The Master of Regional and Urban Planning # provides a postgraduate pathway to enter the planning profession and work as a planner. It focuses on the planning challenges of regional Australia, especially regions subject to high growth with associated environmental and community issues.

The program delivers both planning knowledge and skills and you focus on a specialist planning area. With a strong emphasis on reflective learning, you draw on your formal and informal experiences in planning-related organisations and activities. You develop a specialist area of knowledge and are encouraged to think about major planning issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Courses are delivered in one of two modes. In some courses you need to attend short intensive blocks, which are supported by books of readings and on-line resources. In others you study online and receive study materials, use online resources and complete all assessment using the discussion board or written assessment in the form of reports, essays and urban place exercises.

You complete courses in contemporary planning theory, environmental and planning law, planning practice, and engaging effectively with Aboriginal people. You select a further five courses from research design: methodology of literature review, urban design, water allocation and planning, participation and conflict resolution, applied futures studies and Indigenous peoples and sustainability.

You then complete three courses from a specialist area, such as integrated coastal zone management; or climate change adaptation plus a planning thesis, or a planning research project. The thesis component is only available if you meet the academic standard (GPA 5.5) and wish to complete a thesis. Otherwise you must complete the research project and two electives.

To enter the Master of Regional and Urban Planning you will normally be required to hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised University. You will need to be able to access a computer which enables you to use blackboard and participate in on-line learning sessions.

Graduates can expect to find career opportunities as a planner in a regional council or planning consultancy, or as a policy analyst in the Department of Environment and Resource Management or other government departments.

# This program has interim accreditation with the Planning Institute of Australia.