BSC PLANNING

Background information:

The Bsc. Planning programme fits into the mission and plans of the institution and national demand in a broader context. Spatial planning systems, methods and approaches are mainly used by the public and private sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. It also aids in the coordination of practices and policies affecting spatial organization.

To this, Central University seeks to contribute in making these systems, methods and approaches more visibly through the introduction of the BSc. Planning Programme.

Aim:

The aim of the Programme is to contribute to the dynamics of human settlement by addressing pressing problems and issues of physical, environmental, economic and societal change in urban and rural communities through applied research and practice oriented planning education.

Objectives:

The objective of the Planning programme is to equip students with relevant theories and skills, methodologies and techniques, taken from both the social sciences and design disciplines in particular, that aim to develop capacity for creative thinking and problem solving. This will enable students to acquire knowledge and skills appropriate to a career as planning professionals with specialization in spatial planning or development planning.

To this end, the programme aims to provide an academic and vocational education which:

provides students with a coherent understanding of planning and the built environment;
enables students to combine a sound theoretical foundation with an awareness of practice; and
provides knowledge in land use planning, transportation planning, urban design, city management, etc. and the various roles and responsibilities of planning professionals and allied professions.

1) Admission Requirements

Policies on minimum qualifications for admission into the programme, retention and graduation.

a. Entry requirements for admission of students

Admission into the programme is open to SSSCE/WASSCE or Polytechnic graduates, as well as “O’ and ‘A’ Level applicants:

i. Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) Holders

Applicants must have three (3) credit scores (Grade D) or better in the following subjects: English Language, Core Mathematics and Integrated Science and Credit Passes in three (3) electives from Group A or two (2) from Group A and one (1) from Group B.

GROUP A GROUP B

Economics Accounting

Management Technical Drawing

Geography Graphic Design

Government Picture Making

Mathematics Sculpture

General knowledge in Art Painting

ii. West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

Applicants must have 6 credit scores (Grade C6) or better in English Language, Core Mathematics and Integrated Science and credit passes in three (3) electives from Group A or two (2) from Group A and one (1) from Group B.

GROUP A GROUP B

Economics Accounting

Management Technical Drawing

Geography Graphic Design

Government Picture Making

Mathematics Sculpture Painting

General knowledge in Art

iii. Polytechnic Students

The applicant must have graduated with a good HND certificate (i.e. at least 2nd Class Lower Division). The applicant must have acquired two (2) years relevant post-HND qualification working experience in addition to the Minimum Entry Requirement at WASSCE/SSSCE or Five (5) GCE O’ Level credits including English Language and Mathematics.

iv. GCE ’A’ Level Holders

Applicants must have Credits in five (5) subjects at GCE ‘O’ Level including English Language and Mathematics and three (3) passes (Grade D or better in the GCE ‘A’ Level or its equivalent in the two groups of subjects listed below to be selected as follows:

• Either all subjects in group A, or

• Two (2) subjects from Group A, and one subject from Group B.

GROUP A GROUP B

Economics Mathematics

Geography Statistics

Government Art

History Accounting

Business Management

v. Mature Applicants

The applicant must:

be at least 25 years old;
show proof of age with birth certificate or any legitimate documentary proof of birth date which is at least 5 years old at the time of application;
provide introductory letter from employer or show any other proof of employment; and
the applicant must show proof of credit passes in English and Mathematics in WASSCE or any other nationally recognized standard High School level examinations (for qualifications from countries outside WAEC’s aegis);
the candidate must write the Mature Students’ Entrance Examination and selection interviews are conducted for short-listed candidates.

vi. Foreign applicants

The applicant must

have qualifications equivalent to WASSCE, SSSCE, HND, or GCE ’A’ Level to be considered for admission or any other nationally recognized standard High School level examinations (for qualifications from countries outside WAEC’s aegis).
All foreign qualifications are be referred to the National Accreditation Board (NAB) for determination of equivalences and eligibility for admission.
have their results translated into English
be able to read and write in English.
Applicants may also be required to pass an entrance examination/interview.

2) Components of the programme:

Provide details of the curriculum and mode of delivery to include the following:

a. Required (core) course(s)

b. Elective course (s)

a. Mandatory courses:

b. Research component

c. Competence-Based Training (CBT) component

d. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) component

e. Practical training, industrial attachment, internship, clinical experience, etc.

f. Semester-by-semester structure/schedule of course, showing the credit value of each course

(a) Core courses

Planning Studio
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Land Use Planning & Administration
Theory & Practice of Planning
Spatial Analysis
Urban Planning
Transportation Planning
Environment, Development and Sustainability
Planning Law and Administration
Decentralization and Local Governance
Housing Analysis and Policies

(b) Elective courses

Urban Systems
Urban Finance
Advanced Land Use Planning & Administration
Principles of Development Planning
Land Policy and Management
Urban Economics
Spatial Planning Studio
Development Planning Studio

Everyday French
Productivity and Purposeful Living
English Proficiency Skills
Christian Ethics
Leadership Studies
Life Management Skills
Institutional Governance or Business Management or Critical Thinking or Understanding African Societies
Entrepreneurship or Financial Literacy or Great African Writers or French for Life

(d) Research component

Research Methods
Statistics/Quantitative Methods & Techniques
Project Work/Dissertation

(e) Competence-Based Training (CBT) component

ICT CAD
Ethics of Planning & Professional Practice

(f) Problem-Based Learning (PBL) component

Development Planning Studio
Spatial Planning Studio
Project Work/Dissertation

(g) Practical training, industrial attachment, internship experience, etc.

Students are required to undertake compulsory Work Placements/Practical Training (during vacations) with local authorities, communities, industry and private consulting offices and submit reports duly attested by the principals of the organizations they worked in. The practical training reports are to be assessed as part of the Planning Studio continuous assessment.
Rural and urban field studies are to be undertaken to gather data for the Planning Studio programmes.

This program will introduce you to the profession and industry which is a part of today’s built and designed environment. Studying in our exciting, innovative department, will help develop the knowledge and skills to shape the world we live in.

The Department has a strong reputation for providing challenging, professionally trained students that are highly engaged with the planning industry. The standard and relevance of our courses, the quality and perspective of our staff, excellent placement opportunities and our extensive commercial links all contribute to our outstanding graduate employment record and will help open doors to new and exciting career opportunities.

Your training will expose you to various activities and projects of the built environment and you are to undertake internship a part of your education during vacations.

The department comprise faculty and students. Faculty members being professional members of the industry and students, members of the students’ association. As a student in the department, you are and automatic member of GAPS-Cu the student-wing.

If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Once again welcome to the CU Planning Family.

Ag Head, Department of Planning,

School of Architecture and Design