Academic Programs Catalog

The undergraduate program in urban and regional planning provides students with a basic understanding of environment-, economy- and society-related planning issues using scientific, social scientific or humanistic approaches. Students will learn the history of urbanism, the theory and principles of urban design, and the relevant legal and administrative policies & procedures. Students study the techniques of survey and research used in the analysis of the structure and growth of urban areas. They are involved in written and graphic communication. They recognize the contributions made by other disciplines concerned with the study of urban development, including politics, law, economics, social aspects, pollution control, natural resources and the interactions of human beings and nature. By developing systematic programs for the orderly and unified arrangement of urban physical structures, students focus their accumulated knowledge and skills on specific urban problems. The undergraduate program, which has been accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, is designed to prepare majors to assume the responsibilities encountered in entry level professional planning practice.

Admission
 
Admission is competitive, and enrollment is limited for each entering class. The department accepts and reviews applications during the Spring semester of each year for admission into the UP core courses the following Fall.

All students interested in applying for admission as juniors to the bachelor’s degree program in Urban and Regional Planning must:

1. complete UP 201 with a minimum grade of 2.0;
2. submit an application package that will include:
   1. a resume;
   2. an application form indicating intent to apply to the upper division of the urban and regional planning program for the upcoming academic year; and
   3. an academic/career goals statement, which can be submitted in essay or video format.

Program faculty and academic staff determine admissions based on the applicants’ qualifications and the program’s enrollment capacity. Review committees will consider factors such as applicants’:

1. previous work, service, and research experiences;
2. overall grade-point average and performance in UP 201;
3. motivation and goals relative to the major and potential career; and
4. factors such as ability to overcome adversity, perseverance, teamwork, and work ethic.

Admission decisions are made each year at the end of the Spring semester.

For additional information about admission criteria and procedures, students should contact the Urban and Regional Planning program in the School of Planning, Design and Construction.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban and Regional Planning

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Urban and Regional Planning major is met by completing Urban Planning 365.  That course is referenced in item 3. a. below.
   
   The Experiential Learning requirement for the College of Social Science is met by completion of UP 494 referenced in item 3. a. below.
   
   The STEM requirement for the College of Social Science is met by completion of 12 credits from 3. c. below.
2. The College of Social Science requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	All of the following courses with a minimum grade of 2.0 in each course (32 credits):
   	UP	201	Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning						4
   	UP	314	Methods for Investigation of Urban Systems						4
   	UP	353	Land Use Planning						4
   	UP	365	Planning Law and Ethics (W)						4
   	UP	424	Geographic Information Systems and Design Tools for Planning						3
   	UP	433	Introduction to Environmental Planning						4
   	UP	454	Local Economic Planning						3
   	UP	494	Planning Practicum						6
   b.	Complete 6 credits of 400-level Urban and Regional Planning elective course work. Courses from 3. a. cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
   c.	Complete 12 credits in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses from the following list of courses. Fulfillment of this requirement also meets the College of Social Science STEM Graduation Requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   	ANP	203	Introduction to Archeology						3
   	ANP	206	Introduction to Physical Anthropology						3
   	CSS	101	Introduction to Crop Science						3
   	CSS	101L	Introduction to Crop Science Laboratory						1
   	CSS	210	Fundamentals of Soil Science						3
   	CSUS	200	Introduction to Sustainability						3
   	ENT	205	Pests, Society and Environment						3
   	EPI	390	Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health						4
   	FW	110	Conservation and Management of Marine Resources						3
   	GEO	203	Introduction to Meteorology						3
   	GEO	206	Physical Geography						3
   	GLG	201	The Dynamic Earth						4
   	PDC	403	Introduction to Domicology: Sustainable Built Environment						3

The Master of International Planning Studies (MIPS) is an online one-year (2 semesters and one summer) program that is designed for practitioners currently employed in urban and regional planning or related fields who desire additional knowledge in the field of community and regional development.  Prospective students must have direct experience in the international aspects of planning or related fields that directly relate to their proposed area of concentration.

Admission

Applications for admission must hold an advanced degree or have significant experience in international planning, and seek knowledge about urban and regional conditions and related areas such as real estate, economic development, environmental protection and international planning. Applicants must demonstrate that the degree will strengthen their career credentials and make them more competitive in the applicant’s chosen international planning profession. Prospective students are assumed to have a basic knowledge of planning concepts.

Requirements for the Master of International Planning Studies Degree

The program is available only online under Plan B (without thesis). The student must complete at least 30 credits as specified below.

The student must:

The graduate program leading to a degree of Master in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) is committed to preparing students for professional planning careers in both the private and public sectors and seeks to develop both general planning knowledge and specific skills for practice. The program provides students with an advanced understanding of environment-, economy- and society-related planning issues using scientific, social scientific or humanistic approaches. Current faculty research and teaching expertise covers a wide range of planning subjects including urban design; land use planning; land use law; housing; community, economic and real estate development; natural resources; research methods; international development; transportation; technology; environmental planning; and public policy. The MURP degree is a nationally accredited degree and admits students with a variety of academic backgrounds.  Ideal students are those with strong intellectual ability; good written and verbal communication skills; basic statistical methods and have demonstrated a proven potential for leadership in the field of urban and regional planning.

A student entering the graduate program in urban and regional planning is expected to concentrate, under faculty guidance, on studies that provide an optimum learning experience in applying the various scientific principles, theories, techniques, and design skills of planning to specific field problems. The graduate student is immersed in significant planning studies and research. The graduate program is designed to provide professional competence. After graduation, the student should be capable of assuming responsibilities on an intermediate level of a professional planning operation. The master's program in Urban and Regional Planning has been accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be admitted to the master’s degree program, the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution; a cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0; a grade-point average below 3.0 may be supplemented with a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 1000 in verbal and quantitative, and an analytical writing score of 3.5. Students who are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must submit scores.

Requirements for the Master in Urban and Regional Planning Degree in Urban and Regional Planning

The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis).  The student must complete at least 43 credits and meet the requirements specified below:

Academic Standards

Academic standards for graduation require that each student maintain an average of 3.00, or better, in all course work, including study undertaken in collateral courses; however, the accumulation of grades below 3.0 in more than two courses of 3 or more credits each removes the student from the degree program.

Transfer Credits

A maximum of 13 transfer credits at the 400 or 800-level may be accepted toward the Master in Urban and Regional Planning degree.

Time Limit

The time limit for completing the degree is six years from the first semester of enrollment in the program.