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Bachelor of Regional and Urban Planning on offer in 2005
17 August, 2004
(QTAC Code: 011091)
A Bachelor of Regional and Urban Planning will be available at the University of the Sunshine Coast next year.
The new degree is being offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science and Senior Lecturer in Environmental and Planning Studies, Dr Pam Dyer, said the degree has been created in direct response to an international and Australia-wide shortage of qualified planners.
"There is a particular shortage of planners in regional and rural areas. A national inquiry by the Planning Institute of Australia earlier this year described the situation as critical for Brisbane and its regions," Dr Dyer said.
"The new degree covers regional and urban planning, with a strong emphasis on regional."
"The Bachelor of Regional and Urban Planning has been structured to meet the graduate attributes identified by the Planning Institute of Australia."
Graduates will have a wide choice of career opportunities including community development, corporate or strategic development, ecotourism, environmental planning or management and of course, regional and urban planning.
"Students will be eligible for accreditation with the Planning Institute of Australia after a period of appropriate professional experience," Dr Dyer said.
With the University's strong commitment to industry experience, field trips will play an important part in the degree.
"The Sunshine Coast is an ideal region in which to study planning. Offering this degree on the Coast will give our graduates practical experience in one of Australia's fastest growing regional areas."
The University's mission is to be a major catalyst for economic, cultural and educational advancement in the region and the new degree aims to align with that by retaining planners in regional areas.
With a focus on common skills and knowledge bases combined with the industry needs identified by the Inquiry, the new degree will provide a balance of built and natural environment with students undertaking courses in ecologically sustainable development and environmental ethics, economics, policy, health and management.
Students will learn how to apply planning legislation and policy in international and domestic settings to give them a global understanding of planning issues.
"The Bachelor of Regional and Urban Planning also has a number of overseas study options to choose from," Dr Dyer said.
The Faculty of Arts and Social Science has agreements with institutions in the USA and Korea which offer courses complementary to the new degree.
For example, in the United States you can study architecture, planning or design at the University of Idaho, the University of Tennessee or the prestigious Virginia Tech.