Graduate Course Catalog, Department of Urban Planning

PLAN 500 - Planning Diagnostic Exam.

The diagnostic exam, administered to incoming students, evaluates professional objectives, perception of the planning profession, and knowledge of several key topical areas with the intention of both the student and student's faculty advisor using the results when selecting a course of study. Offered credit/no-credit only.

PLAN 504 - Urban Design.

An exploration of the physical form of the public realm and how it has been shaped by social, economic, political, and cultural forces. Special attention will be paid to issues of identity, sense of place, placemaking, and sense of belonging.

PLAN 506 - Environmental Design Studio.

An interdisciplinary approach to the resolution of problems in environmental design. Appropriate projects to be determined in consultation between the students and faculty.

PLAN 507 - Computer Techniques for Design and Planning.

Introduces a variety of software and applications techniques in remote sensing, mapping, perspective drawing, and database graphics for architecture, landscape architecture, and planning.

PLAN 512 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems for Urban Planning.

Designed to introduce principles of GIS and GIS applications in an urban environment. Topics include GIS components, modeling methodology, and management of environments. Implications to urban and environmental policy development.

PLAN 513 - Advanced Concepts in Geographic Information Systems for Urban Planning.

Advanced topics in modeling and analysis of urban and regional environments. Techniques for database organization, database development, and analytical processes (algorithm development). Prerequisite: PLAN 512.

PLAN 521 - Urban Land-Use Planning.

Planning the uses of land in urban areas. Land-use determinants, standards at the community level, information systems, preparation of land-use plans, and development of land-use control policies at the urban and county levels.

PLAN 530 - Housing and Community Development.

Public programs and private activities relating to the provision of affordable housing for all income levels. Topics include housing supply and demand, housing finance, the role of government subsidies, and and coordinated policy for community development.

PLAN 531 - Urban Transportation Planning.

Transportation planning methods and policy, including analysis of travel demand, links between land use and transportation, choice of transportation modes, and design of balanced transportation systems.

PLAN 533 - Urban Environmental Planning.

Introduction to urban planning considerations for control and reduction of air, water, and land degradation, including waste management, noise pollution, and other side effects of urban development.

PLAN 534 - Regional Development Planning.

Seminar in techniques of regional planning analysis and policy formulation. Methods of integration of economic, ecological, and social objectives in regional development.

PLAN 535 - Energy Planning.

Energy resource issues in urban planning. Strategies for incorporating energy efficiency into housing, land use, transportation, social services, and community development. Analysis of energy policy, with emphasis on innovative public and private sector initiatives at the community level.

PLAN 538 - Regional Land-Use Planning.

Planning the uses of land at the regional, area, and state levels; interface between social, environmental, and land-use plans at the regional level; and land-use policies for critical-area management including the coastal zone.

PLAN 539 - Public Facilities Planning.

An introduction to the planning of public facilities systems including street and highway systems, water systems, wastewater, and solid waste management.

PLAN 540 - Building Performance.

A scientific approach to understanding how energy and moisture move in buildings, and how buildings fail with respect to health and safety, durability, comfort and affordability. While the focus is on housing, the fundamentals are applicable to all buildings.

PLAN 541 - Sustainable Housing.

Methods for bringing sustainable design and construction practices into the housing industry, with an emphasis on increasing durability, comfort and energy efficiency while reducing costs. Use of computer software for economic analysis of design improvements, ensuring code compliance, and determining HERS and Energy Star ratings. Prerequisite recommended: PLAN 540.

PLAN 550 - Neighborhood Planning.

Planning strategies for the revitalization of older residential neighborhoods and neighborhood commercial areas. Includes community organization and the role of public and private neighborhood organizations.

PLAN 553 - Planning Practice Workshop.

An eclectic practice course intended to sharpen the planning student's skills in report preparation, oral and visual presentation of complex issues, preparation of grant applications, and agency budgeting procedures.

PLAN 554 - Community Development Policy Planning.

Strategies of community development to achieve policy goals and objectives. Emphasizes interorganizational coordination of public and private interests in revitalizing urban communities.

PLAN 555 - Women and Urban Environments.

Examines the linkages between women and urban environments by focusing on the role played by the urban environment in facilitating or hindering women's access to economic, social, and political opportunities. Domestic and international examples are used to illustrate concepts.

PLAN 558 - Introduction to Multiculturalism as a Planning Context.

Anthropological analysis of culturalism for planning within a cross- and multi-cultural context. Subordination/exclusions based on age, gender, sexual preference, bureaucratic/economic status, religion, and race are historically reviewed through socio-cultural forces: fear of the other, immigration, unresolved post-colonialism, resurgence of indigenous peoples/ displaced cultures, and emergence of modern metropolitan society.

PLAN 559 - International Planning.

An exploration of the nature of the urban and regional planning process in other countries. Topics include development policies, planning strategies, institutional structures, implementation strategies, and accomplishments. Attention will also be paid to the usefulness of these experiences to American cities.

PLAN 560 - Alternative and Sustainable Community Planning.

Seminar examining nontraditional approaches to community planning and design. Focuses on concepts associated with the design of sustainable communities. Historical precedent, case study, and utopian alternatives are synthesized to project alternative futures for present community planning and design issues.

PLAN 577 - History of Urban Form.

An examination of the historical transformation of the urban form and its elements. Focuses on the physical organization of the city in relation to social, economic, political, and cultural forces that have shaped it. Special attention will also be paid to non-Western urban forms and histories.

PLAN 580 - Policy Impact Analysis and Techniques of Project Control.

Program scheduling techniques of PERT (Program Evaluation Review Techniques) and CPM (Critical Path Method). Decision-diagramming aids in the rational choice and sequencing of actions toward public objectives.

PLAN 581 - Public Participation:Issues,Meth's, & Techq's for Knowing the Pub Interest.

Issues and qualitative methods/techniques useful to the planner's paramount responsibility: understanding/integrating local knowledge and values into the public decision-making process. Issues and theories of public participation. Methods and skill techniques of being informed by the public, of informing the public, and of advancing planner/constituency collaboration.

PLAN 582 - Grant Procurement and Administration for Planners.

Techniques of proposal writing, including RFP and RFQ responses, and grant procurement, including intergovernmental, foundation and corporate giving, contract negotiation and administration, and lobbying strategies.

PLAN 583 - Site Analysis and Planning.

Range of practical approaches in evaluating and planning sites within the contexts of natural, economic and cultural systems. Site inventory, analysis, and planning. Introduction of computerized platforms, integrating digital and physical representations to enhance planning and communication with the public. Required core course in the physical planning area of concentrated study (ACS).

PLAN 584 - Visual Modeling.

Graphic design representation and presentation techniques. Introduction to "data mining" and computer-based applications in remote sensing, mapping, perspective drawing, and database graphics. Visual urban simulation using advanced digital applications, such as GIS. Introduction to terrain engines, VRML, and other rendering environments for the display of urban planning alternatives.

PLAN 585 - Introduction to Community Development and Enterprise Planning.

Historical/comparative review of the real estate/community development practices, and emergence of enterprise planning. Development process attendant to each of the three economic sectors and to contrasting venues of economically/politically impacted areas ranging from inner cities to rural towns seeking revival. Methods of formulating action plans.

PLAN 586 - Methods of Public Interest Development.

From an enterprise planning perspective, the rationale and methods of development. Finance: proforma, break-even cash flow, equity investment, lender underwriting, and gap financing analyses; public-private partnerships incorporating range of development inducements. Strategies for creating markets given disinvestment pattern. Managing community development organization and projects through development process.

PLAN 590 - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of a written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590A - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590B - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590C - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590E - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590F - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590G - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590H - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590I - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 590J - Independent Study in Planning.

Relevant research or a project under the direction of the planning faculty. Prerequisite: approval of written project or research proposal. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598 - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598A - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction.

PLAN 598B - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction.

PLAN 598C - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598E - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction.

PLAN 598F - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598G - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598H - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598I - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598J - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598K - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598M - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598N - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 598O - Special Projects in Urban and Regional Planning.

Special projects in urban and regional planning undertaken by groups of students under faculty direction. A total of 9 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 601 - Planning Theory.

Introduction to the theory of urban and regional planning. Planning as a method of decision making and strategic choice, including setting goals, exploring alternatives, and implementing solutions. Evolution of planning theories in twentieth-century urban planning.

PLAN 604 - Advanced Planning Issues, Theory, and Practice.

Advanced seminar to explore the application of planning theory to planning practice and management. Issues of planning ethics, roles, styles, and strategies, including citizen participation, for effective plan making and implementation. Accelerated track.

PLAN 605 - Design and Presentation Techniques.

Introduction to graphic techniques and design processes. Lecture and studio exercises on problem solving and public presentation of findings. For planning and preservation students without undergraduate training in design. A total of 3 hours of credit may be earned.

PLAN 610 - Planning Analysis Studio.

Analysis and design principles at regional, urban, and local scale, including environmental suitability, land-use location criteria, and site planning criteria for greenfield or redevelopment sites. Students defend proposals based on analytical and design criteria. A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned, but no more than 3 in any one semester or term.

PLAN 611 - Comprehensive Planning Studio.

Application of substantive skills in a comprehensive planning exercise for an urban area, involving field work and a real location. Emphasizes the process by which comprehensive planning decisions are reached. A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned, but no more than 3 in any one semester or term.

PLAN 612 - Community Development Studio.

Community development scale planning, such as neighborhood revitalization, housing, or industrial renewal, with a real-world setting and sometimes a real-world client. A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned, but no more than 3 in any one semester or term.

PLAN 615 - Introduction to Quantitative Analysis.

Developing the analysis and problem solving skills useful for practicing planners; the use of spreadsheets for problem solving, data analysis and presentation graphics; policy evaluation techniques of benefit/cost and cost/effectiveness analysis as the basis for understanding analytic planning thought. Parallel: PLAN 616, 617.

PLAN 616 - Demographic/Socio-Economic Forecasting Methods.

Demographic, economic, and socio-economic projection techniques; use of cohort survival, regression, and other techniques in the analysis of trends for the purpose of forecasting the components and location of population, housing, jobs, income, consumption, investment, etc. Parallel: PLAN 615, 617.

PLAN 617 - Introduction to Planning Research Methods.

Descriptive and introductory inferential statistical techniques, as per measures of central tendency and dispersion; calculation of need gaps; data tabulation and graphic presentation; sampling and survey research methods; hypothesis testing through analysis of variance, chi-square and other significance testing of sampling data. Parallel: PLAN 615, 616.

PLAN 618 - Advanced Planning Research Methods.

Advanced inferential statistics; correlation and regression analysis progressing from linear and bivariate to quadratic and multivariate models; introductory Boolean algebra. Data reduction techniques of factor analysis and Q-methodology. Classification techniques of cluster analysis. Prerequisite: PLAN 615, 617 or competency by examination. Parallel: PLAN 619.

PLAN 619 - Quantitative Models of Location Theory and Spatial Analysis.

Quantitative modeling of urban spatial analysis (analysis and forecasting of uses and forms); land use and transportation forecasting; public facility, basic sector, residential distribution and retail/local service sector modeling; and trip generation and distribution modeling. Parallel: PLAN 618.

PLAN 620 - Human Impact Analysis.

Fiscal, macroeconomic, social, and political impact analyses of development decisions and distributive consequences through incidence analysis. Consequences: public budgets, household income/consumption/investment, jobs, and community health/welfare. Shifting electoral consequences of new/displaced residential populations on political agendas of decision- makers. Urban indicators as measures of community well-being and distress. Parallel: PLAN 621.

PLAN 621 - Environmental Impact Analysis.

Techniques for assessing environmental impacts, including environmental inventory, rapid assessment, environmental impact analysis, land suitability analysis, risk assessment, build-out analysis, modeling for environmental sustainability, and the review of environmental regulations at all levels of government. Parallel: PLAN 620.

PLAN 625 - Planning Law.

Historical/jurisprudential analysis of planning/land-use law within public agencies and the private sector of development. Zoning, subdivision, and other land use regulations. A study of the legislative, regulatory, and administrative law adjudicatory process within the context of planning and land use as well as comparisons of selective states and localities' processes.

PLAN 626 - Human Settlements.

Analytical and comparative history of urban form by way of its human, economic, and cultural influences. Elementary and essential principles of urban design.

PLAN 627 - Ecology of Planning.

Overview of principles of ecology essential to sustainable growth, habitat for human and nonhuman life, and the qualitative assessment of development impacts. Fundamental principles of environmental analysis and management in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of plans.

PLAN 628 - Economics of Planning.

Neoclassical microeconomics applicable to analysis/evaluation of private/ public development and urban form. Theories of marginal analysis, present value, and applied optimization explain urban/environmental/international economics; public choice; location theory; and development economics. Macroeconomic general equilibrium paradigm explains suboptimal resource allocations, or market failures, leading to variety of market interventions.

PLAN 629 - Planning Analysis Studio.

Analysis and design principles at regional, urban, and local scale, including environmental suitability, land-use locational criteria, and site planning criteria for greenfield or redevelopment sites. Students defend proposals based on analytical and design techniques. Six contact hours.

PLAN 630 - Comprehensive Planning Studio.

Application of substantive skills and knowledge in a comprehensive planning exercise for an urban area, involving fieldwork and a real location. Emphasizes the process by which comprehensive planning decisions are reached. Six contact hours. Prerequisite: PLAN 521.

PLAN 631 - Studio in Physical Planning.

Application of substantive skills and knowledge in physical planning through the creation of a site plan utilizing fieldwork and a real location. Emphasizes the processes of site planning and analysis. Six contact hours. Prerequisite: PLAN 583.

PLAN 632 - Studio in Community Development and Enterprise Planning.

Application of substantive skills and knowledge in an enterprise planning exercise for an urban area, involving fieldwork and a real location. Emphasizes the processes of action plans, land development/redevelopment and community development. Six contact hours. Prerequisite: PLAN 585 or 586.

PLAN 636 - Theory of Urban Spatial Planning.

Seminar in theories of location and development of principal urban activities including transportation, housing, industry, commercial centers, and public facilities. Implications for urban planning policies.

PLAN 652 - Legal Aspects of Planning Practice.

Introduction for nonlawyers to the legal principles and practices related to planning in public agencies. Includes zoning, subdivision, and other land-use regulations as well as consideration of private property rights versus community objectives.

PLAN 661 - Planning Issues, Theory, and Practice.

Capstone seminar to explore application of theory to planning practice and management. Issues of planning ethics, citizen participation, styles of planning, and strategies for effective implementation of planning. Prerequisite: PLAN 691 or 692 or permission of the department chairperson.

PLAN 690 - Planning Portfolio Review.

During the second semester of study and upon selection of ACS each student assembles a professional resume, examples of work, strategic plans for both career and internship, and an outline of a capstone project for review before a panel of faculty and for the purpose of self-assessment and faculty critique and guidance.

PLAN 691 - Planning Paid Internship.

Paid professional work experience of at least 200 hours in approved planning or development organization; employer supervision/evaluation. Four seminars and coordinated with the faculty review of study portfolios. For accelerated track students completing all other degree requirements during one year, a paper substitutes for the second-year fall semester seminar. Prerequisite: PLAN 690 and completion of half the required credit hours (24 for standard track; 18 for accelerated track) or permission of the department chairperson.

PLAN 692 - Planning Internship.

Unpaid professional work experience of at least 200 hours in an approved planning or development organization; employer supervision/evaluation. Four seminars and coordinated with the faculty review of student portfolios. For accelerated track students completing all other degree requirements during one year, a paper substitutes for the second- year fall semester seminar. Prerequisite: PLAN 690 and completion of half the credit hours (24 for standard track; 18 for accelerated track) or permission of the department chairperson.

PLAN 693 - Customized Area of Study in Urban Planning.

Student-customized area of concentrated study (ACS) under the approval and supervision of the faculty. The area may include independent study (PLAN 590 Independent Study in Planning), several courses within the department, and the completion of courses of study in disciplines other than urban planning. (Includes study courses in one of the program's three areas of concentrated study, completing the required 12 credit hours of study in the selected, customized ACS).

PLAN 695 - Planning Capstone Research Methods.

Problem identification, selection of topical area of interest, formulation of specific research/professional report topic and outline, and development of an annotated syllabus.

PLAN 696 - Planning Capstone Research Methods 2.

Selection and application of research methods to topic; collection and preliminary analysis of data. Prerequisite: PLAN 695.

PLAN 697 - Planning Capstone Research Methods 3.

Rigorous analysis of data and formulation of the paper/report, demonstrating topic definition, research methods, preliminary conclusions, and implications of the same. Prerequisite: PLAN 696.

PLAN 699 - Planning Comprehensive Examination.

Passing grade required for graduation. The exit examination evaluates three areas: (1) student competencies across a knowledge range most significant to, and integrative of, planning; (2) student progress consequent to the MURP course of study and relative to PLAN 500; and (3) the learning effectiveness of the MURP program. Prerequisite: all other degree requirements.