Undergraduate Major & Minor
Urban Planning and Design
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B.S. in Urban Planning and Design
Urban design is the process by which cities, towns, and villages are shaped, with the goal of making urban areas functional, attractive, and sustainable. It unites all the built environment professions, including urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture, civil and municipal engineering, and focuses on the design, quality, character, and appearance of places. Urban planning is the process concerned with the use of land and design of the urban environment, including air, water, and infrastructure networks. It guides and ensures the orderly development of communities, and concerns itself with research and analysis, strategic thinking, policy recommendations, implementation, and management.
The major in Urban Planning and Design (971, 971D) combines these two processes to provide students with a sharper focus on city design, community development, GIS and graphic communication, as well as planning practice.
Learning Goals
The Bloustein School’s undergraduate major in Urban Planning and Design leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum prepares students for graduate education in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, public policy, and public administration, as well as entry level employment in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
The following learning goals outcomes embody our program-wide objectives, as reflected in our required core coursework. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Urban Planning and Design, our students will have:
- Developed and demonstrated competency of the theoretical framework underlying the disciplines of planning and public policy;
- Developed and demonstrated skills in social science qualitative and quantitative methods in the context of urban planning and design;
- Demonstrated the ability to perform site analysis, information synthesis, critical thinking, and visual and written communication in the context of urban planning and design; and,
- Developed and demonstrated leadership and teamwork in design and problem solving through the participation in studios, internships, and portfolio development.
Urban Planning & Design Curriculum
971 curriculum sheet | 971D curriculum sheet
971 curriculum sheet | 971D curriculum sheet (Spring 2024 and later)
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Prospective Students
If you would like to schedule a virtual pre-advising appointment, please complete the Prospective Student Inquiry Form.
Don’t want an appointment but need answers? Contact ugadmissions@ejb.rutgers.edu
for assistance.
Declared Students
To request an advising appointment, please contact undergrad@ejb.rutgers.edu.
Undergraduate Student & Academic Services
Christina Torian
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education
Advisor for Prospective Students
Natashia James
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Student Services
Advisor for Students with Last Names A-F and all Student-Athletes
Alicia Nesser
Student Counselor, Undergraduate Student Services
Advisor for Students with Last Names G-O
Jessica Reyes
Student Counselor, Undergraduate Student Services
Advisor for Students with Last Names P-Z and all Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students
SAS Students (971)
The Urban Planning and Design (UPD) major is sequence-dependent. To prepare students for two capstone design studios during their final undergraduate year, the curriculum builds knowledge and skills in urban planning and design over the preceding two semesters. The required sequence of courses is listed below. Please note that the capstone courses, Planning and Design Studio I and II are only offered consecutively in the fall and spring semester. Because all required courses are sequenced, it is important that a student develop an academic plan with their Bloustein major advisor when they declare the Urban Planning & Design major.
SAS students seeking to declare the Urban Planning & Design major must apply for admission to the major prior to declaring it. SEBS students wishing to declare Urban Planning & Design as their second major should contact the Bloustein School’s Office of Student and Academic Services at ugadmissions@ejb.rutgers.edu.
Students can apply during one of our application cycles.
As a credit intensive major, Urban Planning and Design does not require declared students to complete a minor. However, students may benefit from completing a minor and this option should be discussed with the Bloustein School major advisor while developing their academic plan. In addition, if choosing a minor, students are encouraged to meet with the Urban Planning and Design Program Coordinator for career advice.
To ensure degree completion by their anticipated graduation date, students are advised to declare the UPD major no later than the first semester of their junior year. However, students must start planning their scheduled set of courses with a Bloustein advisor during the first semester of sophomore year. SAS students may pursue Urban Planning and Design as their first major and remain within SAS.
Only courses with “C” or better may be counted towards the major, and students must complete the Core Curriculum requirements of their primary school. The degree is awarded jointly by the Bloustein School and SAS.
Applicants must have achieved a minimum grade of “C” or better in each of the pre-requisite courses and be in good academic standing.
Prerequisites (3 cr)
-
355:101 College Writing (3) or equivalent
Transfer (Direct Admit) Students (971D)
Students seeking the Urban Planning and Design major must have at least 30 credits before applying to the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Successful applicants will have completed the prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better, and have achieved an overall GPA of at least 2.50.
Current Rutgers students seeking a school-to-school transfer from another Rutgers unit, or students transferring to Rutgers from another college or university, must apply via the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Contact ugadmissions@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.
Transfer students from New Jersey community colleges are encouraged to complete the prerequisite courses and the associate’s degree in order to benefit from the NJ Statewide Transfer Agreement.
This program is designed to accommodate the needs of transfer, adult and nontraditional students.
Only courses with “C” or better may be counted towards program requirements. Upon completing the major, all General Education requirements, and a minimum of 30 credits at Rutgers (12 within the Bloustein School) with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA, the student will receive the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from the Bloustein School.
Prerequisites (3 cr)
- 355:101 College Writing (3) or equivalent
Contact ugadmissions@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.
Urban Planning and Design (971 and 971D) Major Requirements (51 cr)
*Effective Spring 2024*
Please see curriculum sheets above for prerequisite courses and course conditions.
- 10:775:205 Basic Statistical Methods or equivalent (3-4)
- 971:201 Introduction to Urban Planning and Design (3) or Environmental Design Analysis(3)
- 971:202 Designing Healthy Cities (3)
- 971:250 Introduction to GIS (3)
- 971:314 Graphic Communication for Planning (3)
- 971:315 Fundamentals of Urban Planning & Design (3)
- 971:316 Introduction to Site Planning and Urban Design (3)
- 971:318 History and Theory of Urban Planning & Design (3)
- 971:395 Methods of Planning Analysis (3)
- 971:403 Advanced Graphic Communication (3)
- 971:404 Planning and Design Studio I (3)
- 971:405 Planning and Design Studio II (3)
- 971:463 Environmental Law and Policy (3)
- Five, 3-credit electives (15) – see approved list in Degree Navigator
971: Urban Planning & Design Minor (21 cr)
This minor is well-matched to majors in art history; civil engineering; environmental science; public health; geography; landscape architecture; sociology; and more.
Students seeking the urban planning and design minor must complete three core courses and three 300-level or higher 971 electives, excluding those designated for “majors only”.
- 971:201 Introduction to Urban Planning and Design (3)
- 971:202 Designing Healthy Cities (3)
- 971:314 Graphic communication for Planners (3)
- 971:315 Fundamentals of Urban Planning and Design (3)
- Three upper-level 971 (or substituted upper-level 762) electives, as above (9)
Joint BA or BS/MCRP Program
Exceptional, well-prepared students who wish to pursue graduate studies in Urban Planning are encouraged to seek advising about the 3-1-1 Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) program.
Careers
Urban design is the process by which cities, towns, and villages are shaped, with the goal of making urban areas functional, attractive, and sustainable. It unites all the built environment professions, including urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture, civil and municipal engineering, and focuses on the design, quality, character and appearance of places. Urban planning is the process concerned with the use of land and design of the urban environment, including air, water, and infrastructure networks. It guides and ensures the orderly development of communities, and concerns itself with research and analysis, strategic thinking, policy recommendations, implementation, and management. This major combines these two processes to provide students with a sharper focus on city design, community development, GIS and graphic communication, and planning practice.