Bachelor of Planning (Honours)

On successful completion you will be able to:

1. Apply the skills required for professional planning practice in diverse urban, regional and rural settings.
2. Utilise a range of spatial concepts and methodologies to understand, analyse and solve complex social, economic and environmental processes on different scales.
3. Critically identify, frame and analyse problems to urban, regional and rural governance and policy developments in order to design innovative solutions.
4. Comprehend the complexity of creating sustainable towns and cities, and understand how to influence and communicate the change of local and global processes.

After graduation, you could work in the planning and environment management departments of local and state governments, regional bodies, research organisations and the private sector.

Possible roles include:

• Senior strategic planner
  • Take a leading role in the long-term planning of towns, cities and natural land.
• Planning compliance manager
  • Create and manage development compliance policies and programs. Ensure organisations meet their governance and regulatory requirements.
• Town planner
  • Lead the design of developments and growth strategies. Balance liveability, access to services and environmental considerations.
•  Urban designer
  • Shape the cities of the future by planning urban development, including public spaces, housing, transport and community service design.
• Environmental planner
  • Ensure built environments are environmentally sustainable or protect natural resources through strategic planning.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Planning (Honours) is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). Graduates of the Bachelor of Planning (Honours) are eligible for membership with the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). Professional membership may require an application to the professional body and may have additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.

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.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.

*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit

La Trobe’s Bachelor of Planning (Honours) gives you a comprehensive planning and design skillset, ranging from environmental strategies and assessments through to infrastructure and transport planning. Gain the foundations for a successful career developing sustainable and inclusive communities.

Discover ways to improve how humans interact with natural environments through areas like policy planning and urban design. Build the expertise required to navigate complex regulatory frameworks at local, state and federal government levels.

Explore how global warming, urbanisation and land use impact food, water and environmental security. Find out how urban design, community engagement, and public and private sector partnerships work to address these issues and drive the sustainable growth of cities.

Gain a career advantage by developing sought-after industry skills in professional communication, mediation, negotiation and community relations, as well as technical skills in design and social and demographic analysis. Then, boost your industry experience and professional network by completing a work placement in your third year.

You’ll also have the opportunity to engage directly with communities through real-world projects and regular field trips. Previous students have participated in a range of field trips, from country towns in rural Victoria to metropolitan cities in Asia and Europe.

Graduate ready to shape the sustainable towns and cities of the future.

You'll learn:

• Professional planning practice
  • Develop planning skills for working in urban, regional and rural environments, such as understanding places, people and policies.
• Planning policy and law
  • Learn how to interpret and apply planning policies and frameworks to promote sustainability and social equity.
• Sustainable development principles
  • Understand key development principles and learn how to create sustainable towns and cities.
• Urban design
  • Explore the role of planning in driving economic development, culture and innovation across Australia, Europe, North America, Asia and the Pacific.  

Recommended Study Pattern

This degree is an Open Access pathway course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the pathway for this degree, simply select subjects identified within the Entry requirements field. 

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 Bachelor of Planning (Honours), students must complete 30 subjects (480 credit points) as follows:

• 26 core subjects
• 4 elective subjects

Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first term as a CSP student:

LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module

ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education