THE MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING'S FOCUS IS ON SUSTAINABILITY, LEVELS OF EQUITY AND PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY IN THE WAY THE PLANNING SYSTEM SHAPES THE EVOLUTION AND GROWTH OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THESE CONCERNS ARE INCORPORATED INTO EACH SUBJECT, AND ARE CENTRAL TO THE RESEARCH ACTIVITY OF THE TEACHING STAFF.

Duration

Course Overview

The Master of Urban Planning is a professional program for graduates who want to practice as urban planners.

Urban planners manage the development of cities and regions. They anticipate the impact of the development of cities and regions and use this knowledge to develop and implement urban and regional management strategies.

The Urban Planning Program combines core workforce planning skills with a strong research and critical appraisal element. This degree allows students to successfully crossover into planning from other careers, to skill up in an existing planning career, or as a springboard to further research in urban studies and planning.

The Melbourne School of Design offers a true interdisciplinary setting, with many opportunities to study planning combined with other core built environment disciplines including: urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, property and construction. The subjects built upon this foundation will equip students to make major changes in the way cities are planned. All stages in this process require skills in research, negotiation and oral and written expression.

Enabling a greater focus on contemporary urban planning issues, specialisations are available in:

• Social and community planning;
• Economic planning;
• Urban design;
• Environmental planning; and
• Transport planning

Students may also take research subjects which may enable progression to further studies as a PhD candidate.

Fields of Study

The Master of Urban Planning's strength lies in its focus on sustainability, levels of equity and participatory democracy in the way the planning system shapes the evolution and growth of the built environment. It provides graduates with:

• a critical understanding of how to manage the development of cities and regions across the globe with a focus on social, cultural, environmental, economic and historical concerns;
• a grounding in the lessons of urban history and theory so that students can develop urban and regional management strategies with relevance to their time and place, their people and culture.
  

Career Outcomes

Many Master of Urban Planning graduates enter the public sector and work in government departments and agencies, or for local councils in cities and regions. The private sector offers an increasing range of employment opportunities, including urban planning and design consultancies, major development and investment companies, large corporations, and utility companies. Urban planners work with teams of related professionals such as architects, landscape architects, engineers, environmental scientists, economists, property valuers, real estate developers, lawyers and sociologists.

Professional/International Recognition

The Master of Urban Planning is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia and will undergo a regular review process for quality assurance.