Urban Planning is a great field for those interested in all things city planning. While Sociology and History are wonderful and enriching majors, academically, Urban Planning is much more of a career-focused major. So, if you’re destined to work in the field or something involving infrastructure or transit, check out the below programs for Urban Planning and Urban Design:
MIT
MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning offers a Bachelor of Science in Planning. It also offers a Bachelor of Science in Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science, in addition to a five-year SB-MCP Option, which allows students to graduate with a Master’s in City Planning after five years. There’s additionally a minor in Urban Studies and Planning, also well as crossover concentrations with the Hass School.
CORNELL
Cornell’s Architecture Art Planning program offers an undergraduate program in Urban and Regional Studies. Core courses include Neighborhood Change in the City: Quantitative Methods, as well as Community Engagement in the City: Qualitative Methods. There are also focus areas, including City Planning, Policy, and Design, Climate Change and Sustainable Cities, Urban Data Science and Technology in the City, and others.
UVA
UVA’s School of Architecture offers a Bachelor’s of Urban and Environmental Planning, in addition to a minor. The major focuses on Architectural History, Architecture, and Urban and Environmental Planning, in addition to the study of contemporary culture. Coursework includes Planning in Government, Neighborhood Planning Studio, Statistics, and a host of professional electives, among others.
USC
USC’s Price School of Public Policy offers a Bachelor’s of Science in Urban Studies and Planning. Course offerings include the Urban Context for Policy and Planning, Statics for Policy, Planning, and Development, Urban Informatics, Urban and Regional Economics, Designing Livable Communities,. Environmental Impact Assessment, Housing and Community Development, Social Innovation, and Land Use Regulation.
UC DAVIS
UC Davis’ Department of Environmental Science & Policy offers a City & Regional Planning major. Coursework includes Environmental Analysis, American National Government, Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis, Environmental Law, Public Lands Management, Transportation Policy, Great Cities, Housing and Social Policy, and Community Economic Development.
RUTGERS
Rutgers’ Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy offers a B.S. in Urban Planning and Design. The website says it focuses on “city design, community development, GIS and graphic communication, as well as planning practice.” Coursework includes Designing Healthy Cities, Graphic Communication for Planning, Urban Revitalization, Environmental Law and Policy, and more. There is also an additional joint BA/Master of City and Regional Planning program for students who wish to continue on at the graduate level.
U OF WASHINGTON
University of Washington’s College of Built Environments has a substantial offering in Urban Design and Planning. Undergrads can choose a Community, Environment and Planning major or a minor in Urban Design and Planning. Courses include Ethics of Planning, Advanced Methods, Urban Planning Studio, Urban Development, Econ courses, and more.
TEXAS A&M
Texas A&M offers a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning under its Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. Core requirements include Composition and Rhetoric, Intro to Landscape Architectural Practice, Principles of Economics, Business Calculus, Building Better Cities, Population and Society, and more.
U OF CHICAGO
University of Chicago’s Environmental and Urban Studies program is a partnership of professors in the areas of Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, English, Geographical Studies, Geophysical Sciences, Physics, Political Science, and Public Policy. Students can choose between three tracks: Environmental Economics and Policy, Socio-natural Systems and Frameworks, and Urban Environment.
If you know you want to pursue Urban Planning or Design in college, the past path forward is to really position yourself as an expert in that field throughout high school. Your extracurriculars and classes should align with your area of expertise. That way, your application will signal to the admissions committee that you’re both qualified for and excited about the program in particular, and therefore, you’re a great fit.
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