- Before you enrol
- Observational skills
- Communication skills
- Behavioural and social skills
- Intellectual, such as conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
Committed to equity and diversity
At UniSC, we are committed to facilitating the integration of all students into the University Community.
Reasonable adjustments in teaching and/or assessment methods can be made for students provided those adjustments do not compromise the inherent requirements of the program.
The inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) are the fundamental skills and abilities that the student must be able to achieve in order to demonstrate the essential learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours).
This Statement provides realistic information about the inherent academic requirements that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) so you can make an informed judgement about your ability to fulfil them.
Externally accredited
The University of the Sunshine Coast offers the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) which meets external Planning Institute of Australia accreditation requirements and provides graduates with the necessary qualification to apply to join the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) after two years of professional practice. Relevant standards and codes which inform the inherent academic requirements for these programs include the PIA Code of Professional Conduct which can be accessed at www.planning.org.au
- Key urban design and town planning practice skills are embedded and assessed throughout the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours).
Skills you need
The Bachelor of Human Services has inherent academic requirements in four categories:
- Observational skills
- Communication skills
- Behavioural and social skills
- Intellectual, such as conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
Before you enrol
If you intend to enrol in the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) at the University of the Sunshine Coast, look carefully at the inherent academic requirements listed in this statement and think about whether you might experience challenges in meeting them.
If you think you might experience challenges related to your disability, health condition or for any other reason, you should discuss your concerns with a University Ability Adviser or School staff member.
Reasonable adjustments
Students with disabilities or other special circumstances may be provided with reasonable adjustment to enable them to meet the inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) if the adjustment is:
- logistically reasonable
- likely to result in the student being able to perform the skills adequately and in a timely manner
Support and further information is available from UniSC
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Relevant academic contacts
Observational skills
The capacity to demonstrate:
- receptiveness to information and the learning environment
- examination and assessment of situations
Justification
These are inherent requirements of the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) because observing places, people and events in urban and natural environments is fundamental to understanding urban design and town planning and achieving learning outcomes. Further, students must maintain consistent, accurate and safe professional care of self and others to be able to fulfil the required range of academic and field practice tasks.
Adjustments
Adjustments must consider effectiveness, timeliness, clarity, and accuracy. Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in the field. Any strategies to address the effects of a vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise assessment or safety.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- observe, interact with and reflect on urban and natural environments in order to understand and apply urban design and town planning principles
- engage physically and cognitively with a range of urban and natural environments during site visits and field placements and maintain observation and engagement levels in those situations
- observe risk factors in relation to workplace health and safety, to assess a range of risk situations and respond appropriately when in the field
Communication skills
- Verbal and nonverbal communication skills
- Written communication skills
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills
Verbal and nonverbal communication skills
The capacity to demonstrate:
- ability to understand verbal communication in English, and to respond verbally, in English, to a standard that allows fluid, clear, timely, and comprehensible two-way discussions
- ability to express ideas concisely and clearly with the capacity to develop skills in verbal reasoning and to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
- listening comprehension skills that equip the student to deal with varied situations, from note-taking in lectures to liaising with stakeholders in the field placement situations
- sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences in communication and ability to interact appropriately in different situations.
Justification
This is an inherent academic requirement of the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) because:
- Communication and consultation with the community and other stakeholders is an inherent aspect of urban design and town planning practice.
- Effective and respectful two-way communication, via verbal and non-verbal means, is required to participate in tutorials and group assessment tasks and, for creating safe environments.
- English language and literacy skills are the foundation from which students will develop and apply skills in delivering a sustained and organised academic argument.
- Interactivity of communication is necessary for receiving and implementing instructions and feedback and for resolving complex problems experienced in academic, placement and professional settings.
Adjustments
Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure appropriate support.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to verbal communication and non-verbal communication cues accurately and appropriately.
- engage in and lead discussions, make verbal presentations and participate in tutorials and group work.
- convey spoken and written messages, including complex academic perspectives, accurately and effectively.
- convey ideas and communicate via design drawing, conceptual graphics and plan making
- demonstrate appropriate awareness of own behaviours and their impact on others.
- show sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences.
Written communication skills
The capacity to demonstrate:
- ability to construct coherent, timely and professional written communication in English compliant with academic writing conventions and appropriate to the circumstance
- reading and comprehension a range of literature and information in English
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) because:
- Construction of written tasks that adhere to required academic standards is necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter.
- Effective written communication in English is a fundamental aspect of professional practice.
Adjustments
Adjustments must allow students to meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective acquisition, recording, comprehension and transmission of information in academic and any placement settings.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- construct essays, reports and other written work that meet academic and professional standards
- paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic, professional and/or organisational standards and conventions
Information and communication technology (ICT) skills
The capacity to acquire and demonstrate sound working skills in applying information and communication technologies (ICT) to communicate via a range of ICT applications and systems in both academic and professional settings.
Justification
These are inherent requirements of the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) because competent ICT skills are essential to:
- successfully accessing, applying and communicating information to meet learning outcomes
- preparing and completing assessment tasks and submitting assessment items online
- the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) providing eligibility for membership with Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)
Adjustments
Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively use a range of ICT to apply and communicate accurate information. UniSC has in place a range of strategies and technology to support students with disabilities. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with AccessAbility Services.
Exemplars
As a student you must:
- employ a range of ICT skills, such as internet searching, word processing and computerised design, to complete written and audio-visual learning and assessment activities
- use a range of software applications and devices for academic, research and placement purposes, in face-to-face and online synchronous and asynchronous communication environments
- develop high level computerised urban design and town planning skills
- be agile and confident in your engagement with technology and adopt new technologies with ease and interact with technology in a constant, creative, confident and critical basis.
Behavioural and Social Skills
The capacity to demonstrate behavioural stability and adaptability in academic and professional environments which may be at times challenging and unpredictable. Students must be able to work with others and share responsibility for outcomes in a range of roles and contexts. Students must be able to demonstrate cultural, environmental and social awareness and ethical and reflective practice – e.g. in tutorials, workshops, field trips and placements.
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of these programs because students must be able to work constructively and ethically in socially and culturally diverse academic and placement environments.
Adjustments
Adjustments must support stable, effective, ethical and professional behaviour in academic and professional settings.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- engage with peers and staff appropriately and with sensitivity in discussion settings in the classroom and in team tasks
- demonstrate an ability to reflect on ethical considerations and issues and take responsibility for ensuring own ethical behaviour
- manage your own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with others both in University and placement settings
- be receptive and professional in responding appropriately to constructive written and verbal feedback
Intellectual – Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities
The capacity to demonstrate knowledge and application of theory and the skills of cognition, comprehension, creativity and numeracy, which includes:
- numeracy, literacy, knowledge, cognitive and metacognitive skills appropriate to the discipline
- capacity for independent critical thinking, creative thinking, problem solving, critical analysis, decision making, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
- ability to develop intellectual skills in a variety of academic and professional contexts relevant to the discipline and to apply acquired skills and knowledge in practice
Justification
These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Urban Design and Town Planning (Honours) because conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities are necessary for the students to be able to fulfil the required range of academic and practice tasks.
Adjustments
Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills are not compromised or impeded.
Exemplars
As a student, you must:
- conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge to fulfil academic assessment tasks
- read, interpret, synthesise and comprehend information from multiple sources
- build strong conceptual frameworks and apply knowledge of theories, models, concepts, policy, procedures and practice; in classroom discussions, group work, assessments and professional contexts
- be aware of your own thinking and demonstrate skills to reflect, evaluate, adapt, and implement cognitive strategies for improved learning in academic and professional settings
- complete complex and challenging tasks in both the academic and the placement contexts which may require you to undertake and/or observe and monitor multiple tasks simultaneously and to employ high levels of mental concentration and attention to detail for sustained periods of time