Students

GEOP8090 – Gateway to the Planning Profession

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Alison Ziller
alison.ziller@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPlan and 80cp at 8000 level
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Planning is a professional practice and this unit is designed to assist students develop skills for a career in the planning profession. The unit requires students to prepare a substantial and well researched report in response to a Brief issued by a hypothetical planning agency. The student will prepare a work plan, apply knowledge of planning systems to a particular issue, and respond to the expressed requirements of the hypothetical client. In undertaking this work the student will apply research skills, identify and confront ethical issues, and practice writing for a non-specialist audience.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO2: Apply research skills to contemporary planning issues
  • ULO1: Prepare a detailed project outline in response to a planning Brief and document the key steps in its execution
  • ULO3: Exercise problem-solving, critical, analytical and integrative thinking skills in the field of planning
  • ULO4: Communicate findings in written forms for diverse audiences
  • ULO5: Apply skills in self-management, personal judgement and initiative

General Assessment Information

Submission of each assignment should be via Turn-it-in.

Unless a special consideration request https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Response to Brief 20% No 15/03/21
Literature/policy review 30% No 19/04/21
Data collection and analysis 30% No 10/05/21
Final report 20% No 31/05/21

Response to Brief

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 15/03/21
Weighting: 20%

500 word response setting out the steps and stages to be undertaken to acquit the Brief
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Prepare a detailed project outline in response to a planning Brief and document the key steps in its execution

Literature/policy review

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 19/04/21
Weighting: 30%

1500 word literature/policy review (Part 1 of report as required in the project Brief)
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply research skills to contemporary planning issues
  • Exercise problem-solving, critical, analytical and integrative thinking skills in the field of planning
  • Communicate findings in written forms for diverse audiences

Data collection and analysis

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 10/05/21
Weighting: 30%

2000 word data analysis (Part 2 of report as required in the project Brief)
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply research skills to contemporary planning issues
  • Exercise problem-solving, critical, analytical and integrative thinking skills in the field of planning
  • Communicate findings in written forms for diverse audiences

Final report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 31 hours
Due: 31/05/21
Weighting: 20%

4500 word final report combining literature/policy review, data collection/analysis plus overall findngs and recommendations
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Communicate findings in written forms for diverse audiences
  • Apply skills in self-management, personal judgement and initiative

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This unit is delivered online. Across the semester students will learn how to respond to a consultancy brief which will be provided at the beginning ot term. In addition there will be online sessions and discussions about issues students are likely to face when entering the planning workforce.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook