Qualifications in Urban and Regional Planning are in increasing demand as a range of related professionals in real estate, local government and business seek to develop an understanding of planning issues. A shortage of trained planners has been felt at all levels of government and notably in regional Australia.
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning is designed for people with first degrees in disciplines other than planning to develop the skills and knowledge required to become a planning professional. It examines the theoretical foundations of planning and relevant legislative and bureaucratic frameworks. It also develops practical skills suitable for planning practitioners in government agencies or the private sector. The course teaches research skills and develops students’ critical and analytical capacity through undertaking a major piece of original planning research. Participation in projects addressing current planning issues and engagement with planning professionals prepares graduates for professional life. All units are based on inter-disciplinary knowledge, techniques and practices and address environmental, social and design issues.
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning is a fully professional qualification and therefore it can also provide mid-career training for practising planners from developing countries. The Master of Urban and Regional Planning builds on the existing Graduate Certificate in Development Planning, catering to those students who wish to achieve a fully accredited Master qualification. The Graduate Certificate in Development Planning comprises the first four units of the eleven unit Master of Urban and Regional Planning, and offers an alternative pathway into the Master of Urban and Regional Planning for those with only industry experience.
This is a restricted programme and only available to students who are accepted into the programme.Students are required to apply and be approved by Monash University before they can enrol in units through OUA.
Application forms can be downloaded from the OUA's website. Applications for the Masters of Business Management are due two weeks prior to the close of enrolment. Applications should be emailed to: apply@open.edu.au or faxed to: +61 3 8628 2989.
Open Universities Australia (OUA) is Australia's largest online higher education services provider.
Local and international students are offered a flexible way to access higher education and enhance professional development through distance education. Over 1,000 units and 90 qualifications are offered through OUA's 18 partner institutions around the country.
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