounds:

1. Bachelor’s degree holders in various academic disciplines, such as engineering, geography, law, geomatics, environmental studies, agriculture, economics, management, sociology, and more.
2. Professionals working in governmental and private institutions, as well as NGOs whose work is related to land management.

Individuals interested in the program who work, including surveyors and land and real estate appraisers.

The admission requirements for the program are as follows:

Students must have a minimum average of 70% or a good grade or above in a bachelor’s degree program in a related land management discipline, such as: Engineering, Surveying, Land Valuation, Geography, Law, Geoinformatics, Environment, Agriculture, Economics, and Management from a university recognized by the Palestinian Higher Education Committee. . Students must also have a minimum high school (Tawjihi) or equivalent average of 65% or higher.

Students must have a minimum average of 70% or a “good” grade in disciplines other than those listed above. This is subject to the recommendation of the program committee and the approval of the Deanship of Graduate Studies. This is especially true for applicants who work in institutions related to the land sector, are recommended by their institution, and submit a certificate of work experience in the land sector.

Applicants who have a higher diploma with less than a 70% average or a “good” grade may be accepted into the program. According to university regulations and instructions, students can later transfer to the master’s degree program after passing 24 credit hours in the program with a cumulative average of 80% or above.

The applicant must submit two letters of recommendation demonstrating academic and professional qualifications.

The applicant must not have been dismissed from Al-Quds University on the program to which he or she is applying.

Other conditions may be determined by the program committee and approved by the Deanship of Graduate Studies. These conditions may include passing an oral and/or written proficiency exam or passing some remedial courses.

Soon …

Table 1: Program Requirement as Set by Deanship of Graduate Studies

Tracks			Credit Hours
Higher Diploma	Comprehensive Exam Track	Thesis Track
18	18	18	Compulsory Credit Hours
9	15	12	Elective Credit Hours
–	3	–	Research Paper
–	–	6	MA Thesis
–	0	–	Comprehensive Exam
27	36	36	Total No. of Credit Hours

1. A student who has been accepted into the higher diploma track is permitted to transfer to the master’s track upon completion of 24 credits, of which 18 are obligatory and 6 are elective. The transfer is permitted to either of the two available master’s tracks (thesis or comprehensive) provided that the student achieves an average grade of at least 80%.
2. In the event that a student does not succeed in the thesis track or does not fulfill the university requirements for the thesis track, the student reserves the right to transfer to the comprehensive exam track according to the university’s rules and regulations. This decision is final and cannot be reversed.
3. In the event that a student opts against completing the master’s degree, whether in its thesis or comprehensive examination track, they retain the right to obtain a higher diploma. However, this is contingent upon their successful completion of an equivalent of 27 credit hours from the program’s academic plan.

Thesis Track

The total requirements for graduation with a master’s degree in the thesis track are met by the successful completion of 36 credit hours, as outlined in the following table.

Requirements		Credit Hours
1	Compulsory Courses	18
2	Elective Courses	12
3	MA Thesis	6
Total Credit Hours		36

Compulsory Courses (18 credit hours)Credit Hours

	Course Number	Course Name
3	88068511	Land administration
3	8068512	Land tenure and ownership
3	8068521	Geographic Information System
3	8068522	Land and real estate valuation and marketing
3	8068611	Scientific research methods in land administration
3	8068612	Real estate development and investment
18	Total Credit Hours

Elective Courses(12 credit hours to be selected from the courses shown below)Credit Hours

	Course Number	Course Name
3	8068513	Land administration and sustainable development
3	8068514	Land disputes and resolution methods
3	8068523	Sustainable land use planning
3	8068524	The Institutional and legal environment for land administration
3	8068613	Governance of land administration
3	8068614	Special topic in land administration
3	8068621	Management Information Systems
3	8068622	Financial-Accounting Aspects of Land administration
3	8068623	Economics of land and real estate
3	8068624	Statistical applications in land administration
3	8068625	Research project

Thesis (6 credit hours)

Students enrolled in the thesis track must complete two six-credit research courses.

Credit Hours	Course Number	Course name	Requirements
	8068615	Thesis 1	1
	8068615	Thesis 2	2

Comprehensive Examination Track (36 credit hours)                                   

To graduate with a Master’s degree in the Comprehensive Examination Track, students must complete a total of 36 credit hours, distributed as shown in the table below.

Academic Requirements for the Master’s Degree in the Comprehensive Examination Track:

Credit Hours	Requirements
18	Compulsory Courses	1
15	Elective Courses	2
3	Research Project	3
0	Comprehensive Examination	4
36	Total Credit Hours

Compulsory Courses (18 credit hours)

Students must complete the following courses for a total of 18 credit hours.

Credit Hours	Course Number	Course Name
3	88068511	Land administration
3	8068512	Land tenure and ownership
3	8068521	Geographic Information System
3	8068522	Land and real estate valuation and marketing
3	8068611	Scientific research methods in land administration
3	8068612	Real estate development and investment
18	Total Credit Hours

Elective Courses (15 credit hours)

Students must choose & complete 15 credit hours from the courses listed in the table below.

Credit Hours	Course Number	Course Name
3	8068513	Land administration and sustainable development
3	8068514	Land disputes and resolution methods
3	8068523	Sustainable land use planning
3	8068524	The Institutional and legal environment for land administration
3	8068613	Governance of land administration
3	8068614	Special topic in land administration
3	8068621	Management Information Systems
3	8068622	Financial-Accounting Aspects of Land administration
3	8068623	Economics of land and real estate
3	8068624	Statistical applications in land administration

Comprehensive Examination Track:

Students registering for the Comprehensive Examination Track must complete a three-credit-hour research course and take an examination held in two sessions, according to the university’s and the Deanship of Graduate Studies’ regulations and instructions.

Comprehensive Examination Requirements

Requirements		Course Number	Credit Hours
1	Research Project	8068625	3
2	Comprehensive Examination	8060627	0

Higher Diploma                                                      

To graduate with a higher diploma, students must complete a total of 27 credit hours, distributed as shown in the table below.

Academic Requirements for the Higher Diploma Degree

Requirements		Credit Hours
1	Compulsory Courses	18
2	Elective Courses	9
Total Credit Hours		27

Compulsory Courses (18 credit hours):

Students must complete the courses listed in the table below for a total of 18 credit hours.

Credit Hours	Course Number	Course Name
3	88068511	Land administration
3	8068512	Land tenure and ownership
3	8068521	Geographic Information System
3	8068522	Land and real estate valuation and marketing
3	8068611	Scientific research methods in land administration
3	8068612	Real estate development and investment
18		Total Credit Hours

Elective Courses (9 credit hours):

Students must complete nine credit hours from the courses listed in Table 11.

Table 11: List of Elective Courses for the Program

#	Course Name	Course Number	Credit Hours
1	Land administration and sustainable development	8068513	3
2	Land disputes and resolution methods	8068514	3
3	Sustainable land use planning	8068523	3
4	The Institutional and legal environment for land administration	8068524	3
5	Governance of land administration	8068613	3
6	Special topic in land administration	8068614	3
7	Management Information Systems	8068621	3
8	Financial-Accounting Aspects of Land administration	8068622	3
9	Economics of land and real estate	8068623	3
10	Statistical applications in land administration	8068624	3
11	Research project	8068625	3

Land Administration:
Course Number: 8068511 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

This course reviews land as a natural resource and its relationship with humanity. It details the concept of land administration, its functional components, basic processes, parties involved, necessary tools, the land administration model, and global drivers and challenges of land administration. It also addresses the land management system, its reasons for establishment, benefits, most important principles, and procedures for introduction. The course aims to educate learners about the necessity of effective land management and how to develop a specialized framework for it. It also covers the principles of responsible land management and the tools for its implementation.  Additionally, the course addresses the specifics of the Palestinian case, including the political, institutional, and societal obstacles to land management, emphasizing the use of content analysis and critical scientific methodology to examine a set of research papers.

Land Tenure and Ownership
Course Number: 806512 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

This course reviews the concept of land tenure, including its elements, conditions of validity, classifications, and security. It also covers principles related to the security of tenure for the impoverished in urban areas, as well as the transfer and demise of tenure. Additionally, the course explores tenure as a means of acquiring property, how to prove and register acquired property, the difference between tenure and ownership, ownership and its rights, management of these rights, mechanisms for proving them, legal land disposal, and the legislation and laws governing tenure and ownership in Palestine. The course aims to empower students to take tenure into consideration in project designs. The course also covers the reasons for gaining ownership in unregistered lands.  The course covers land settlement, its importance, objectives, and procedures, as well as the legal system. It also presents real-life cases of Israel’s approach to encroaching on Palestinian land holdings and property.

Land Administration and Sustainable Development
Course Number 8068513 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

The course covers sustainable development, explaining its history, dimensions, actors, objectives, methods, and challenges, especially environmental ones. The text places particular emphasis on the relationship between land and human beings, exploring its role in achieving sustainable food security. It also delves into the economic and development theories concerning land, the social and economic dimensions of effective land management, the security of land tenure for women, the ways in which land management systems can safeguard this tenure, and the developmental implications for women. The course’s objective is twofold: first, to equip learners with the analytical skills to assess the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pertinent to land management, and second, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various implications of these goals, particularly with regard to the preeminent status of land and property rights on the global agenda. The course also addresses a reading from the Palestinian context, focusing on the developmental dimensions of land management and the financial and economic implications of land settlement. The course addresses a range of issues by analyzing the content and methodology of a set of research papers as an integral part of the general framework of the course.

Land Disputes and Resolution Methods
Course Number: 8068514 (3 hours/theoretical)

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the concept of land-related disputes, their underlying causes, the consequences they entail, and the various classifications they fall under. The course will delve into the intricacies of these disputes, exploring their nature and the various parties involved, including individuals and the administration. Additionally, the course will address the judicial aspects of land-related disputes, including the various types of lawsuits, the conditions under which they can be filed, the involved parties, and the outcomes of such legal proceedings. Furthermore, the course will touch upon alternative non-judicial means of resolving land-related disputes, providing an understanding of their legal nature, the procedures involved, and the results of their implementation. Finally, the course will address the personal and objective conditions of mediators and arbitrators, along with the mechanisms for their appointment and selection. The course’s objectives include the empowerment of learners in the areas of information required to analyze land conflicts, conflict analysis tools, forms of conflict resolution and tools to prevent or mitigate them, as well as the legal environment and legal and alternative bodies for resolving land conflicts in the Palestinian reality.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Course Number: 8068521 (3 hours/theoretical & practical)

The course provides an explanation of the basics of surveying and maps, as well as the theoretical foundations of GIS, including its concept, importance, components, functions, and features. The course offers a comprehensive overview of the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the provision, analysis, and visualization of land information in various forms, including maps, graphs, tables, and three-dimensional views. It provides an overview of GIS applications in the field of land administration and spatial planning and their uses, especially their role in tenure protection, and other practical exemplifications from the Palestinian context. The course curriculum encompasses an array of sophisticated Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, including spatial, network, and three-dimensional analysis techniques. These tools are designed to facilitate a more profound comprehension of the data that underpins enhanced decision-making processes across diverse domains and facets of land management. Additionally, the course fosters a foundation for students to pursue in-depth research and academic pursuits aligned with their individual research and academic orientations.

(Land and Real Estate Valuation and Marketing
Course Number: 8068522 (3 hours/theoretical)

The course focuses on the concept of real estate, including its classifications, distinctive characteristics, value, and the factors that affect it. The course also covers the differences between pricing, valuation, and appraisal of real estate, as well as the methods, steps, and issues of appraisal.  It also introduces real estate appraisal, including its provisions, pillars, foundations, objectives, effects, stages, and methods, as well as the conditions that appraisers must meet. Additionally, the course introduces real estate marketing, including its types, characteristics, influencing factors, rules, features, strategies, and methods; the real estate marketing cycle; methods and procedures; strategic factors; the real estate marketing mix; the real estate marketing environment; and the most important characteristics of a successful real estate marketer. The course aims to empower students in land markets by analyzing the laws related to land and real estate valuation in Palestine and the effects of occupation practices, as well as social, environmental, economic, and legal factors, on land prices and the Palestinian real estate market.

Sustainable Land Use Planning
Course Number: 8068523 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

The course covers the theoretical foundations of land use planning, including its evolution, importance, goals, objectives, nature, justifications, and the factors that affect it. The course also covers the role of land use planning in achieving sustainable development, the stages of planning, and the principles and requirements of planning. It also reviews sustainable land use planning strategies, their requirements and dimensions, spatial planning theories and levels, management challenges, and national spatial planning to confront Israeli plans. The course aims to empower students in the field of land use planning in Palestine from historical, legal, and institutional perspectives. It also addresses the institutional requirements and obstacles facing land use planning and proposes ways to improve the situation. Additionally, the course analyzes the content and methodology of a set of research papers to address some issues.

(The Institutional and Legal Environment for Land Administration)
Course Number: 8068524 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

The course reviews land administration from institutional and legal perspectives, covering the period before the Palestinian National Authority (including the Ottoman era, the British Mandate, the Jordanian period, and the Israeli occupation) and the period under the Palestinian National Authority. It discusses the relevant official, private, and civil institutions and their roles, as well as the laws governing land tenure and administration. It highlights the services provided by the Settlement and Land Authorities, especially their departments, procedures, and technical and administrative settlement and real estate registration transactions and expropriation for public benefit. Additionally, the course aims to empower learners in the field of legal provisions governing different types of land, periodic agencies, and title deeds in Palestine, as well as in the field of land and water settlement law. This includes the jurisdiction of the settlement judge and disputes brought before him.

Scientific Research Methods in Land Administration
Course Number: 8068611 (3 credit hours/theoretical & practical)

This course covers the fundamentals of scientific research, including its objectives, the necessary qualifications for scientific researchers, systematic thinking for solving land management and development issues, the steps and elements of scientific research, dealing with references and literature, selecting an appropriate methodology, and conducting scientific sampling and evaluating research tools.  Students will learn to write research proposals and use the statistical package SPSS to prepare and analyze databases descriptively and inferentially. Students will also learn the fundamentals of writing and presenting results in a scientific manner according to Al-Quds University’s specifications for preparing theses.

Real Estate Development and Investment
Course Number: 8068612 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

This course covers the fundamentals of real estate development, including its principles, conditions, steps, activities, models, and stages. It also covers the different types of real estate developers, the qualifications they must meet, and the significance of their role. Additionally, it explores the contractual responsibilities of real estate developers and their provisions. Additionally, the course reviews real estate investment, including its methods, benefits, types, rules, characteristics, financing methods, and the fundamentals of successful investment. It also covers the advantages and disadvantages of real estate investment and how to mitigate risks. Additionally, the course explains the differences between real estate developers and investors, as well as between them and other real estate dealers, such as contractors and architects. It also covers the role of real estate development and developers in the success of real estate investments, the legal and institutional framework for real estate development and investment in Palestine, and the implications of occupation practices on the Palestinian real estate development and investment sector.

Good Governance of Land Administration
Course Number: 8068613 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

The course focuses on the concept of good governance, including its emergence, development, characteristics, determinants, and benefits. It also addresses an approach to governance in the Palestinian context, the reasons for its necessity, and its legal and institutional framework. It also addresses symptoms of weak governance in the land administration sector, consequences of this weakness, and practical measures to improve it. It reviews the relationship between good governance, sustainable development, and land tenure and management, examining good governance principles and best practices related to land management, as well as the developmental feasibility of land management governance. It addresses the reality of applying good governance to land tenure and management in Palestine, the developmental feasibility of doing so in this important sector, and the requirements and challenges of achieving it.

Thesis
Course Number: 8068615 (6 credit hours/practical)

Master’s students register for the thesis track of this course in two consecutive phases of three credits each, in two independent academic semesters.

During the first phase (Thesis 1), the student registers for three credits after completing 18 credits with a GPA of 75% or higher. The student then works with a specialized supervisor, approved by the Academic Program Committee, to complete a thesis proposal on a topic relevant to land management and development. Finally, the student presents the proposal to the Academic Program Committee for defense. Success at this stage requires selecting a topic closely related to the student’s specialization and demonstrating sufficient familiarity with previous studies and a deep understanding of the main vocabulary of the study topic. The student must also provide a logical and scientific overview of the study procedures to be completed.

The second stage (Thesis 2) begins after the student successfully passes the Thesis 1 stage and registers for three credit hours. During this stage, the student completes the research work (the thesis) in the office and field by conducting a literature review, designing research tools, collecting and analyzing data, and writing the final thesis report. After the supervisor approves the thesis, it is submitted to the program for a citation check. If it passes, the thesis is sent to two external and two internal examiners, who are selected by the program committee and approved by the Office of Graduate Studies. After the examiners approve the thesis in writing and confirm that the student has met all the requirements of the academic plan, the student defends the thesis before a committee chaired by the supervisor and including both internal and external examiners. Finally, the student makes any committee-approved amendments, prepares the final version of the thesis, and submits it to the program according to university procedures in preparation for graduation.

Management Information Systems (MIS)
Course Number: 8068621 (3 credit hours/theoretical & practical)

This course introduces students to management information systems, covering their concepts, importance, objectives, functions, classification, components, characteristics of information quality, criteria for good information systems, components of success, criteria for measuring effectiveness, their relationship with the administrative process, the infrastructure needed for application, types of information systems according to levels and administrative functions, methods of providing security and protection for information systems, computer ethics in relation to individuals and work, communication systems, and quality control in information systems. The course focuses on the means through which information is transferred, the software that displays information, and the systems that manage the data used by organizations daily. It also covers the strategic role of management information systems, their impact on administrative work, and their impact on the quality of administrative decisions in organizations, especially those in the land management sector. The course presents a realistic model of management information systems for pivotal land administration institutions, such as the Land Authority and the Settlement Authority.

Financial-Accounting Aspects of Land Administration
Course Number: 8068622 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

This course is designed to familiarize students with basic financial and accounting skills for managing land investments. The course reviews the financial cycle of the land investment process, starting with choosing an appropriate location according to the nature of the expected investment. It also covers assessing and estimating the value of the land, conducting a financial feasibility study of the investment and possible returns, evaluating land use alternatives from financial perspectives, and selecting the best investment alternative. Additionally, the course covers assessing risks in this type of investment and managing those risks. The course also explains how to evaluate the actual performance of the investment and identify and address deviations. It covers the accounting techniques needed to record and evaluate the investment, as well as how to present it in financial statements at each stage of the aforementioned investment’s financial cycle.

(Economics of Land and Real Estate)
Course Number: 8068623 (3 credit hours/theoretical)

This course reviews the economic value of land as a natural and public property resource, as well as an element of production. Topics include the principles of land utilization, such as supply and demand, economic processes, land leasing, and income distribution; the uses of land; the rent economy and its types and characteristics; tools of economic analysis; public and private goods from a comparative perspective; the role of land in economic theory; and sources of economic inefficiency in the land market. Additionally, the course explains the supply and demand for real estate, their interactions, and the importance of real estate to the economy. It also covers the economics of real estate principles, the life cycle of real estate, price determination and mechanisms, long-term versus short-term price adjustments, and the characteristics, main participants, and most important factors affecting the real estate market. Supported by readings and analysis from the Palestinian real estate market, the course provides an in-depth look at the factors driving it.

Scientific Research Methods in Land Administration
Course Number: 8068624 (3 credit hours/theoretical & practical)

This course focuses on quantitative and descriptive statistical techniques for analyzing land administration data and functions. Descriptive tests include spatial statistics, such as measures of spatial central tendency and dispersion and density analysis. Inferential tests include normality tests, parametric and nonparametric tests of variance, and various forms of correlation and regression tests. The course aims to teach students how to prepare, analyze, and present databases using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

Research Project
Course Number: 8068625 (3 credit hours/practical)

Students enroll in the comprehensive examination track in the last semester of their studies in the program for this course. It deals with the theoretical foundations, reinforced by practical applications of each student’s selection of a specialized research topic in land management and development, preparing a research proposal about it, then addressing it and conducting the study according to the proper scientific methodology, and finally writing a documented report according to the instructions of Al-Quds University for the preparation of master’s theses. Finally, the student defends the project with its methodology, procedures, and outputs in front of the course instructor or those assigned by the program committee from the program’s faculty members.

Comprehensive Exam
Course Number: 8068626 (0 credit hours/practical)

After successfully completing all the requirements of the academic plan for the Master’s program, students registered for this course will take a comprehensive exam consisting of 18 hours of compulsory courses, 15 hours of electives, and a three-hour research project. The exam is administered in two sessions according to the university’s graduate studies system. Generally, the first session includes all the compulsory courses, and the second session includes the elective courses. Some modifications may be made to the content and format of the two sessions according to the program’s specifics.