Associate Degree
The impact of humans on the environment has the potential to threaten the future prosperity and liveability of our towns and cities. There is a growing demand in both the government and private sectors for passionate professionals who can help address environmental issues, promote inclusive communities, and develop sustainable spaces and places.*
La Trobe's Associate Degree in Urban and Regional Environments gives you a foothold in the vital area of community and environmental planning and development.
Whether you're looking for a standalone qualification or a pathway into the Bachelor of Planning (Honours), you'll gain key skills in planning and design while building your understanding of sustainability from a regional, urban and global perspective.
This immersive, two-year course develops your expertise in planning practice, such as understanding places, people and policies. Explore how global warming, urbanisation and land use impact food, water and environmental security. Then, investigate how local, state and federal governments respond to these issues through developmental strategies, policies and programs.
Enhance your effectiveness as a planning professional by strengthening your communication, mediation, negotiation and community relations skills, while building your technical skills in design and social and demographic analysis.
Gain first-hand experience with best-practice community engagement and evaluation. Previous students have participated in a range of field trips, from country towns in rural Victoria to metropolitan cities in Asia and Europe.
Want to take your career aspirations even further? After completing your associate degree, you can move directly into the third year of La Trobe's Bachelor of Planning (Honours).
You'll learn:
The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 6 - Associate Degree.
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 Associate Degree in Urban and Regional Environments, students must complete a total of 240 credit points across 2 years.
Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 2 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 WOMINJEKA LA TROBE: INDIGENOUS CULTURAL LITERACY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ABS0WOM 1 0 CLIMATE, SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIETY ENV1CSS 1 15 EXPLORING LIVING ENVIRONMENTS PLA1ELE 1 15 INTRODUCING PLAN MAKING PLA1ISP 1 15 MAPPING, ANALYSING AND VISUALISING DATA GEG1MAV 1 15 SOCIETY, PEOPLE AND PLACE GEG1SPP 1 15 AUSTRALIAN CITIES AND REGIONS GEG2ACR 2 15 FOOD WATER AND ENVIRONMENT GEG3FWE 2 15 PLANNING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PLA2PES 2 15 POWER AND PLACE GEG2PPP 2 15 RURAL AND REGIONAL PLANNING PLA2RRP 2 15 URBAN DESIGN PROJECT PLA2PPA 2 15
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.
Core choice subjects are one or more subject groups you need to select in your course. Core choice subjects may be specific to your course, major, minor, specialisation or other learning requirements.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points ECONOMIC ISSUES AND PUBLIC POLICY BUS1BUE 1 15 INTRODUCTION TO ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA ABS1IAA 1 15 POLITICS, PHILOSOPHY AND ECONOMICS POL1PPE 1 15 READING AUSTRALIAN LANDSCAPES OED1RAL 1 15 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW LST2EL 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS ECO2ERE 2 15The 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.
This non-accredited diploma will open doors to junior and entry level roles in the planning and environment management departments of local and state governments, regional bodies, and the private sector.
Possible roles include: