I know you have plenty of other things to do at the moment - complete assessments, study for final exams, get back into paying work, or even prepare for a decent holiday during the mid-year break (or all four) - and all the best with these tasks.
But I wanted to keep you informed about progress with the proposed program revisions and ask for your input on a related issue.
The package of proposals to create a new undergraduate program with a new degree name (Bachelor of Planning) was approved by the UNSW Undergraduate Studies Commitee at its last meeting. There was little discussion about the new curriculum (summarised below) but some consideration of the new name from other Faculty representatives who intimated that the Planning Program and the Faculty of the Built Environment should not be allowed to 'own' the term 'planning'. However, eventually they were convinced that a BPlan degree was logical when you had a Planning Institute of Australia, a PlanningNSW etc.
The proposals are next considered by the UNSW Academic Board in early July. There may be some hostility again to any name change. If that proves terminal, we will try and ensure that this does not affect approval of the new curriculum and would continue to proudly use BTP
One of the key elements of the new curriculum is a series of new 6UOC courses, some of which expand or consolidate existing courses. These include:
PLAN1122 Development Processes (Year 1)
PLAN2111 Economics of Planning & Development (Year 2)
PLAN2152 Resources, Planning and Natural Environment (Year 2)
PLAN2122 History, Heritage and Built Environment (Year 2)
PLAN4121 Spatial Policy (Year 5)
PLAN4142 Professionalism, Ethics and Politics (Year 5)
These courses will involve on average 4-6 hours and two meetings per week. It is likely that some of these will be timetabled all on the one day (i.e. morning and afternoon) as is the case with several 6UOC courses already; others will be split across two days. One of the main determining factors here will be room availability and ensuring a relationship and continuity with existing courses. But I also wanted to take a reading on your general preferences for scheduling - on one day or split?
Please let me know by replying to this email or direct to me at r.freestone@unsw.edu.au.
Have a good break,
Rob Freestone
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Proposed 2003 Curriculum
YEAR ONE
PLAN1241 Planning Theory and Practice (6UOC)
PLAN1101 Understanding Design (6UOC)
PLAN1011 Urban Society (3UOC)
BENV1141 Computers and Information Technology (3UOC)
GEOS1701 Environmental Systems and Process (6UOC)
PLAN1042 Local Planning (6UOC)
PLAN1122 Development Processes (6UOC)
PLAN1052 Quantitative Methods (6UOC)
GEOH2821 Urban Geographical Information Systems (6UOC)
YEAR TWO
PLAN2041 Integrated Planning 1 -Communication in Planning (6UOC)
PLAN2032 Urban Design (6UOC)
PLAN2111 Economics of Planning and Development (6UOC)
PLAN22152 Resources, Planning and the Natural Environment (6UOC)
PLAN2122 History, heritage and the built environment (6UOC)
YEAR THREE
PLAN3031 Integrated Planning 2 - Strategic Planning (6UOC)
PLAN3041 Planning Law and Administration (6UOC)
PLAN3051 Development Assessment (6UOC)
GEOG3671 Transport, Land Use and Environment (6UOC)
PLAN0081 Work Experience
YEAR FOUR
PLAN0082 Work Experience
PLAN3032 Integrated Planning 3 - Master Planning (6UOC)
PLAN3015 Social Planning (6UOC)
PLAN3052 Qualitative Methods (6UOC)
YEAR FIVE
PLAN4121 Spatial Policy (6UOC)
PLAN4031 Research Design (3UOC)
PLAN4132 Thesis Project (12UOC)
PLAN4142 Professionalism, Ethics, and Politics (6UOC)
