Bachelor of City Planning Honours

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Honours Degree is to educate and train learners in the field of City Planning at the local and metropolitan/city scales, by developing the learner's values, conceptual knowledge and skills related to the various interlinked systems governing urban planning This includes imparting research skills.

A further purpose of the degree is to prepare learners for the linked Degree - the Master's in City and Regional Planning, as the Honours will be a pre-requisite for entry to the Masters.

The Project B (32 Credit) will essentially take the form of a research product dealing with city-wide planning issues.

Rationale

City and regional planning is a designated scarce skill in terms of the South African Government's Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) as part of its accelerated economic growth programme. It responds to environmental, infrastructural and socio-economic priorities at national, provincial and local levels of governance, and it aims to provide spatial guidance for current and future human settlements.

City and Regional Planning is a recognised profession under the Planning Professions Act of 2003. The current two year Masters in City and Regional Planning is accredited by the SA Council for Planners (SACPLAN) allowing corporate membership of the profession. This Honours Degree together with the linked Masters' Degree will similarly provide the basis for corporate membership of SACPLAN. SACPLAN does not provide professional recognition for learners who have a non-planning Undergraduate Degree, and only one year (the honours year) of planning education. For professional registration a Master's is required.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

For the purpose of admission into the qualification applying admission criteria other than described above, learners could be assessed as per the institution's RPL Policy and Procedures.

The RPL admission route requires that learners submit portfolio of evidence of the knowledge and skills achieved through non-academic means. The information is assessed in accordance with the receiving faculty's rules and regulations. Learners who meet the criteria are allowed to proceed towards registration.

Entry Requirements

Learners are required to have the following in place in order to be considered for admission

• A Bachelors' Degree in a relevant field.

This qualification consists of 11 modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 168 Credits.

Modules

• Planning Theory and Practice, 8 Credits.
• Urban Infrastructure, 12 Credits.
• Aspects of City Design, 12 Credits.
• Natural Systems, 12 Credits.
• Planning Techniques I, 12 Credits.
• Planning Project A, 32 Credits.
• Urban Economic Development Processes, 12 Credits.
• Planning and Governmental Systems, 12 Credits.
• Regulatory and Legal Framework, 12 Credits.
• Planning Techniques 2, 12 Credits.
• Planning Project B (research project), 32 Credits.

1. Promote spatial development proposals that are informed by principles of equity, justice and mutual learning through sustained community engagement and involvement.
2. Demonstrate awareness of ethical and political issues in planning theory and practice.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the debates on the interface between infrastructure and urban change in different contexts.
4. Use advanced technical know-how and skills to address planning issues.
5. Apply appropriate planning strategies to solve planning problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Knowledge of the value of the stakeholders and interest groups in the planning process is reflected.
• Spatial development frameworks at the local scale by working with and learning from community leaders, residents, municipal officials and non-governmental organisation is integrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• An understanding of residents' rights and how they will shape spatial outcomes is demonstrated.
• Professional ethics related to spatial planning are exhibited.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Effective skills of negotiation, mediation and leadership are exhibited.
• Knowledge of various intellectual debates surrounding collaborative, communicative, multicultural, pragmatic, agonistic, radical and democratic planning theories is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Technical issues that may potentially impede proper planning are identified and addressed.
• Residents' concerns are acknowledged and dealt with a consultative manner.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Relevant data in planning appropriate responses to spatial planning is analysed.
• Areas earmarked for developments are identified and the residents are accordingly notified.

Integrated Assessment

Learning and assessment across Exit Level Outcomes within the qualification should be integrated to ensure a well-structured cohesive qualification. Assessments are based on formative assessments which are in place to assure continuous learning and feedback to learners and summative assessments which ensure a judgement of learning at Exit Level Outcomes. Such assessments should assess the learner's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, competencies and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes, either as a whole or as components of the qualification.