17903 Planning and Design Theory and Decision Making
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject studies and analyses contemporary planning and urban design theory and advanced planning and design practices. It allows students to observe, perform and reflect on advanced techniques in the broad themes of ecologically sustainable development and design, place-making, community participation and economic development. Lectures and discussions explore the application of planning theory and contemporary planning approaches to: urban economic development; collaborative planning and design, including efforts to empower people from minority cultures such as Indigenous Australians; and planning and design as part of the overall urban management for environmentally and culturally sustainable development, as well as the operation of institutional frameworks. This subject encourages students to critically think about the role of planning and design, and their own role as practitioners in shaping the built environment and influencing decision making processes.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Develop effective communication strategies |
|---|---|
| 2. | Develop a reflexive critical understanding of one’s own perspective |
| 3. | Interpret and evaluate the ethical dilemmas that planners and urban designers face |
| 4. | Identify the theoretical approaches to inequality and inclusiveness, and be able to apply this to professional practice |
| 5. | Explain the historical development of theories and practice of urban planning and design |
| 6. | Present solid evidence in support of an evaluation and application of theory and practice |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Enable reflective practice on one's personal views and values and interpret how they might affect one's professional judgement (A.1)
- Demonstrate ethical responsibilities of professional planners and urban designers and develop critical ethical thinking capability (A.2)
- Evaluate the history of disadvantage and inequality in societies (in an Australian context this would apply in particular to Indigenous Peoples. In addition to people disadvantaged by gender, disability, social class or ethnicity for example) and formulate a reasoned argument for how planners and urban designers should address significant social inequalities (A.3)
- Work effectively in teams of people with diverse professional and personal backgrounds (C.1)
- Communicate with people with a wide variety of cultural, social, economic, and political perspectives and interests using verbal, written, and visual media (C.2)
- Articulate how and why the roles of planning and urban design have evolved in response to new social, cultural, economic, and political forces (P.2)
- Develop coherent and logically structured arguments that use evidence appropriately (R.5)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:
C = communication and groupwork
A = attitudes and values
P = practical and professional
R = research and critique
I = innovation and creativity.
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is taught fully online. Each week is self-paced through the learning management system. You are expected to complete a range of different learning activities throughout the week. Activities provide opportunities to learn, apply and discuss the knowledge gained in a practical manner. Feedback is provided from both peers and teaching staff throughout the activities. You are encouraged to actively provide feedback and interact with staff and students in the exercises and on the discussion board(s). Online Zoom sessions will be held regularly throughout the subject to allow you to interact with staff and students, ask questions and receive clarification and formative feedback on your assignments.
Content (topics)
1. History of the city, urban planning and urban design
2. Rational planning
3. Democratic planning
4. Theory in practice
5. Engaging with Indigenous communities
6. Urban challenges and theory
Assessment
Assessment task 1: City history video
| Intent: | Based on the insights gained in weeks 1, students are asked to evaluate the evolution of a selected city and how the different periods have influenced its current state and form. | ||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.2 and P.2 | ||||||||||||
| Type: | Case study | ||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 15% | ||||||||||||
| Length: | Maximum of 5 minutes (ideal 3 minutes) | ||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Rational and democratic planning strategy and reflection
| Intent: | Based on the insights gained during weeks 2, 3 and 4, students are asked to critically examine a stakeholder engagement strategy of a real-life case study and develop specific recommendations for the assigned case study. In doing this, the students are required to critically reflect on the implications of each approach in the planning process when applied to a real-world scenario. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 4 and 6 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): A.3, C.1, C.2 and R.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 45% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 2000 words (+/- 10%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Planning and Design Theory and Decision-Making Essay
| Intent: | Students are asked to develop a critical essay on the relationship between planning theory and practices, and the future impact they may have on each other. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 6 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): A.1, A.2, C.2 and R.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Essay | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | Your answer should be in the form of an essay of maximum 1,500 words. You are expected to refer to the appropriate subject readings, as well to other official and academic resources found on the UTS library, Google Scholar and official organisations’ websites. Readings used should be listed under “References” at the end of the essay (not included in word count). Appropriate referencing styles can be found on the UTS Library website. Assignments that significantly exceed the word limit (by more than 10%) will be penalised. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total mark.
Required texts
All required texts are indicated on Canvas.