ENVP501 (HAM)
Environmental Planning: Practicum 1
Coordinator: Dr Mairi Jay
Email: mairij@waikato.ac.nz
Paper Overview
The Master of Environmental Planning (MEP) is a professional planning qualification that can be completed while at work in the workplace. It involves the completion of a 2-paper research dissertation and two practicum papers, each based on a six-month internship in the workforce. The Master of Environmental Planning is based within the Department of Geography, within The Faculty of Arts and Social Science, although students will normally be located at their place of work for most of their study.
Admission criteria
Candidates for the degree of Master of Environmental Planning must have qualified for the award of
- the degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours (BSocSc (Honours)) or Master of Science (MSc) of the University of Waikato, in Resources and Environmental Planning (REP), with at least a B grade average; or
- the Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSc) of the University of Waikato, in Resources and Environmental Planning, with at least a B grade average; or
- an approved qualification including, or together with, approved graduate papers in the field of resources and environmental planning, and evidence of at least two years’ work experience in a relevant field.”
Candidates who complete the MEP in conjunction with the BSocSc (Honours) with four planning papers are eligible for membership of the New Zealand Planning Institute.
Candidates who have not completed the BSocSc (Honours), MSc, or PGDipSc in REP must have completed an “approved” qualification (i.e. a qualification relevant to planning) plus two years work experience in a relevant field, and, depending on their knowledge base, they may be required to complete “approved graduate papers”.
The programme of study required by the MEP degree involves two 6-month practicums based on experience in the workplace, plus a research dissertation which is equivalent to two papers. It is envisaged students will study on a part time basis over a two year period while they are working.
Candidates must complete the requirements for the degree within five years of first enrolment for the degree.
Planning Practicum 1
The aims for Practicum 1 depend on whether the student comes to the programme from the workforce, or from the graduate programme. Aims for those who come from the workforce are to develop or refresh their intellectual awareness of planning principles, relate their work experience to a broader social, political and organisational context and develop higher levels of analysis, awareness and critical evaluation in relation to work-based planning projects.
The aim for students who come straight from graduate study is to help them adjust to workforce skills and related knowledge without losing their identity as planners.
Practicum 1requires the student to complete a literature review, plus a series of short, monthly progress reports, and a final practicum report. For students from the workforce, more emphasis will be placed on the literature, while for students from graduate study, more emphasis will be placed on work-based reports. The final practicum report will ask that the student reflect on his or her planning-related work in the light of planning principles, methods and ethics.
Planning Practicum 2
The aim of Practicum 2 is to encourage a deepening of professional understanding of planning principles and methods. Written outputs include a mid-point and end-point report that summarises and reflects on the student’s planning experience; and a final examination that involves a written and an oral component.
In addition to the reporting requirements students will be required to make an in-class presentation of their work at a graduate student workshop.
Research dissertation
The aim of the research dissertation is to develop the student’s capacity to do independent research relevant to planning. The research must involve a planning topic and be presented as a scholarly report (i.e. suitable for publication in an academic publication rather than a consultant’s report).
The research required for the dissertation is the equivalent of two graduate papers, and is done under the supervision of a member of University staff. The word limit for the dissertation is 12,000 to 15,000 words.
Employment Agreement and Supervision for the Practicum
The MEP degree requires the completion of the practicum papers within an approved work setting. An “approved work setting” is one that ensures that the student receives a range of planning work, and reports to, or receives mentoring from, a qualified planning practitioner.
The practicums can be continuous or separate, and they can be with the same or different planning agencies or employers.
Prior to the start of an employment practicum, students must receive written approval for the practicum in the form of an agreement or memorandum of understanding signed by the University supervisor(s), the employer, and the student. The purpose of the agreement is to ensure that the employer is aware of the extra demands that will be placed on the student by the learning programme. The employer is encouraged to ‘buy into’ the student’s learning programme and give support such as time off for study.
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