Academic Programs Catalog

The undergraduate program in urban and regional planning provides students with a basic understanding of the history of urbanism, the theory and principles of urban design, and the relevant legal and administrative 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. 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 as a Junior

The number of students who can be admitted as juniors to the urban and regional planning major is limited. Applications are accepted and reviewed only during the spring semester of each year.

To be considered for admission as a junior, a student must have:

1. submitted a completed application form by the deadline specified by the school.
2. completed Urban Planning 201 with a minimum grade of 2.0, which is a prerequisite for the 300–400 level courses required for the bachelor’s degree.
3. completed the following prerequisites (13 credits) with a minimum grade of 2.0 in each course:
   
   

   CSE	101	Computing Concepts and Competencies					3
   EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics					3
   PLS	100	Introduction to American National Government					3
   STT	201	Statistical Methods					4
   The completion of Statistics and Probability 201 may also be used to satisfy the University mathematics requirement.

   
   

Admission decisions are determined by the faculty on the basis of the relative qualifications of applicants and the enrollment capacity in the program. Admission is competitive. Factors related to the program’s accreditation may also be considered in the selection process.

A student who has been admitted to the urban and regional planning major for a given semester, and decides not to enroll for that semester, would need to reapply for admission to the program. There is no guarantee of admission to the program.

All persons who are interested in applying for admission as juniors to the urban and regional planning major must request an application form and detailed information regarding admission requirements and procedures from the School of Planning, Design and Construction, Room 101 Human Ecology.

Students who are enrolled in colleges and universities other than Michigan State University should contact Michigan State University’s Office of Admissions and the School of Planning, Design and Construction regarding admission to the Bachelor of Science degree program in Urban and Regional Planning as transfer students.

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.
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 grade of 2.0 in each course (30 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				4
   b.	Cognate Areas (21 credits):  A critical component for completion of the major is the design of a professional cognate. Students must meet with the program advisor to identify a cognate that complements their core planning courses. All selected courses must be at or above the 300-level.