Human Geography and Planning major
Human Geography and Planning are the essential disciplines for understanding the complexities of cities and regions and guiding their sustainable development. The course explores the complex processes shaping human environments at a range of scales from global to local. To flourish, human and urban development must grapple with economic transformation, cultural diversity, changing demographic pressures, disasters and sustainability.
The conceptual foundations of Human Geography and Planning, along with the focus on fieldwork, skill development and real-world problems provides a diverse range of career opportunities. Students develop the knowledge and skills to help resolve major urban and regional problems and ultimately have the ability to contribute to the creation of liveable communities, vibrant economies and sustainable places.
The major includes opportunities for domestic fieldwork, and students can participate in international field trips, with recent destinations including Germany, Spain, the United States and Indonesia
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) Explain the complex interplay of environmental, economic, social and political processes that influence the spatial organisation of human activities at a range of scales, from global to local; (2) demonstrate an understanding of human geography as an academic discipline, including awareness of its concepts, history and principal sub-fields.; (3) identify the role of planning systems in shaping the characteristics of cities and regions.; (4) Critically review the geographic and planning methods, policies and approaches used to address urban and regional challenges; (5) apply methods for the investigation and interpretation urban and regional phenomena.; and (6) demonstrate the ability to communicate to specialist and non specialist audiences through multiple channels..
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Human Geography and Planning can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
BP001 Bachelor of Arts
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
Human Geography and Planning is a degree-specific single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- four Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2021; NS = non-standard teaching period |
Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2022 or 2023.
Level 1
Take the following unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | GEOG1104 | Disasters! |
Take unit(s) to the value of at least 6 points from this group:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | GEOG1103 | Urbanisation and Sustainability | |
| S1 | GEOG1106 | Climate Change: Environment and Society |
Level 2
Take all units (18 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS | GEOG2202 | Reading Landscapes: People and Processes | |
| S1 | GEOG2205 | Geographies of Economic Development | |
| S2 | GEOG2206 | Social Geography and Planning |
Take unit(s) to the value of at least 6 points from this group:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | GEOG2201 | Geographic Information Systems |
|
| N/A | GEOG2204 | International Field Work in Geography |
|
Level 3
Take all units (18 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | GEOG3302 | Local Places, Global Contexts |
|
| S2 | GEOG3306 | Regional Development and Planning | |
| S2 | GEOG3309 | Global Inequalities and Population Change: Transformation and Crisis |
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | GEOG3303 | Environmental Policy and Planning |
|
| S1 | GEOG3305 | Urban Planning and Design | |
| S1 | GEOG3308 | Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation |
Choosing your degree-specific major
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course. (You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.)
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.
General degrees
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the Human Geography and Planning degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Arts course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
Choosing a second major
You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.
The following example illustrates how the Human Geography and Planning degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Arts course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .