Unit Outline

The principles and practices of urban planning and design shape the physical spaces and social lives of our towns and cities. In this unit, you will learn about the historic and theoretical context of urban design and planning, including Aboriginal approaches and perspectives. By gaining a deeper understanding of urban environments, you will build knowledge of contemporary towns and cities by studying key urban dynamics and processes such as climate adaptation, colonialisation, liveability, and insurgent planning . Focusing on a socio-economically diverse area, you will apply this knowledge in formulating just urban policy and developing a strategic plan for urban change. You will also develop knowledge and skills in urban design by applying design principles in on-the-ground evaluations of urban streetscapes. In this unit, you will benefit from applied case studies, and extensive engagement with professionals.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Evaluate knowledge of the role of planning in colonisation to support the decolonisation of contemporary planning practice
2	Analyse quantitative, qualitative and spatial data to enable evidence-based urban decision-making
3	Critically apply urban design and strategic planning methods and principles to address complex urban problems
4	Execute graphic, written and verbal communication skills tailored to diverse audiences to contribute to just and equitable urban change

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to student feedback, some lectures and content has been updated and sequencing of sessions changed.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Weekly tasks	Week 3	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Urban Design Journal	Week 7	40 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Urban strategic planning	Week 14	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Weekly tasks

Task Description:

For most sessions there are weekly tasks and activities. These are designed to consolidate and reinforce the knowledge and skills gained each week through lectures, videos, podcasts, workshops and self-directed activities. This assessment task assesses your learning from Session 1 and 2.

Task Length:

1000 words, plus/minus 10%

Due Date:

Week 3 (07/Aug/2025)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Understanding of contemporary Aboriginal urban places	LO1
2	Adaptation of urban planning concepts and principles to diverse cultural contexts	LO1, LO3
3	Engagement with workshop activities and session materials	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Reflection based on your own observations and perceptions	LO2, LO3, LO4
5	Correct English and referencing, logically structured, adheres to the word limit	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Urban Design Journal

Task Description:

You will develop a journal of your observations and experience of urban design in, and around, the Hobart CBD. Your completed journal will be a qualitative documentation, using text and images, of what makes a city a good or bad place to be, and potential urban design responses for improving the quality of a place.

Task Length:

2000 words, plus images (photographs, maps/drawings)

Due Date:

Week 7 (08/Sep/2025)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analysis urban design elements using qualitative methods at your site in central Hobart	LO2, LO3
2	Critically apply urban design principles to your site in central Hobart	LO3
3	Create an urban design journal based on personal observations and experiences, and original images	LO3, LO4
4	Engagement with workshop activities and session materials	LO2, LO3
5	Correct English, logically structured, correctly referenced, adheres to the word and image limits	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Urban strategic planning

Task Description:

In this essay, you will prepare an urban strategic planning response to a Hobart-based scenario. You will critically engage in the principles of insurgent planning and liveability in developing the rationale and justification for this strategic plan.

Task Length:

4000 words, plus or minus 10%

Due Date:

Week 14 (27/Oct/2025)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply principles of insurgent planning to a strategic planning scenario	LO1, LO3
2	Critically adapt ideas of liveability to a strategic planning scenario	LO2, LO3
3	Develop an integrated strategic plan to address this scenario	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
4	Demonstrate engagement with unit activities, contents and materials	LO2, LO3, LO4
5	Write a report in correct English, logically structured, correctly referenced, and adhering to the word limit	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.