Bachelor of Urban, Rural and Environmental Planning
This degree - one of only three Victorian undergraduate planning courses accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia - gives you the opportunity to shape communities and establish peaceful, productive and environmentally sustainable places to live.
You'll explore a range of ways to improve how we live and interact, from policy planning and local politics to urban design and transport.
Articulating a vision and promoting the benefits of change are important to effective planning. That's why we focus on communication skills like mediation, negotiation and community relations as part of this course.
Another core aspect of your studies will be travelling to communities to learn and evaluate what works and what doesn't. Our students participate in field trips to a range of locations, from country towns in rural Victoria to metropolitan cities in Asia and Europe.
Throughout your degree, you'll take part in hands-on projects, including semester-long activities and short visits to communities. This type of experience goes beyond a work placement or research project, giving you the chance to make a genuine difference within a community. Just one example is the bicycle path from our Bendigo Campus to the Bendigo Hospital - a student-led project that was commended in the Outstanding Tertiary Student Project Borrie Prize, which celebrates practice, leadership and achievement in planning.
The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 7 - Bachelor Degree.
Sample course structure
Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Urban, Rural and Environmental Planning, students must complete a total of 480 credit points across 4 years.
Career outcomes
The current shortage of qualified planners in Australia means you can look forward to excellent work prospects and starting salaries. You are likely to find employment in the planning and environment management departments of local governments, state government departments and agencies, regional bodies, research organisations, and the private sector. Our Planning Institute of Australia course accreditation recognises that our graduates have developed the skills needed to work as planners in the field of urban and regional planning.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Urban, Rural and Environmental Planning is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). Professional registration 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.
