Course overview
This course develops students’ capacity to critically understand and apply social planning theory and practice in responding to complex social and community issues. Drawing on Australian and international contexts, it establishes the conceptual, theoretical and policy foundations of social planning before developing students’ ability to integrate demographic, socioeconomic and spatial evidence to identify interconnected issues, inequalities, community strengths and opportunities. Students then learn to translate evidence into context-responsive and socially equitable planning visions, strategies and actions, assess social impacts, and design inclusive community engagement processes. Practice-oriented learning and interaction with social planning professionals further strengthen the connection between knowledge and professional practice. Through this progression from critical understanding and evidence-based analysis to professional intervention, students develop rigorous research, critical thinking, ethical judgement and effective communication skills, preparing them to contribute to inclusive, culturally responsive, sustainable and resilient communities.
- Foundations of Social Planning
- Social Planning Research and Analysis
- Social Planning in Practice
Course learning outcomes
- Critically apply key theories of urbanity, place, power and resilience to interpret social planning issues and practices.
- Critically evaluate the content, underlying assumptions and social implications of urban plans across national, state, regional and local scales.
- Analyse the relationships between social issues, demographic trends, and patterns of urbanisation and human settlement across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia, drawing on comparative and global perspectives.
- Design and undertake rigorous, ethical social planning research using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods and diverse sources of evidence.
- Develop evidence-based and context-responsive planning strategies and community engagement approaches that address diverse needs and promote socially equitable outcomes.
- Communicate social planning research, analysis, strategies and policy implications clearly, coherently and persuasively to diverse professional and community audiences.
Availability
Class details
Adelaide City Campus West
Group 1
Class number 30438
Section TU01
Size 25
Available 15
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