Undergraduate LAT-URE-ADG-2024
Associate Degree in Urban and Regional Environments
A short and practical planning qualification
Upskill in planning and break into the sector. You’ll build the skills needed for professional planning, including community relations and negotiation. Cover urban, regional and rural environments. Get to know current policies and frameworks.
Available loans
Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Study method
100% online
Price
From
$21,966
Total subjects
16
Assessments
100% online
CSP Available
Yes
Credit available
Yes
Applications Close
- 18 Feb 24
- 14 Jul 24
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
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QS Ranking 2024
17
Times Higher Education Ranking 2024
18
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Degree structure
Core subjects
Major subjects
Elective subjects
Degree
Degree details
What you'll learn
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand the skills required for professional planning practice in diverse urban, regional and rural settings
- Utilise some spatial concepts and methodologies to understand, analyse and solve social, economic and environmental processes on different scales
- Identify and analyse problems related to urban, regional and rural governance and policy developments
- Comprehend the complexity of creating sustainable towns and cities, and be able to identify when changes to local and global processes are necessary
Career opportunities
This non-accredited diploma will open doors to junior and entry level roles in the planning and environment management departments of local and state governments, regional bodies, and the private sector.
Possible roles include:
- Planning assistant
- Provide support with research, community engagement and reporting for planning projects and initiatives.
- Planning administration officer
- Help planning teams deliver their vision by contributing to projects, administration and operations.
- Community property assistant
- Help to manage publicly owned properties and land.
Entry requirements
Higher education via OUA
Successful completion of two of the following four Open Access Pathway subjects:
- PLA1ELE Exploring Living Environments
- PLA1ISP Introducing Plan Making
- GEG1SPP Society, People and Place
- GEG1MAV Mapping, Analysing and Visualising Data
Secondary education
Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites.
Work and Life
Satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice if you:
- are not currently studying an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent)
- have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or
- do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program.
Refer to the La Trobe University STAT page for further information.
Credit for previous study or work
La Trobe University will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.
Note: Applications for credit will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a La Trobe course offered through OUA.
Assessing whether you should apply for credit for subjects in your course:
Credit may be granted for relevant subjects. The following steps will help you to decide which subjects you wish to apply for:
- Identify subjects within your course that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within 8 years of your La Trobe University course commencement year.
- Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for credit, identifying which subject within your course that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
- Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.
*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit
Description
La Trobe’s Associate Degree in Urban and Regional Environments gives you a foothold in the vital area of community and environmental planning and development.
Whether you’re looking for a standalone qualification or a pathway into the Bachelor of Planning (Honours), you’ll gain key skills in planning and design while building your understanding of sustainability from a regional, urban and global perspective.
This immersive, two-year course develops your expertise in planning practice, such as understanding places, people and policies. Explore how global warming, urbanisation and land use impact food, water and environmental security. Then, investigate how local, state and federal governments respond to these issues through developmental strategies, policies and programs.
Enhance your effectiveness as a planning professional by strengthening your communication, mediation, negotiation and community relations skills, while building your technical skills in design and social and demographic analysis.
Gain first-hand experience with best-practice community engagement and evaluation. Previous students have participated in a range of field trips, from country towns in rural Victoria to metropolitan cities in Asia and Europe.
Want to take your career aspirations even further? After completing your associate degree, you can move directly into the third year of La Trobe’s Bachelor of Planning (Honours).
You'll learn:
- Planning practice
- Develop a planning skillset for working in a diverse range of urban, regional and rural environments.
- Planning policy and governance
- Learn how to interpret and apply planning policies and frameworks.
- Sustainable development principles
- Build the skills to identify opportunities for creating sustainable towns and cities.
Degree structure details
Recommended Study Pattern
Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in two subjects per study period. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.
Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Award Requirements
To qualify for the award of Associate Degree in Urban and Regional Environments, students must complete 16 subjects (240 credit points) as follows:
- 14 core subjects
- 2 elective subjects
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Easy apply
You can apply direct through Open Universities Australia.
Once you've checked your eligibility, apply and enrol for this degree following the steps. This degree also allows you to get started with Open access.
Select ‘Apply now’
Choose subjects to begin your application. You can choose 1 or 2 subjects to start.
Choose how you want to start
You can apply for the full degree or if you want to start with Open access, enrol into the subjects using the ‘Single subjects’ option.
You can apply for the degree later and the subjects may be credited towards the degree.
Complete your details
Provide your details and select a funding option. You can pay up-front or apply for government funding in your application.
We're here to help answer your questions. Our friendly student advisors provide 7 day support.
Open access
This degree offers Open access entry, exclusive to Open Universities Australia.
There’s more than one way to get a degree. Open access allows you to start with single subjects as a way into eligible degrees, regardless of your study history.
Enrol into and complete the required Open access subjects to earn entry in this degree. Most subjects have no entry requirements, are fully government funded (if you’re eligible) and may be credited when you start the degree.
The best part? You can enrol and get started with single subjects now.