The curriculum consists of a mix of general and specialized professional planning lecture or seminar courses, five studio courses, and a capstone project. Studios give students an opportunity to try out techniques of urban planning in a creative team setting. Students deal with real planning problems, often working on projects for real clients. While the program maintains the studio-based emphasis on physical planning and design, it allows a student to pursue other specialties.

The BUP program enjoys a singular advantage over all other planning programs: as the only urban planning program in the country that requires Professional Practice experience, as cooperative education (co-op) is officially known. During the second year, a student will begin a year-round schedule, alternating academic study and co-op work experience every semester, for a total of five semesters of co-op. Co-op offers the opportunity to combine salaried practical experience with a gradually expanding academic background. Working for a variety of employers enables a student to explore career interests and make intelligent decisions about post-graduate positions. Overall, the co-op experience increases a graduate’s ability to handle responsible positions as well as his or her hiring potential.

To view the Urban Planning curriculum, please go here. (If PDF does not open in browser, check your Downloads folder.)

The program is studio-based and graduates earn a Bachelor of Urban Planning degree, which qualifies them to apply for the American Institute of Certified Planners Board (AICP) examination.

Note: For students currently enrolled under the quarters-based system, click here for current curriculum information