Mar 29, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2005-2006 
    
Undergraduate Record 2005-2006 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Urban and Environmental Planning


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Urban and Environmental Planning

The Program in Urban and Environmental Planning balances professional planning skills with a liberal education emphasizing interdisciplinary study. Students typically take courses in the social and natural sciences, the humanities, and in design fields that complement professional courses in planning practice and theory. Graduates either begin 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. Although planners frame long-range designs, anticipating futures 5 to 15 years away, they are also deeply involved in choosing among current projects. Private sector planners employed with land developers, utilities, banks, property management firms, industries, and other major corporations do similar work according to the particular concerns of each business. Many of these concerns are integrated with the department’s focus on sustainable community development.

Students may enter the program directly from high school, or they may transfer from another University school or other accredited universities or colleges. Usually, students transfer in their first or second year and complete the degree requirements without additional sessions. Although the first two years conform closely to the Arts and Sciences core curriculum, students who wish to transfer to the program should consult with the director of undergraduate studies. Students may apply for transfer for the spring or fall semesters. If other prerequisites have been met, it is possible for transfer students to complete the required planning courses in two years.

Urban and Environmental Planning


Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning

Students must have a minimum of 122 credits with at least a 2.000 average in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning degree. A minimum of C- is required of all PLAN/PLAC courses.

First Year


Fall Semester - Credits: 15-16


  • English Credits: 3 
    English requirement is proficiency at ENWR 110 level plus a second writing requirement as in Arts and Sciences.
  • Math/Science Credits: 3-4
    Environmental Science and Math are encouraged (some EVSC are classified as Social Science, however).
  • Social Science elective Credits: 3 
    Majors take six credits of Politics and 12 other credits of Social Science in addition to ECON 201 and 202.

Spring Semester - Credits: 15-16


  • English Credits: 3
  • Math/Science Credits: 3-4
    Environmental Science and Math are encouraged (some EVSC are classified as Social Science, however).
  • Social Science elective Credits: 3 
    Majors take six credits of Politics and 12 other credits of Social Science in addition to ECON 201 and 202.
  • Humanities Credits: 3
    One Non-Western Studies included.

Second Year


Fall Semester - Credits: 16-17


  • Math/Science Credits: 3-4
    Environmental Science and Math are encouraged (some EVSC are classified as Social Science, however).
  • Humanities elective Credits: 3
    One Non-Western Studies included.
  • Open elective Credits: 3

Spring Semester - Credits: 16-17


  • Math/Science Credits: 3-4
    Environmental Science and Math are encouraged (some EVSC are classified as Social Science, however).
  • Statistics Credits: 3
  • Open elective Credits: 3
    One Non-Western Studies included.

Third Year


Fall Semester - Credits: 15


  • Politics elective Credits: 3
    A Professional Elective can be taken in a professional school at the 300 level or above with advisors permission.
  • Electives Credits: 6
    One Non-Western Studies included.

Spring Semester - Credits: 15


  • Professional elective Credits: 3
    A Professional Elective can be taken in a professional school at the 300 level or above with advisors permission.
  • Politics elective Credits: 3
  • Electives Credits: 6
    One Non-Western Studies included.

Fourth Year


Fall Semester - Credits: 15


  • Professional electives Credits: 3
    A Professional Elective can be taken in a professional school at the 300 level or above with advisors permission.
  • Professional electives Credits: 3
    A Professional Elective can be taken in a professional school at the 300 level or above with advisors permission.
  • Social Science elective Credits: 3
    Majors take six credits of Politics and 12 other credits of Social Science in addition to ECON 201 and 202.
  • Open elective Credits:  
    One Non-Western Studies included.

Spring Semester - Credits: 15


  • Planning Application Course Credits: 3
    Planning applications courses are designated as PLAC. These courses emphasize field work, analysis, plan development, and document preparations. PLAC 401 is designed for planning undergraduates seeking a culminating workshop.
  • Social Science elective Credits: 3
    Majors take six credits of Politics and 12 other credits of Social Science in addition to ECON 201 and 202.
  • PLAN - PLAN elective or Fourth Year project Credits: 3
  • Open elective Credits:
    One Non-Western Studies included.

Course Descriptions


See the Major in Architecture for course descriptions.

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