Master of Planning (K7P)

In this professionally accredited course, you will learn theoretical, technical and communication skills required by planning professionals. You will learn a range of essential planning competencies from the legal or statutory side of planning to the bigger picture or strategic side. These two sides of planning, legal and big picture, combine in a powerful way to enable planners to vision and action more sustainable futures.

There are multiple opportunities for authentic learning and contact with the wider planning community - in class, on professional placement, and in your individual research tasks.

Supported by your teachers and the Planning Institute of Australia’s Young Planners, your course will bridge from a learning environment into workplaces. This helps grow your professional network and actively shape your career path.

In completing the coursework units of the Master of Planning, the course aims to give students opportunities to:

1. acquire advanced knowledge required by planning professionals;

2. acquire advanced technical and communication skills required by planning professionals;

3. develop capacity in reviewing, analysing, synthesising, evaluating and applying knowledge;

4. develop capacity in identifying and assessing potential solutions to complex planning problems;

5. develop capacity to participate effectively in employment or further study in the field of planning at local, state, national or international levels;

6. show initiative and judgement in professional practice and scholarship;

7. develop an understanding of environmental and social responsibility, justice and cultural diversity;

8. develop capacity in communicating clear and coherent expositions of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences; and

9. develop capacity to take responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice, in collaboration with others.

In completing the research component of the Master of Planning, students will have opportunities to:

1. develop skills in identifying, acquiring and analysing diverse resources that include published material, websites, databases and other media;

2.obtain practical research training by designing and undertaking a specialized project;

3. develop written skills to a levelappropriate for preparation of professional reports, and in the case of the research thesis, preparation of a paper suitable for submission to a refereed journal;

4. develop oral communication skills to a level appropriate for the delivery of a presentation at a national conference; and

5. be prepared for professional working careers, and in the case of the research thesis, higher degrees by research.

The course also addresses a set of competency outcomes specified by the accrediting body (Planning Institute of Australia).

This course is specifically designed to prepare you for your career as a planner. As part of everyday teaching, you will receive direct engagement with planning and allied professionals to prepare you for the daily interactions experienced by career planners.

You will undertake a semester long industry placement that provides opportunities to incorporate the knowledge gained in the course into planning practice. You will also collaborate in-class and via distance to gain a breadth of knowledge. Self-directed activities enable you to develop your personal interests.

Classroom work is often done in collaboration with professional planning partners, such as local government and the operations side of the University. This helps expand your professional network and gives you exposure to the complexities and multi-discipline nature of real-world challenges.

"The social interaction for this course is fantastic. There is plenty of time for one-on-one with students and lecturers."

Whether it is making design recommendations for your local urban area, addressing a regional problem through case analysis, or preparing a strategic plan for a community of your choice, you will develop practical skills under the guidance of experts.

The course includes KGA513 Professional Practice. In this unit students negotiate placement in a government or private sector organisation which is approved by the University. There they work on one or more practical tasks under the supervision of a suitably qualified professional. Understanding of environmental planning and/or management including organisational structure and functions, the role and responsibilities of planners and/or managers, and basic administrative processes are developed.

Students are encouraged to make contacts within the profession and among stakeholders. Generic issues concerning workplace values, ethics and professional practice are discussed. Assessment draws on students' engagement with the scholarly literature, their documented preparations, outputs and critical reflection throughout the placement. This unit is also part of the current planning courses S6L and S7U.