Graduate Certificate in Urban Studies and Planning
Curriculum
This 15-unit, interdisciplinary graduate certificate in regional and urban planning may be completed as a graduate certificate only or taken as an option to complete the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.
Course List (5 courses, 15 units)
The five courses that comprise this graduate certificate are:
- URBS 610: Contemporary Urban Planning in the United States and California
- URBS 620: Seminar in Comprehensive Planning
- URBS 630: Sustainable Development and Environmental Impact Analysis
- URBS 640: Seminar in Planning for Communities and Local Economic Development
- URBS 690: Field Project in Urban Planning
Course Descriptions
| course | name | units | description |
|---|---|---|---|
| URBS 610 |
Contemporary Urban Planning in the United States and California |
3 |
Provides an overview of urban planning as practiced in the United States. The course assumes some familiarity with urban planning and builds on common issues and problems in the field, utilizing a topical approach. Critical issues such as transportation, housing, social and environmental justice, citizen participation, urban design, urban sprawl, sustainable development, and New Urbanism will be examined in detail. |
| URBS 620 |
Seminar in Comprehensive Planning |
3 |
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the general plan and zoning process in the United States and the State of California. Special emphasis will be on the plan elements dealing with land use, housing, circulation, open space, conservation, safety and noise. Zoning will be addressed in terms of the structure and content of zoning ordinances and the administration process. Other topics include administrative aspects of planning and negotiation skills for planners in implementing the comprehensive plan. Supporting field trips and discussions with planners and project managers are planned. |
| URBS 630 |
Sustainable Development and Environmental Impact Analysis |
3 |
This course deals with approaches to planning for sustainable development and requirements for environmental planning and policy associated with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This act and the regulatory guidelines can serve as a model for impact analysis in any global setting. A special emphasis will be placed on understanding the implications of sustainable development for typical projects that occur in urban settings and the techniques used to assess impacts. The class includes field trips and discussions with planners and project managers. |
| URBS 640 | Seminar in Planning for Communities and Local Economic Development |
3 |
The study of human behavior as it is affected by basic human needs and urban conditions. Special attention will be given to the manner in which: 1) local neighborhoods and communities are integrated into the planning process and how needs are articulated; and 2) local economic development can be affected by the planning process and integration of community participation. The class includes supporting field trips and discussions with planners and project managers. |
| URBS 690 |
Field Project in Urban Planning |
3 |
This course will serve as the capstone course for the certificate program. Field projects will be defined and approved prior to the student's completion of the four preceding courses. The course will focus on application of certificate course content to a specific urban-environmental planning problem at the local level in a local city. Students will be required to be in contact with the professor as the project evolves. |
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