Concentration

Design and Development / Redevelopment

This concentration includes two tracks: (1) Urban Design and (2) Development/ Redevelopment. Because of the connections between these two topics, many courses are listed in both tracks. Students may choose to combine these two tracks for a custom concentration or focus on one.

Urban Design Track

The Urban Design track focuses on the visioning, planning and design of healthy and resilient communities. Urban design courses equip students with critical thinking skills used to approach urban issues and challenges. For our Design students, classes are sequenced to provide students with the fundamental knowledge of urban design, an understanding of time-tested design principles, and best practice of planning and urban design. Non-design students may take any course or set of courses to supplement their academic goals. The curriculum in visual communications and representation enables students to navigate through the complex realm of digital programs and provides them with a framework of the planning process. From this framework students learn traditional drawing and digital drawing techniques in urban design illustration, visualization (Photoshop, VRay), rendering, (Sketchbook Pro, AdobeSketch, Adobe AI), 3D modeling techniques (Rhino 3D, Sketch Up, Arc GIS Urban), and Parametric Automated Modeling (Grasshopper, AutoCAD) used in successful national and inter-national urban planning projects.

Graphical Communication and Design Representation (34:970:590) and Planning and Design 1 (970 600:01) are required first-semester courses for design students. Recommended methods courses include Introduction to GIS for Planners (34:970:591) and Topics in GIS (34:970:592). A graduate planning studio in design, redevelopment, or land-use is recommended as one of the two studio choices. These studios support practice-based experiences that allows students to develop the confidence to interact with their peers, faculty, clients, and public officials on real-world issues.

Required Courses (take all of these courses)

34:970:590 Graphical Communication & Design Representation (Spring/Fall)
34:970:593 Design Representation & Visualization (Fall)
34:970:600 Planning and Design I (co-req 970:590)
34:970:601 Planning and Design II (co-req 970:590)

Recommended Courses

34:970:508 Comprehensive Planning (Spring)
34:970:520 Planning and Land Use Administration (TBD)
34:970:521 Historic Preservation (Spring)
34:970:523 Environmental Law and Policy (Spring)
34:970:530 International Urbanization and Housing Issues (F24, alt. years)
34:970:551 Transportation and Land Use (S25, alt. years)
34:970:552 Transportation and Environment (F23, alt. years)
34:970:572 Green Building (F23, alt. years)
34:970:602 Zoning for Urban Planning (S25)
34:970:620 Energy Sustainability and Policy (TBD)
34:970:622 Urban Redevelopment (Fall)

Development/Redevelopment Track

A broad understanding of real estate development and redevelopment, including land, building, market and financial analysis, particularly in the United States, is gained through a sequence of courses in development/redevelopment planning and practice; real estate, finance, investment; and development impact analysis. This track meets the needs of students with varying interests, including planning for development/redevelopment, real estate market research and analysis, real estate finance and investment analysis, and relating land use planning and controls to the private development process. It is strongly recommended that students take at least one studio in urban redevelopment, neighborhood revitalization, urban design, housing, or community development.

Required Courses (take all of these courses)

34:970:605 Planning Real Estate Analysis (Fall)
34:970:622 Urban Redevelopment (Fall)

Recommended Courses (choose at least two additional courses for a total of four)

34:970:508 Comprehensive Planning (Spring)
34:970:520 Planning and Land Use Administration (TBD)
34:970:521 Historic Preservation (Fpring)
34:970:XXX Affordable Housing (S25)
34:970:523 Environmental Law and Policy (Spring)
34:970:528 Housing Economics and Markets (F23, S25 alt. years)
34:970:529 Principles of Housing (F24)
34:970:530 International Urbanization and Housing Issues (F24, alt. years)
34:970:551 Transportation and Land Use (S25, alt. years)
34:970:552 Transportation and Environment (F23 alt. years)
34:970:563 Community Development (Fall)
34:970:572 Green Building (F23, alt. years)
34:970:590 Graphical Communication and Design Representation (1st year, fall)
34:970:600 Planning and Design I (1st year, Fall, pre- or co-req of 34:970:590)
34:970:601 Planning and Design II (Spring, pre- or co-req of 34:970:590)
34:970:602 Zoning for Urban Planning (S25)
34:833:540 State and Local Public Finance (F24)

Recommended Courses in other Programs

(May substitute for any recommended course, with the concentration coordinator’s approval)

(may substitute for any recommended course, with concentration coordinators’ approval)
Students should check courses in these (and other) programs: Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies (CHAPS) at Rutgers, New Brunswick; real estate program at the Rutgers Business School, Newark and Piscataway).