Master of Urban & Environmental Planning Concentrations

Housing and Community Development

This concentration focuses on established communities, land reuse and redevelopment, and community and economic development. Housing is a key element in each. The PC encompasses physical, economic, and social aspects of development. Opportunities are provided to explore land development and public/private development partnerships, and/or to concentrate on urban design and preservation planning. Courses in community organization, mediation, and participatory aspects of communities are included in this PC.

The foundation course for this concentration is PLAN 540.

Environmental Management and Conservation

Planners who specialize in the environment perform functions such as assessing the impacts of land development on the biophysical environment and recommending policies to conserve the natural resources of air, water, land, energy, and minerals. Specialists in this PC also develop plans for addressing the issues of sensitive settings, such as coastal, mountain, wetland, heritage, and special habitat areas. Environmental planning embraces many types of sites, ranging from urban environments to wilderness areas to agricultural ecosystems.

The foundation course for this concentration is PLAN 553: Environmental Policy and Planning.

Land Use and Growth Management

As communities change or grow, decisions are made about the uses of land, about qualities desired in the physical environment, and about the location of development and the protection of open areas. Questions of public facilities and financial resources arise alongside issues of timing and adequacy. A wide range of tools now exists in land use and growth management planning. These include plans, regulations, tax and finance policies, as well as public service programs. Local land use and growth management activities are frequently linked with regional and state level concerns.

The foundation course for this concentration is PLAN 560.

Historic Preservation Planning

Planners with a special interest in historic preservation work in numerous settings. They may be on the staff of a local planning agency, work closely with an historic architectural review board, develop the historic element for a comprehensive plan, prepare nominations for building or districts, or prepare strategies to take advantage of historic assets for economic development purposes. Preservation planners work for state offices of historic preservation, non-profit preservation advocacy groups, and private consultants. Students may earn a 24-credit Certificate in Historic Preservation and choose their courses accordingly, or they may select a more flexible course of study to complete this planning concentration.

The foundation course for this concentration is PLAN 530: Preservation Planning. The year-long community history sequence offered through the Department of Architectural History can also provide an appropriate starting point for this concentration.

Public Policy and Planning

This concentration educates planners to serve as general program policy planners in planning agencies or as advisors to elected officials. Planning policies must reflect an understanding of the political and economic contexts in which they occur. Knowledge of substantive areas and analytical skills are both required for successful policy decisions. The breadth of policy planning demands familiarity with other courses and programs in the University, and students are encouraged to pursue interdisciplinary opportunities.

The foundation course for this concentration is PLAN 607: Urban Theory & Public Policy.