• PLAN 2020

    Planning Design
     Rating

    3.44

     Difficulty

    3.33

     GPA

    3.71

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Studies the principles of design; the architecture of cities and urban design; perception of space and visual analysis; graphic presentation, including mapping techniques; and inventories, information storage, retrieval and use. Prerequisite PLAN 2110

  • PLAN 2111

    GIS for Planners
     Rating

    5.00

     Difficulty

    3.00

     GPA

    3.70

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course will provide an introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) concepts and software. It is intended for undergraduate planning students but open to other undergraduates. The course introduces the concepts of GIS as well as practical training on ESRI's ArcGIS suite. Students successfully completing the course will have general familiarity with the major functionality of ArcGIS

  • PLAN 3030

    Neighborhoods, Community and Regions
     Rating

    3.26

     Difficulty

    2.44

     GPA

    3.64

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Explores theories and concepts of economic, social, and cultural forces that influence urban and regional spatial structure.

  • PLAN 3050

    Planning Methods
     Rating

    4.07

     Difficulty

    2.60

     GPA

    3.56

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Analyzes methods used in quantitative and qualitative investigations of urban and regional settings for planning purposes.

  • PLAN 3810

    Climate Justice in Cities
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.79

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course introduces design & systems thinking techniques to address the interrelated crises of climate change & social inequity in U.S. cities. It asks how such transformational change might work - examining the socio-technical context,challenges, & opportunities that animate systems change in the built world. Students will learn through readings,discussions,lectures, & workshops to develop interdisciplinary creative problem-solving skills

  • PLAN 4800

    Professional Practice
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Structured internship experience and reporting as a reflective practitioner for ten weeks or 200 hours of experience.

  • PLAN 4902

    Distinguished Major Thesis 2
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This is the second semester of a two semester sequence for the purpose of the completion of a Distinguished Major Thesis. A faculty member guides the student through all phases of the process which culminates in an open presentation of the thesis to an audience including a faculty evaluation committee. Prerequisite: PLAN 4901

  • PLAN 4993

    Independent Study
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.78

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Elective courses offered at the request of faculty or students to provide an opportunity for internships, fieldwork, and independent study.

  • PLAN 5200

    Real Estate Develop Process I
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.83

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Foundational course for SARC real estate offerings. Covers fundamentals from basic real estate relationships, land acquisition decisions, "the cash cycle", legal aspects, public processes including entitlements, risk management, ethics, and preliminary feasibility analysis. The emphasis is on the creation of value in real estate (viewed holistically as financial profit informed by equity, sustainability, and design.)

  • PLAN 5230

    Design Dimensions of Real Estate
     Rating

    2.33

     Difficulty

    1.00

     GPA

    3.84

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Course examines the role good design and planning plays in adding value to real estate. Using a comparative case approach, the course will help students develop an understanding of how developer decision-making in regards to specific projects and their final built form is influenced by locational considerations, financial constraints, broader market dynamics, public perceptions of the project, and the legal framework.

  • PLAN 5300

    Preservation Planning
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.81

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Studies current literature on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of historic places. Develops techniques for surveying, documenting, evaluating, and planning for preservation. Analyzes current political, economic, and legal issues in preservation planning.

  • PLAN 5400

    Housing and Community Development
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.69

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Provides an introduction to the housing and community development area of planning practice. Topics include the housing and development industries, neighborhood change processes, social aspects of housing and development, and housing and development programs and policy issues.

  • PLAN 5500

    Special Topics in Planning
     Rating

    4.67

     Difficulty

    3.00

     GPA

    3.86

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Varies annually to meet the needs of graduate students.

  • PLAN 5580

    Short Courses in Planning
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    A series of one-credit short courses, whose topics vary from semester to semester.

  • PLAN 5710

    Transportation and Environment
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.82

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Course examines the impacts of transportation systems on the environment from roadside air quality to global climate change, exploring sustainable transportation policy, multimodal transportation, environmental justice, resilience,and community-based solutions.Building on course readings and discussion, PhD students will propose and develop a research paper on a topic of their choosing within the overall theme of transportation and the environment.

  • PLAN 5993

    Applied Independent Study
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.90

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Individual study directed by a faculty member. Prerequisite: Planning faculty approval of topic.

  • PLAN 6020

    Methods of Community Research and Engagement
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.91

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Explores methods beyond the conventional town-hall meeting to gather insights from communities on planning issues. Topics will include more traditional methods of qualitative research such as focus groups, interviews, charrettes, participatory action research, and scenario planning, as well as strategies like asset mapping, visual preference surveys, games, art-based visioning, participatory budgeting.

  • PLAN 6040

    Quantitative Methods of Planning Analysis
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.71

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Applies quantitative skills to the planning process: analyzes decision situations and develops precise languages communicating the quantitative dimensions of planning problems. Includes lectures, case studies, and applied assignments addressing statistical methods, survey methods, census data analysis, program and plan evaluation, and emerging methods used by planners.

  • PLAN 6050

    Land Use and Environmental Law
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.48

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course introduces the legal framework & major legal issues arising in land use & environmental planning. We focus on notable US Supreme Court decisions related to tools such as zoning, the comprehensive plan, & eminent domain, as well as controversies & cases surrounding federal environmental laws such as NEPA, the Clean Water & Air Acts, & the Endangered Species Act. Graduate course will have additional course requirements.

  • PLAN 7993

    Independent Study
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Independent research on topics selected by individual students in consultation with a faculty advisor.

  • PLAN 8999

    Master's Thesis
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    A thesis is optional for the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree. Students should begin early to explore topics and to identify potential committee members. A guideline document is available.