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, and planning practice.

971 curriculum sheet | 971D curriculum sheet

Download Urban Planning & Design major brochure

Urban Planning and Design Suggested Course Sequence

SAS and SEBS Students (971)

Students in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and students in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) who wish to remain in their primary unit must apply for admission prior to declaring the major.

SAS students may pursue Urban Planning and Design as their first major and remain within SAS. SEBS students may pursue Urban Planning and Design as a second major in order to remain within SEBS. SAS and SEBS students can apply for the Urban Planning and Design major by visiting website.

Applicants must have achieved a minimum grade of “C” or better in each of the pre-requisite courses and be in good academic standing.

Students are advised to declare the Urban Planning and Design major no later than their first semester of junior year to ensure completion of the major by their anticipated graduation date.

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.

Urban Planning and Design is a credit intensive major so the minor requirement is waived by SAS. However, students are encouraged to complete a minor, even though they are not required to do so.

Prerequisites (12-13 cr)

• 220:102 Intro to Microeconomics (3) or 11:373:12 Principles and Applications of Microeconomics (3)
• 355:101 Expository Writing (3)
• 775:205 Basic Statistical Methods (3-4) or equivalent (see Approved Statistics Equivalent Courses tab in this document)
• 920:101 Intro to Sociology (3)

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 2.5.

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. For a school-to-school transfer visit here. If you are transferring from outside of Rutgers, apply here. Contact undergrad@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.

Transfer students from New Jersey community colleges are encouraged to complete lower division prerequisite courses and the Associate’s Degree in order to benefit from articulation agreements.

This program is designed to accommodate the needs of transfer, adult and nontraditional students. For more information, please visit http://ucc.rutgers.edu/professional-schools

Only courses with “C” or better may be counted towards program requirements. Upon completing the major, all General Education requirements, and a minimum of 120 credits in good academic standing, the student will receive the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from the Bloustein School.

Prerequisites (12-13 cr)

• 220:102 Intro to Microeconomics (3) or 11:373:12 Principles and Applications of Microeconomics (3)
• 355:101 Expository Writing (3)
• 200-level or higher statistics course (3-4)
• 920:101 Intro to Sociology (3)

 Urban Planning and Design (971 and 971D) Major Requirements (54 cr)

Effective June 1, 2018

• One of the following:
  • 971:201 Introduction to Urban Planning and Design (3)
  • 550:230 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) – Prerequisite 971:314
• 971:318 History and Theory of Urban Planning & Design (3)
• One of the following:
  • 762:317 Urban Municipal Management (3)
  • 833:360 Principles of Public Management (3)
  • 971:363 Planning Administration and Practice (3)
• One of the following:
  • 762:307 Community Development (3)
  • 762:413 Urban Revitalization (3)
• One of the following:
  • 762:472 Transportation Planning (3)
  • 762:473 Transportation Policy (3)
• 971:463 Environmental and Land Use Law (3)
• 971:395 Methods of Planning Analysis (3)
• 971:403 Advanced Graphic Communication (3) – Prerequisite 971:314 and 971:316 (open to majors only)
  
• 971:404 Planning and Design Studio I (3) – Pre- or Corequisite 971:314, 971:316, 971:403 (open to majors only)
  
• 971:405 Planning and Design Studio II (3) – Prerequisite 971:404 (open to majors only)
  
• Three, 3-credit electives (9 cr total) – see here for options or Degree Navigator

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.