Master of Arts (In Planning)

    Overview

    Introduction

    The Master of Arts in Planning Programme aims to train a high caliber of professionally qualified personnel in Urban and Regional Planning. The programme provides planners with the requisite skills and specialized knowledge needed to address numerous challenges associated with rapid urbanization and resource use in Africa. The Department of Urban and Regional Planning has been a leading institution for training professional planners in the entire Eastern and Southern African region.

    The regulations and syllabus for the degree of Master of Arts in Planning have recently been revised to introduce a new approach in planning and provide flexibility for candidates to pursue the course on a semester basis.

    The programme incorporates theoretical foundations of planning and a strong practical and professional training, along with multi-disciplinary knowledge in planning areas, methods of research and analysis and computer application skills. The course is intended for graduates and professionals with relevant educational background and experience who wish to take up planning roles with public, private, voluntary and international agencies working at local, sub-national, national and international levels.

    Philosophy

    The Master of Arts In Planning programme is founded on philosophical principles that underpin the discipline of planning. It explains what planning is, why plan, how planning is carried out and the importance of planning, thus building a knowledge database on the discipline. Planning is people-centred and takes place in space. Philosophy enables a fusion of society and space. The composite of space and society needs articulated by the contemporary issues of rapid urbanization such as sprawl; urban poverty well exhibited by slums; the need for sustainable utilization of natural resources and the effects and impacts of climate change and governance.

    Rationale

    The rural planning and design specialization will equip students with the knowledge to effectively analyze rural challenges and plan for appropriate interventions which, when implemented will contribute to faster and sustainable rural development and slowing of the rural-urban exodus. The urban planning and design specialization is anchored on philosophy, analysis, design, and practicum, with the aim of broadening the scope of the planner in the field of urbanism and enhance the planner’s ability to intervene in the urban environment through reading, interpreting and detailing the city. It also seeks to strengthen the link between academia, professional planning practice and the built environment.

    The regional planning specialization aims at training professionals that are highly grounded in theory, concepts and technical skills of development planning and management at the regional level to enhance national development vision and goals. The environment and natural resources specialization emphasizes on planning for sustainable utilisation and management of the environment and natural resources particularly land, forests, water catchment areas and water, wildlife and tourism resources, minerals, livestock and crops. The infrastructure specialisation covers planning for all travel systems and utilities.

    Goal of the Programme

    The course emphasizes the importance of creativity, optimal utilisation of all resources, public involvement, social justice, professional ethics, and environmental sustainability. It is intended for graduates and professionals with relevant educational background and experience who wish to specialise and practice in planning at the local, urban, county, national and international levels and contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030, national constitutional goals and Africa 2063 strategy.

    Objectives

    By the end of the Course, the student should be able to:

    (i) Demonstrate an understanding of academic, analytical and professional knowledge and skills needed to address complexities of planning and development at the rural, urban, county, regional, trans-regional and national levels.

     (ii) Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of the complex interactions within the natural and the built environment, institutional/organisational systems and the dynamic nature of rural, urban and regional development.     

    (iii) Demonstrate enhanced student capacity to work with communities and other relevant stakeholders to formulate integrated development plans/programmes and disseminate outputs in the fields of urban and regional planning.  

    Schedule of Intakes

    The Department admits new students at the beginning of every academic calendar year (which is usually September)

    Application Information

    You will be required to enter some basic information, including your email address and to choose a password. We will then send you an email to the address you entered, so that we can validate your account. When you have clicked on the validation link (sent to you in the email), you will be able to log in to the application system using the "Login" box below

    For instructions on how to apply click here

    To apply online here

    Mode of Delivery

    • Face-to-Face Mode

    This is through lectures and tutorials using notes, electronic presentations, instruction manuals, group discussions, practical laboratory demonstrations and fieldwork.

    • Open, Distance Learning and e-Learning

    In case of delivery through ODeL, special arrangements shall be made for the practical laboratory, field work and computing sessions. Where not feasible alternative arrangements will be made to do them on campus. 

    • Blended Learning

    This is a hybrid of face to face with Open, Distance Learning and e-learning.

    Contact of Support Persons

    Telephone: 020-2319187 ; E-mail:durp@uonbi.ac.ke

    Notable Alumni

    Masters of Arts In Planning

    The programme is covered in thirty-four (34) course units consisting of lectures, seminars, field work, practical (studio) research project and examinations.

    The programme is examined through written examinations, course work, planning studio and research project.

    A candidate shall be allowed to take a minimum of three (3) course units and a maximum of nine (9) course units per semester.

    The programme shall be covered in a minimum of four (4) semesters and a maximum of twelve (12) semesters.

    All courses, seminars, studio, research project and examinations are compulsory. The programme shall proceed from levels one to four:

    The Research Project shall constitute four (4) course units while the Rural, Urban and Regional Planning Studio shall constitute two, three and four course units respectively.

    COURSE OUTLINE                           

    Code                                                                                                                     Hrs

    LEVEL 1

    BUR 501               Introduction to Planning                                45

    BUR 503               Theory of Planning I                         45

    BUR 505               Planning Principles and Techniques I        45

    BUR 507               Statistical Methods in Planning  45

    BUR 509               Socio-Economic Indicators in Planning    45

    BUR 511               Management Techniques for Planners I                 45

    BUR 513               Rural Planning Studio                     90

    BUR 515               Information Technology in Planning        45

     

    LEVEL 2

    BUR 500               Theory of Planning II                      45

    BUR 502               Planning Principles and Techniques II      45

    BUR 504               Land Use Determinants I                              45

    BUR 506               Planning for Transportation                         45

    BUR 508               Planning for Engineering Services             45

    BUR 510               Research Methods for Planners I              45

    BUR 512               Urban Planning Studio                   135

     

    LEVEL 3                                                

    BUR 601               Planning Principles and Techniques III    45

    BUR 603               Land Use Determinants II                             45

    BUR 605               Theory of Resource Use in Planning        45

    BUR 607               GIS & Remote Sensing applications in planning   45

    BUR 609               Research Methods for Planners II            45

    BUR 611               Urban Project Implementation                  45

    BUR 613               Environmental Management in Planning               45

    BUR 615               Research project I                           45

     

    LEVEL 4

    BUR 600               Management Techniques for Planners II               45

    BUR 602               Regional Planning Studio                              135

    BUR 604               Research Project II                          90

     

     

     

     

    Minimum Admission Requirements

    A holder of a Bachelor's degree, of at least upper second class honors in planning, architecture, land economics, building economics, civil engineering, design, surveying, agriculture, law, economics, geography, sociology, government, anthropology, social work or any other relevant discipline from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate as being of comparable academic status.

    A holder of a Bachelor's degree, of lower second class honors in any of the degree categories specified above with a relevant postgraduate diploma or other equivalent qualifications from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate as being of comparable academic status or with at least two (2) years of relevant work experience.

    A holder of a pass degree in any of the degree categories specified in above with a credit in a relevant postgraduate diploma or other equivalent qualifications from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate as being of comparative academic status, and at least (5) years of relevant work experience.

    Attachment Opportunities

    Graduates of Urban and Regional Planning can find employment in NGO's, County Governments, Central Governments UN Bodies- UNCRD, UNEP, UN-Habitat, Parastatals – Nairobi County Council (NCC), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), ENNDA, Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning Departments, National Lands Commission (NLC), Regional Development Authority and Water and Sewerage Companies under the Water Act.

    Career Prospects

    Many Master of Urban Planning graduates enter the public sector and work in government departments and agencies, or for local councils and regions.

    The private and public sectors in Australia and internationally employ our graduates in an increasing range of areas, including urban planning and design, environmental and transport planning consultancy, property development, and housing and community advocacy. There are also opportunities in tertiary education and research.

    Urban planners work with teams of related professionals such as architects, landscape architects, engineers, environmental scientists, economists, property valuers, real estate developers, lawyers and sociologists.

    Some of the firms our graduates work for are:

    • Department of Environment
    • Land
    • Water & Planning
    • local, provincial, and federal governments
    • consulting firms
    • real estate development companies
    • school boards
    • non-profit organizations
    • economic development and tourism agencies
    MA in Planning-Year 1 (TOTAL of 18 units)  Semester 1   Semester 2   Yearly TOTAL 
    TUITION           216,000             216,000                 432,000
    MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)               6,500                       6,500
    ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)               7,000                       7,000
    CAUTION - (ONCE)               5,000                       5,000
    LIBRARY (PER YEAR)               5,000                       5,000
    REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)               2,250                 2,250                     4,500
    EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)               9,000                 9,000                   18,000
    ID CARD ( PER YEAR)               1,000                       1,000
    ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)               2,000                       2,000
    STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)               1,000                       1,000
    TOTAL           254,750             227,250                 482,000
    MA in Planning-Year 2 (TOTAL of 16 units)      
           
       Semester 1   Semester 2   Yearly TOTAL 
    TUITION           216,000             216,000                 432,000
    MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)               6,500                      -                       6,500
    ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)               7,000                      -                       7,000
    LIBRARY (PER YEAR)               5,000                      -                       5,000
    REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)               2,250                 2,250                     4,500
    EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)               8,000                 8,000                   16,000
    ID CARD ( PER YEAR)               1,000                      -                       1,000
    ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)               2,000                      -                       2,000
    STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)               1,000                      -                       1,000
    THESIS EXAMINATION                     -                 30,000                   30,000
    TOTAL           248,750             256,250                 505,000
           
    Grand TOTAL                     987,000
    Exam Regulations

    The programme is examined through written examinations, course work, planning studio and research project.

    A candidate shall be allowed to take a minimum of three (3) course units and a maximum of nine (9) course units per semester.