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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.)

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.

Varies annually to meet the needs of graduate students.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.