Master of Urban and Regional Planning

The future of our urban and regional centres relies on agile, creative thinkers who can bring communities together to collectively work toward solutions to the challenges they face.

In doing so, they need to navigate political, administrative and legislative frameworks in an ethical, sustainable way. In this Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) accredited course, you'll explore the social, economic and environmental challenges affecting communities and help solve real-world problems with the support of several industry partners.

You'll gain an understanding of planning laws and applications, and be encouraged to contribute to real-world projects.

The course is designed for students with an undergraduate qualification in an area related to the built environment, such as architecture, landscape architecture or geography, who seek to gain PIA accreditation to work as a planner. It is not intended for those who hold a PIA-accredited bachelor degree in planning.

Those who hold a bachelor degree in an unrelated field must apply for the Graduate Certificate in Development Planning before progressing to the master degree.

Students who complete the master degree to a high standard can apply for doctoral-level studies. You may also exit the degree at the graduate certificate level.

• disseminate and apply the principles, theories and concepts of urban and regional planning and draw upon appropriate knowledge of social, economic and environmental factors within a governance framework to practise planning, particularly in the Western Australian context;
• think critically at the highest order to analyse and challenge theories and practices of urban and regional planning, and generate creative solutions to planning issues;
• critically access, evaluate and synthesise information in order to undertake research relevant to urban and regional planning;
• communicate effectively at a high order which is both innovative and ground-breaking in writing, graphically and orally with various audiences (academic, professional and community);
• use appropriate technologies to practice urban and regional planning;
• use learned skills to continue self-development and influence others in continued learning in the profession;
• have a high level of awareness and skills to understand and respond to cultural diversity and difference in national and international perspectives;
• recognise and consider the needs and aspirations of the diversity of populations served by urban and regional planning, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and the cultures of other minority ethnic groups in Australia and internationally
• work ethically as individuals and in teams demonstrating skills in leadership negotiation and conflict resolution, recognising and valuing the contribution of other disciplines and interests