Planning is a systematic, creative way to influence the future of neighborhoods, cities, and rural areas. A planning degree is for students who want to serve communities facing social, economic, environmental, and cultural challenges by working with residents to:

• Enhance a sustainable quality of life;
• Protect the natural environment;
• Preserve historic buildings and landscapes;
• Promote social justice for disadvantaged groups; and
• Deal effectively with population growth or decline.

The Program in Urban and Environmental Planning balances the development of professional planning skills with a liberal arts education emphasizing interdisciplinary study. Our graduates work in the pubilc, private, and non-profit sectors.  They hold jobs as transportation planners for the government, sustainability directors for private firms, and staff for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Piedmont Environmental Council, among many others.

CURRICULAR FOCUS

The curriculum integrates professional courses, both theoretical and technical, with a liberal arts education focused on understanding our cities and environments. In particular the Program introduces students to the theories of planning, methods of analysis, effective means of communication, planning processes, and creative strategies for implementation. Some key areas of study include:

• Sustainable community development
• Environmental impacts
• Public and private costs of development
• Neighborhood planning and community development

CURRICULUM

Students typically take courses in the social and natural sciences, the humanities, and in design fields that complement professional courses in planning practice and theory. Graduates either begin work in the public or private sectors or go on to graduate professional studies in a number of fields including Business, Law, and Public Administration.

The scope of the planner’s work encompasses present and future urban and environmental concerns, including such diverse issues as environmental impact, quality of life, and the public and private costs of development. Public sector planners work for all levels of government, formulating plans to redevelop or rehabilitate downtowns and neighborhoods, develop land aesthetically and profitably, and regulate private development to protect public interests. Although planners frame long-range designs, anticipating futures five to fifteen years away, they are also deeply involved in choosing among current projects. Private sector planners employed with land developers, utilities, banks, property management firms, industries, and other major corporations do similar work according to the particular concerns of each business. Many of these concerns are integrated with the department’s focus on sustainable community development.

Students must have a minimum of 122 credits, or 40 courses, with at least a 2.0 average in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Urban & Environmental Planning degree. Required planning courses make up 8 of these, with an additional 4 courses in professional electives and one planning application course elective. These core planning courses are supported by general skill and knowledge courses taken outside of the Department including statistics, economics, and other social sciences. The remainder of the courses are liberal arts courses, some of which are social or natural sciences and others of which are open electives. Electives provide frequent opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange with students in other programs and with graduate students in planning.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

See the 2012-13 Undergraduate Record.

DECLARING THE MAJOR

Students wishing to major in Urban & Environmental Planning must be admitted to the School of Architecture and then declare Planning as the major.  

If you are in the School of Architecture:

a. Seek an interview with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Daphne Spain,  to review your options.  (spain@virginia.edu)

b. Obtain an interdepartmental transfer form from the School’s Admissions Office, Room 201,  for submission by December 1 for Spring Semester and April 1 for Fall Semester admissions. 

If you are in the College of Arts and Science or other Undergraduate School:

a.  Seek an interview with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Daphne Spain,  to review your options. (spain@virginia.edu)

b.   Take a course or two in Planning and the School of Architecture:

PLAN 1010   Introduction to Urban + Environmental Planning (Fall) is a good first course.

ARCH 1010  Lessons of the Lawn  is a broad introduction to architecture and the design fields.

ARCH 1020  Lessons in Making  develops student’s visual and graphic sensibilities and skills

ARH   1010  History of Architecture    surveys the history of architecture.  ARH 1000 is also an option.

c.  Meet the general requirements for transfer admission to the School of Architecture:

Those wishing to transfer should have at least a "C" average (3.00 average preferred to compete with transfer students from outside the University) and should meet the standards of all entering students:  Most are from the top two-fifths of their secondary school classes.   Transfer should occur within the first two years, preferably after the first year of study at the University.

d.  Make a formal application for transfer to the School of Architecture:

Application for transfer to the Urban & Environmental Planning Department may be made for either Fall or Spring semesters.  Application must be made by December 1 for Spring Semester and April 1 for Fall Semester.

After the interview, to apply for transfer you must submit to the Director of Admissions, Erica Spangler, a letter of intent to transfer which includes:

-A concise one- page statement giving your reasons for wishing to transfer.

-Your SAT scores.

-Courses you are taking during the current semester.

-An Academic Advising Transcript from SIS.

e.  Receive the admissions committee's decision: 

Once your application is completed, it will be forwarded to the admissions committee
and will be acted upon by December 15 for Spring Semester transfer and by May 15 for Fall Semester Transfer.

FOURTH YEAR PROJECT

The Fourth Year Project is an optional three credit course taken in the Spring semester of the fourth year. You may choose to explore a project of your own definition. The objectives of a Fourth Year Project are to: provide the student the opportunity to explore in depth a subject or topic related to the planning major; demonstrate the ability to undertake a major academic and professionally focused work of substantial creative or scholarly quality; and receive close and thorough mentoring and evaluation from a full-time faculty member.

CONTINUING FOR A MASTER OF PLANNING

Some Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning students may consider pursuing the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree, which may be accomplished in fewer than four graduate semesters, the standard completion time for the Masters. The core curricula of the undergraduate and graduate programs are similar in focus and subjects. Interested students should discuss this option with their advisor or another Planning Faculty member. Students must have a GPA of 3.5 in planning classes to qualify for this program.