Unit Outline
KGA521
Urban Planning and Design
Semester 2, 2026
Kate Booth
School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Sciences and Engineering (Portfolio)
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Kate Booth
Email: Kate.Booth@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
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
Readings across the unit have been reviewed and updated where necessary. Three sessions have also been updated, including a new lecture in one. There is also a better balance between assessment tasks, with Assessment Task 1 integrated with Assessment Task 2. 
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Weekly workshops
2
Weekly
Fieldwork
Two field trips (half day and full day)
7
Once only (2 times)
Lecture (Online)
No Description
2
Weekly
Independent Learning
Required readings, videos, podcasts, and assessment tasks.
14
Weekly
Online
Workshop (Online)
Weekly online workshops
2
Weekly
Lecture (Online)
No Description
2
Weekly
Fieldwork
Two virtual field trips
7
Once only (2 times)
Independent Learning
Required readings, videos, podcasts, and assessment tasks
14
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 
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:
Short test or quiz
See the MyLO site for the due date
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: Short test or quiz
Task Description:
During semester, you will undertake short online tasks or quizzes to consolidate your knowledge. These comprise a hurdle task - you must pass this task to pass the unit.
Task Length:
TBA
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Demonstrate an understanding of urban places and histories
LO1
2
Adapt urban design and planning concepts and principles to diverse cultural contexts
LO1, LO3
3
Demonstrate engagement with workshop activities and session materials
LO1, LO2, LO3
4
Communicate to a professional standard, including correct English, logical structure and acknowledgment of sources
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
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
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. The online activities/quiz task is the hurdle task in this unit.
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.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
Essential readings will be provided for each session, and you are expected to draw on these in sessions and assessment tasks. All of the sources are made available on MyLO, or in links provided in lecture powerpoints.
 
Recommended reading materials
 
 
Other required resources