Graduate Diploma
The Graduate Diploma in Planning is a pathway into planning for those without formal planning qualifications. It emphasises contemporary issues such as change facilitation, sustainable development, climate change, planning for healthy communities, children's environments, Indigenous communities and water management within the context of a changing society in both urban and rural areas.
The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 8 - Graduate Diploma.
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 Graduate Diploma in Planning, students must complete a total of 120 credit points across 1 year.
Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE LTU0AIM 1 0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PLA4001 1 15 GOVERNANCE, PUBLIC POLICY & LEGISLATION PLA4UGP 1 15 NEGOTIATION, MEDIATION AND COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PLA4NMC 1 15 PLANNING THEORY URBAN STRATEGY AND DESIGN PLA5TSD 1 15 RESEARCH SKILLS HUS5ADR 1 15 MASTERS RESEARCH THESIS/REPORT HUM5RE2 1 30
A range of standalone elective subjects is available in this course. Some electives are recommended for your course, but you may also be able to choose from a range of University-wide electives or electives from other interest areas or disciplines. Note these electives may have their own prerequisites and other requirements. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook for the subjects available.
The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.
To view other campus handbook course details, please select relevant campus in the drop down.
Graduates may find employment with governments including local governments, non-government organisations, research organisations and advocacy bodies. Private-sector roles can be in areas such as community development and management, advocacy, research, public policy development, social and community planning and urban, rural and environmental planning. Graduates are trained to work in multidisciplinary teams on social and economic development projects, and in both developed and developing countries.
The course is also a pathway for employees without formal qualifications who work in planning offices; and/or employees with qualifications in closely-aligned fields who wish to change or enhance their career paths.