Urban Planner Course

Lesson 1 • Urban Systems and Their Interdependencies

Examines how land use, transportation, infrastructure, and ecology interact. Prepares students to analyze cities as complex, interconnected systems.

Lesson 2 • Core Planning Theories and Paradigms

Introduces rational, communicative, and equity-based planning theories. Connects theoretical frameworks to real-world decision-making processes.

Lesson 3 • Roles and Ethics of Urban Planners

Defines planner roles across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Grounds professional identity in ethical codes and public-interest obligations.

Lesson 1 • Zoning Codes and Regulations

Explains the structure of zoning ordinances, dimensional standards, and use permissions. Links regulatory tools to planning goals such as density and compatibility.

Lesson 2 • Variance, Appeals, and Discretionary Review

Addresses processes for granting exceptions and reviewing development proposals. Builds skills in applying standards and writing findings of fact.

Lesson 3 • Form-Based and Performance Zoning

Introduces alternatives to conventional use-based zoning focused on physical form and outcomes. Students compare approaches and identify appropriate applications.

Lesson 4 • Land Use Classification and Mapping

Covers residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use categories and their spatial logic. Students learn to read and create land use maps accurately.

Lesson 1 • Demographic and Socioeconomic Data

Covers census data sources, population projections, and socioeconomic indicators. Students extract and interpret data to characterize planning study areas.

Lesson 2 • Data Visualization and Mapping

Teaches cartographic principles and visualization techniques for planning communication. Students design maps and charts that clearly convey planning findings.

Lesson 3 • Introduction to GIS for Planners

Teaches GIS concepts, coordinate systems, and basic map production. Connects spatial data management to land use and infrastructure analysis tasks.

Lesson 4 • Spatial Analysis Techniques

Applies overlay, buffer, and proximity analysis to planning problems. Students solve site suitability and service-area questions using GIS tools.

Lesson 1 • Multimodal and Complete Streets Design

Covers design standards for streets that serve all users safely and efficiently. Connects street design decisions to walkability, safety, and land use goals.

Lesson 2 • Transportation Systems Overview

Surveys road, transit, pedestrian, and freight networks and their planning contexts. Establishes the relationship between transportation investment and urban form.

Lesson 3 • Transportation Equity and Access

Analyzes how transportation systems distribute mobility benefits and burdens across populations. Students assess access gaps and propose equity-focused interventions.

Lesson 4 • Transportation Plans and Policy

Teaches long-range transportation plan structure, funding mechanisms, and policy levers. Students draft transportation goals and evaluate policy trade-offs.

Lesson 1 • Inclusionary and Density Bonus Policies

Examines regulatory tools that require or incentivize affordable units in new development. Students assess policy design trade-offs and implementation challenges.

Lesson 2 • Anti-Displacement and Tenant Protections

Addresses gentrification dynamics and policies that protect existing residents from displacement. Students evaluate rent stabilization, relocation assistance, and community benefit tools.

Lesson 3 • Affordable Housing Finance and Programs

Surveys public subsidy programs, tax credit financing, and community land trusts. Students evaluate financing structures and their impact on project feasibility.

Lesson 4 • Affordability Measurement and Need Assessment

Covers cost-burden thresholds, housing needs assessments, and gap analysis methods. Students quantify affordability deficits across income levels and household types.

Lesson 1 • Sustainability Frameworks and Indicators

Introduces sustainability rating systems, indicator frameworks, and triple-bottom-line analysis. Students select and apply indicators to evaluate plan sustainability performance.

Lesson 2 • Environmental Impact Assessment

Covers the purpose, process, and key components of environmental review for development projects. Students identify significant impacts and propose mitigation measures.

Lesson 3 • Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Energy Planning

Covers GHG inventories, reduction targets, and land use strategies that lower emissions. Students connect compact development and transit investment to climate goals.

Lesson 4 • Green Infrastructure and Stormwater

Teaches low-impact development techniques and green infrastructure for stormwater management. Connects these tools to water quality, flood risk, and urban heat reduction.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Public Participation

Establishes the rationale, legal basis, and spectrum of participation from informing to co-production. Frames engagement as a core planning competency, not an add-on.

Lesson 2 • Designing an Engagement Plan

Guides students through scoping, scheduling, and documenting a full participation strategy. Integrates prior engagement skills into a deliverable planning product.

Lesson 3 • Reaching Underrepresented Communities

Addresses strategies for engaging low-income, non-English-speaking, and historically excluded groups. Connects inclusive outreach to equitable planning outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Facilitation and Conflict Resolution

Teaches meeting facilitation, active listening, and interest-based negotiation techniques. Students practice managing disagreement and building consensus in planning settings.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Urban Design

Introduces scale, enclosure, permeability, legibility, and mixed use as core design principles. Provides the analytical vocabulary for evaluating and shaping urban form.

Lesson 2 • Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse

Addresses preservation standards, significance criteria, and adaptive reuse strategies. Students balance heritage conservation with contemporary development needs.

Lesson 3 • Urban Design Guidelines and Review

Teaches how to write, apply, and administer urban design guidelines for new development. Students draft guidelines for a study area and simulate a design review process.

Lesson 4 • Public Space Design and Activation

Covers the design of plazas, parks, and streetscapes that attract and sustain public life. Students analyze successful public spaces and identify activation strategies.