Study Urban and
Regional Planning

In this course, you'll explore a suite of core planning topics including Introduction to Planning Futures; Design Principles; Planning Law; and Urban Design Project. Other core topics include GIS; Smart, Liveable and Resilient Cities; Sustainable Regional Development; and Indigenous Environmental Management. You'll also be able to choose from a number of option topics in your second and third year of study including Australian Public Policy; Adapting to Climate Change; Sustainable Development; and AI and the Future of Work.

• This is Australia's first 3-year accredited* undergraduate planning degree, and the only undergraduate planning degree in SA and NT
• You'll experience integrated learning and real-world interdisciplinary projects at second and third year
• Thiscourse articulates with the first integrated and comprehensive ePlanning platform and online system in Australia

• Compile and analyse data on economic, legal, political, cultural, demographic, sociological, physical and environmental factors affecting land use
• Confer with government authorities, communities, architects, social scientists, legal professionals, and planning, development and environmental specialists
• Devise and recommend use and development of land, and presenting narrative and graphic plans, programs and designs to groups and individuals
• Advise governments and organisations on urban and regional planning and resource planning
• Review and evaluate environmental impact reports.

There is a critical skills shortage across the sector due to a retiring workforce and increased demand in both South Australia and the nation. For instance, the top 3 most cited skills shortages for local governments in 2022 were engineers (46%), urban and regional planners (40%) and surveyors (36%) (SGS Economics & Planning, 2022; PIA, 2023).

How our cities, towns and regions respond to climate change and ensure land uses that will not be threatened and those that will need to be adapted or abandoned will place an increased need for urban and regional planning skills. Specifically, there will be an increased demand for strategic planners, social planners and policy planners to support decision-makers and the community in implementing these changes. 

Yes! The course has been designed along with industry, government and the Planning Institute of Australia. There are multiple opportunities to work with industry throughout the degree, including placements ('work integrated learning') and interdisciplinary projects.