Introduction | Master of Community Planning | Admission | Curriculum | Graduate Assistantships | Professional Fees | Laptop Requirements | Study Abroad | Dual Degrees | Graduate Minors | Comprehensive Examination | Advisory Council | Student Organizations | Program Faculty

This course explores the city as the predominant form of human settlement patterns, and engages both the universal experience of making cities and the local culture of dwelling within them. It examines not just the history of 'formal' urban design, however, but the archive of human endeavors undertaken to endow urban form with order and meaning. It also investigates the intimate relationship between physical form and cultural context, and the manner in which the shaping of cities has both expressed and influenced human values and behavior throughout our history. In so doing, the course exposes the student to many examples of notable urban form and city design; particular case studies will draw extra attention as they represent a unique synthesis of historic circumstance and cultural aspiration.

Examines the basic principles and processes of community planning, and introduces areas of specialization with the professional practice of planning.

Examines the historical development and contemporary functioning of cities from an economic perspective, with focus on land use and transportation.

Techniques and methodologies in urban design problem solving, and strategies for implementation.

The conservation of our physical environment provides us with not just a visual glimpse of history, but a meaningful sense of time and place within our communities; it is also, simply put, a wise use of resources. These conditions make it essential that appropriate planning be undertaken for both the sustained use of cultural resources and the careful integration of them into the evolving urban fabric. Thus, this course addresses: 1) the planning and development process as it applies to conservation of the built environment, 2) the practice of historic preservation and its relationship to planning for the future of a community, and 3) the legal basis for preparation and implementation of preservation plans and ordinances at the local level. The course is typically organized as a series of lectures detailing selected topic areas, supplemented with guest lectures and possible visits to local examples of preservation planning work. 

Traditional and emerging methods and policy for environmental planning.

Conceptual issues in urban design are explored, with an emphasis on the interpretation and representation of the built environment and urban form.  Exercises and projects provide experience in both the making and the critical understanding of design and planning actions within the community.

This course is designed to facilitate a working knowledge of some of the most commonly used quantitative analysis techniques in the planning process. As such, you are being armed to be practicing planners. The different sections of the course focus on: (1) regional economic and demographic analysis; (2) basic statistics; and (3) survey research methods. Effective planners are able to analyze policy alternatives and assist decision makers in selecting which alternatives are in the best interest of the region/community. As such, this course will focus on helping students develop the skills needed to economic and demographic projections/analysis, basic data gathering and interpretation, present results of quantitative analysis to non-technical constituents, and improve writing skills. Thus, the objective of this course is to prepare students to be able to successfully carry out technical portions of the planning process.

This course covers the legal and ethical frameworks that underlie professional planning practice. Community planning actions and decisions can impact the social and economic welfare of people, neighborhoods, cities, and regions in nontrivial ways. Ethics play an important role in guiding the planner; telling us what we should do. Law provides the rules within which the practice of community planning takes place; telling us what we can do.

This course explores the historical and theoretical frameworks that have informed the development and practice of modern American planning. The discussion of social, economic, political transformations, events, and significant persons are organized into five time periods: (1) Industrial Revolution; (2) Great Depression / The New Deal; (3) Pre/Post World War II; (4) 1960s; and, (5) 1970s,80s,90s,00s. Planning theories such as rational and strategic planning will be discussed, as well as issues in planning theory, such as sustainability, race, equity, and ethics. The course looks at theory as a guide to help planners get from knowledge to action.

This course provides an opportunity for the exceptional student interested in pursuing further academic study in planning to demonstrate their competency in community planning by undertaking original research that expands the knowledge base of the planning field. The student will work directly with their synthesis committee, and must be able to make satisfactory progress with limited guidance. Department approval required.

This course is designed to provide academic credit and structure for professional internship experience in a public, private, or non-profit planning, or planning-related agency. Students are required to find and/or arrange an internship on their own, and to complete a reflective and critical essay regarding their experience as a planning practitioner.