7: School of Architecture

General Information | Academic Information | Degrees Offered | Course Descriptions | Faculty

Architecture | Urban and Environmental Planning | Architectural History

Urban and Environmental Planning

The Program in Urban and Environmental Planning provides a balance between liberal education with an emphasis on interdisciplinary study and professional planning skills. Students typically take courses in the social and natural sciences, the humanities, and in design fields which complement professional courses in planning practice and theory. Graduates go to work in the public or private sectors, or go on to graduate professional studies.

The scope of the planner's work encompasses present and future urban and environmental concerns, including such diverse issues as environmental impact, quality of life, and the public and private costs of development. Planners work in the public and private sectors in urban and rural areas. Public sector planners work for all levels of government formulating plans to redevelop or rehabilitate downtowns and neighborhoods, develop land aesthetically and profitably, and regulate private development to protect public interests. Planners frame long-range plans anticipating futures 5 to 15 years away, but they are also deeply involved in choosing how to spend money on current projects. Private sector planners employed with land developers, utilities, banks, property management firms, industries, and other major corporations do these same kinds of work focused on the particular concerns of each business. Much of this is integrated with the department's focus on sustainable community development.

Students may enter the program directly from high school, or they may transfer from other schools in the University or other accredited universities or colleges. Normally, students transfer in their first or second year and complete the requirements for the degree without additional sessions. The first two years conform closely to the Arts and Sciences core curriculum requirements. However, it is advisable that students who wish to transfer to the program consult with the Chair of Urban and Environmental Planning. Students may apply for transfer for the spring or fall semester. If other prerequisites have been met, it is possible for transfer students to complete the required planning courses in two years.

Bachelor of City Planning[1]

First Year
First Semester
English[2]3
ARCH 101 [3]Architecture as a Covenant3
Math/Science[4]3-4
Social Science elective[5]3
PLAN 103Introduction to Community and Environmental Planning 3
Total15-16
Second Semester
English[2]3
AR H 101 History or Architecture or
ARCH 102[3] Fundamentals of Design3
Math/Science[4]3-4
Social Science elective[5]3
Humanities3
Total15-16
Second Year
First Semester
PLAN 201Planning Design or
ARCH 201Introduction to Architectural Design4
Math/Science3-4
ECON 201Microeconomics 3
Humanities elective3
PLAN 211Information Technology in Planning or
CS ___Computer course 3
Total16-17
Second Semester
PLAN 202Planning Design 4
Math/Science3-4
ECON 202Macroeconomics 3
Statistics3
Open elective3
Total16-17
Third Year
First Semester
PLAN 303Neighborhoods, Communities and Regions 3
PLAN 306Land, Law and the Environment 3
Social Science elective[5]3
Electives (non-Western studies included)6
Total15
Second Semester
PLAN 305Mapping a Community's Future 3
Professional elective3
Social Science elective[5]3
Electives[5]6
Total15
Fourth Year
First Semester
Professional elective3
Professional elective3
PLAC ___Planning Application course[6]3
Social Science elective[5]3
Open elective3
Total15
Second Semester
PLAN 404Planning in Government 3
PLAC 401Community Planning[6]3
Social Science elective3
PLAN 5xxPLAN 500 level course or
Fourth Year Project 3
Open elective3
Total15

[1]Students must have a minimum of 122 credits with at least a 2.0 average in order to graduate with a Bachelor of City Planning degree.
[2]English requirement is proficiency at ENWR 101 level plus a second writing requirement as in Arts and Sciences.
[3]Take two from among ARCH 101, ARCH 102, AR H 101.
[4]Environmental science and math encouraged.
[5]Majors take six credit GFAP and other credits of social science in addition to ECON 201, ECON 202.
[6]Planning applications courses are designated as PLAC. These courses emphasize fieldwork, analysis, plan development, document preparation and formal presentation. PLAC 401 is specifically designed to address the needs of planning undergraduates seeking a culminating workshop course.

Continue to: Architectural History
Return to: Chapter 7 Index