1. Train graduates imbued with versatility in development planning using practically-oriented, problem-solving, interactive research, teaching and learning methodologies and outreach programmes;
2. Produce balanced middle-level planners well equipped with both theory and practice, armed with state-of-the-art tools and techniques and the requisite attitude to facilitate planning as a necessary input in the development process across all the level spatial resolution in Ghana and beyond;
3. Ensure relevance of programmes to national development agendas using periodic reviews of curricular as well as adaptive teaching and learning processes and development of new programmes to meet the changing needs of Ghana and beyond;
4. Collaborate and network with planning and development organisations and institutions in and outside of Ghana for the mutual benefit and for the advancement of humanity.

The Department will be guided by the following core values:

• Distinction: ensuring quality teaching and learning in a conducive academic environment that satisfy clients’ essentials;
• Competence: focus on developing the skill sets and knowledge acquisition of its staff and students expected from contemporary development planners;
• Innovation: finding solutions to planning problems using improved and novel approaches/tools of development planning;
• Truthfulness: training development planners who would be imbued with the values of fairness, honesty and moral aptitude as well as ingenuity;
• Cooperation: endeavour to interact and work together with identifiable organisations, groups and individuals whose knowledge, skills, strengths or resources are needed for the attainment of the collective goals;
• Inclusiveness: The Department believes in providing equal access to opportunities, irrespective of gender, age, colour, religion, ethnicity or economic status.

The Department currently runs the following graduate and undergraduate programmes:

Postgraduate

• 2-Year MPhil Monitoring and Evaluation;
• 1-Year Top-Up MPhil Monitoring and Evaluation (Full Time);
• 1-Year MSc. Monitoring and Evaluation (Weekend and Sandwich);
• 2- Year MPhil Strategic Planning and Management (Full Time);
• 1-Year Top-Up MPhil Strategic Planning and Management (Full Time)
• 1-Year MSc. Strategic Planning and Management (Weekend and Sandwich);
• 4-Year PhD in Planning Sustainable Development

Undergraduate

• BSc Planning

The Department adopts a practically-oriented and integrated approach to planning as a problem solving activity. The structure of our programmes therefore consists of taught courses, case studies/field work, practical based knowledge co-production projects, planning studio workshops, seminars and project work/thesis. Our planning studio workshops constitute the major highlights of our program me where students acquire all the relevant skills for a successful career in the planning profession. The pillars of the programmes of the Department are: the integration of the physical, economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspects of development; implementation and sustainability of development programmes; field-based training, research and group learning processes; incorporation of ICT and entrepreneurial skills in the training; blending of theory and practice; and forging collaborations and networks with planning and development oriented organisations and institutions in and outside of Ghana.

Admission into the programmes of the Department is open to a broad group of applicants: direct entry applicants, matured applicants, foreign applicants, and HND/Diploma applicants (particularly the BSc programme).

1. Entry requirements for admission of students:

State any specific entry requirements into the programme.

DIRECT ENTRY

1. Candidates with GCE O and A Level:

Credits, grade 1 – 6 in Five (5) subjects at the GCE O Level including English and Mathematics; and; Three Passes, grade A – E with at least a grade ‘D’ in one of the subjects at the GCE A Level in the following subject combinations from the two categories of subjects below:

Subject Combination Options:

1. Either any three subjects in category A, or
2. Any Two subjects from category A and One subject from Category B

Category A                                              Category B

Geography                                                Accounting

Economics                                                Statistics

Government/History                                Business Management

Mathematics                                             Religious studies

English Literature/French

Physics/Chemistry/Biology

2. Candidates with SSCE/WASSCE                    

Passes in three core subjects (A-D/A1-C6) at the Senior Secondary/Senior High School level including English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science/Core Science

Passes in Three elective subjects from Category A or Two from Category A and One from Category B.

Category A                                  Category B

Geography                                    Accounting

Economics                                    Statistics

Government/History                    Business Management

Mathematics                                 Religious studies

English Literature/French

Physics/Chemistry/Biology

DIPLOM HOLDERS

Applicants with Diploma and HND in a relevant field with at least a Second Class Upper or its equivalent can apply for placement at level 200. They must pass a written test as well an oral interview.

MATURED APPLICANTS

Matured applicants must have attained at least 25 years of age as at the time of the application. Candidates must also be prepared to sit for a written and oral entrance examination to be conducted by the University. Relevant working experience in the field of planning and development will be an added advantage to prospective applicants.

In addition, candidates must also fulfill the following requirements: Candidates with GCE O and A Levels:

Passes (grade1-6) in Five (5) subjects at the GCE O Level including English and Mathematics; and

Two Passes (grade A-E) with at least a grade ’D’ in one of the subjects at the GCE A Level in the following subject combinations from the two categories of subjects below:

Subject Combination Options:

I. Either All subjects in category A, or

II. Any One subject from category A and One subject from Category B

Category A                                  Category B

Geography                                    Accounting

Economics                                    Statistics

Government/History                    Business Management

Mathematics                                 Religious studies

English Literature/French

Physics/Chemistry/Biology

Candidates with SSCE/WASSCE              

Passes (grade A-D/A1-C6) in three core subjects at the Senior Secondary/Senior High School level including English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science/Core Science

Passes in 3 elective subjects from Category A or two from Category A and One from Category B

       Category A                                 Category B

Geography                                    Accounting

Economics                                    Statistics

Government/History                    Business Management

Mathematics                                 Religious studies

English Literature/French

Physics/Chemistry/Biology

Foreign Applicants

Foreign applicants applying for admission into this programme are expected to have the Ghanaian qualifications or their equivalence from accredited/recognized institutions.

Entry requirements for admission of students MPhils (monitoring and evaluation and strategic planning and management):

Candidates who have been awarded at least a Second Class (Lower Division) in a relevant programme at the undergraduate level are eligible to apply for admission to pursue the Programme. Candidates with at least two years relevant working experience will have an added advantage. Preference will be given to candidates with backgrounds in planning, development management, economics, management studies, development studies and statistics.

Entry requirements for admission of students for the Weekend/Sandwich MSc. Programmes (monitoring and evaluation and strategic planning and management):

Candidates who have been awarded at least a Second Class (Lower Division) in a relevant programme at the undergraduate level are eligible to apply for admission to pursue the Programme. Candidates with at least two years relevant working experience will have an added advantage. Candidates with Third Class and with proven extensive work experience in a relevant area will be considered on case-by-case bases. Such candidates, after successful completion of the MSc. Can progress onto the 1-Year MPhil Top-Up programme. Preference will be given to candidates with backgrounds in planning, development management, economics, management studies, development studies and statistics.

Students’ Admission/Entry Requirements for the PhD in Planning for Sustainable Development

The Programme is particularly targeting staff in development organisations, MDAs involved in policy formulation, Programme design, monitoring and evaluation of development activities who want to develop their research capacity in planning to address issues on sustainable development. Staff in research institutes and consultancy or staff in academia who want to conduct and carve a niche for themselves in the area of planning for sustainable development are also legible to be enrolled in the programme. Such staff must have undertaken Two years’ masters’ degree with dissertation in any of the following fields:

• Planning
• Environment
• Development studies
• Economics
• Other development related

Applicants must have also been working in the area of sustainable development for at least two years. Applicants are, also as part of the admission requirements, supposed to have a proposal and supervisor for their thesis.