Program Overview

Introduction to the Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Program

The Urban Planning and Sustainable Development program at Western Washington University is an interdisciplinary major that prepares students to enter professional fields concerned with the sustainability of the human and natural environment. The program consists of foundation, urban planning core, specialization, capstone, and experiential courses.

Program Description

The Urban Planning and Sustainable Development major emphasizes innovative approaches to solving complex problems facing communities from the local to the global level. The program stresses progressive change leading towards equitable, healthful, livable, and sustainable communities with an emphasis on social and environmental justice, diversity, and service to under-served communities. The curriculum combines urban planning, urban and sustainable design, land-use laws, environmental policy, and natural sciences to provide students with an understanding of the linkages between urban and natural systems and the multidimensional problems in urban development.

Why Consider an Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Major?

• Planning and designing livable communities and neighborhoods
• Addressing climate change and environmental sustainability
• Promoting social justice and equity
• Developing housing affordability solutions
• Incorporating transportation and climate action innovations in city plans
• Collaborating with government agencies, Tribal nations, non-profit organizations, and community groups to address local, regional, and global problems

Student Resources

• Department website: Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy
• Department advising: Visit the Urban Sustainability webpage for more information
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers: Urban Planner, County Planner, Sustainable Development Consultant, Planning Consultant, Tribal Planner, Environmental Planner, Natural Resources Manager, Non-Profit Manager

Admission and Declaration Process

How to Declare as a Pre-Major

• Declare a pre-major in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development during the first or second year
• Email the department to declare a pre-major
• A declaration form will be sent to complete and return
• Once declared as a pre-major, students are assigned a professional college advisor and a UPSD program faculty advisor

How to Apply to the Major

• Applications are accepted during the spring quarter
• Students should apply by their third year but are encouraged to apply sooner
• To apply, submit an application that includes:
  • A statement of interest (700-1,000 words) explaining why you want to pursue the urban planning major
  • A resume summarizing academic, curricular, extra-curricular, and any volunteer activities
  • A portfolio of work that demonstrates skills and affinity with the major
• Applications are ranked based on demonstrated interests in solving urban planning problems, commitment to planning's social and environmental justice goals, aspirations for working in the public interest, relevant skills and experiences, and academic performance

Grade Requirements

• A grade of C- or better is required for a student's major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors

Program Requirements

• 100 credits minimum
• Students select either Option A: Planning & Environmental Policy Foundation Courses or Option B: Planning & Environmental Science Foundation Courses

Foundations Option A: Planning & Environmental Policy (30 credits minimum)

• MATH 112 - Functions and Algebraic Methods (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics (4 credits)
  • FAIR 367B - Introduction to Political Economy (5 credits)
• UEPP 202 - Introduction to Sustainability and Society (3 credits)
• One course from:
  • ENVS 203 - Physical Geography (4 credits)
  • ENVS 204 - Human Geography (4 credits)
• UEPP 261 - Planning the American City (3 credits)
• UEPP 270 - Cities, Nature and Society (3 credits)
• One course from:
  • ECON 383 - Environmental Economics (4 credits)
  • UEPP 355 - Environmental Law and Policy (4 credits)
  • PLSC 250 - The American Political System (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • ESCI 204 - The Oceans: Topics in Marine Science (4 credits)
  • ESCI 225 - Beginning Ecology (4 credits)

Foundations Option B: Planning & Environmental Science (34 credits minimum)

• MATH 114 - Precalculus I (5 credits)
• CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I (5 credits)
• UEPP 261 - Planning the American City (3 credits)
• UEPP 270 - Cities, Nature and Society (3 credits)
• One course from:
  • BIOL 101 - Introduction to Biology w/lab (4 credits)
  • BIOL 204 - Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • ECON 383 - Environmental Economics (4 credits)
  • UEPP 355 - Environmental Law and Policy (4 credits)
  • PLSC 250 - The American Political System (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • ENVS 203 - Physical Geography (4 credits)
  • ESCI 204 - The Oceans: Topics in Marine Science (4 credits)
  • ESCI 225 - Beginning Ecology (4 credits)
• Two courses from:
  • ESCI 302 - Environmental Disturbances (4 credits)
  • ESCI 325 - Fundamentals of Ecology (3 credits)
  • ESCI 330 - Natural History of the Pacific Northwest (4 credits)
  • ESCI 333 - Introduction to Environmental Toxicology (4 credits)
  • ESCI 361 - Water Quality (5 credits)
  • ENRG 380 - Energy and Environment (4 credits)
  • or ESCI 380 - Energy and Environment (4 credits)
  • ENVS 392 - Introduction to Climate Change (4 credits)
  • or ESCI 392 - Introduction to Climate Change (4 credits)
  • ESCI 404 - Indigenous Resource Management in the Salish Sea (5 credits)
  • ESCI 442 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (5 credits)
  • ESCI 463 - Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment (3 credits)
  • or other ENVS/ESCI/UEPP 300- or 400-level courses with advisor approval

Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Major Core Courses (70 credits minimum)

Planning History, Theory and Knowledge (20 credits minimum)

• UEPP 343 - Urbanization: Processes and Patterns (4 credits)
• UEPP 370 - History of Planning (3 credits)
• One course from:
  • UEPP 373 - Transportation Systems and Planning (3 credits)
  • UEPP 464 - Topics in Planning (3 credits)
• UEPP 461 - Land Use Law (4 credits)
• UEPP 462 - Planning Theory (3 credits)
• One course from:
  • ENRG 352 - Climate Governance and Political Economy (4 credits)
  • or ENVS 352 - Climate Governance and Political Economy (4 credits)
  • UEPP 356 - Sustainable Housing Innovations (4 credits)
  • UEPP 463 - Native American Planning and Natural Resources Policy (3 credits)

Planning Methods (16 credits minimum)

• UEPP 322 - Quantitative Methods for Planning and Policy (3 credits)
• UEPP 360 - Plan Graphics and Site Design: Methods in Urban Design (3 credits)
• UEPP 374 - Land Use Regulation & Technical Writing (3 credits)
• UEPP 475 - Community Development and Participatory Methods (3 credits)
• One course from:
  • ENVS 372 - Natural Hazards Planning (5 credits)
  • UEPP 442 - Regional Environmental and Economic Resource Modeling (4 credits)
  • or ENVS 442 - Regional Environmental and Economic Resource Modeling (4 credits)
  • UEPP 457 - Environmental Dispute Resolution (4 credits)

Planning Skills (12 credits)

• UEPP 470 - Planning Studio I: Urban Design Methods (3 credits)
• UEPP 472 - Planning Studio II: Plan Development (6 credits)
• UEPP 473 - Planning Studio III: Plan Implementation (3 credits)

Planning and Diversity (3 credits minimum)

• One course from:
  • UEPP 369 - Settler Cities (4 credits)
  • or C/AM 369 - Settler Cities (4 credits)
  • UEPP 443 - Social Justice and the City (4 credits)
  • UEPP 463 - Native American Planning and Natural Resources Policy (3 credits)
  • ESCI 404 - Indigenous Resource Management in the Salish Sea (5 credits)

Planning Elective Specialization (10 credits minimum)

• Students must complete a minimum of three courses from one of the specialization groups listed below:
  • A. Urban Design Specialization
  • B. Hazards Planning Specialization
  • C. Tribal and Indigenous Planning Specialization
  • D. Climate Action Specialization
  • E. Food Security Specialization
  • F. Business and Sustainability Specialization
  • G. Student and Faculty Designed Specialization
  • H. Completion of Minor with Faculty Advisor and UPSD Program Director approval

Culminating Courses - Capstone and Experiential (9 credits minimum)

• College of the Environment Capstone: Any ENVS, ESCI, or UEPP capstone course with a CPST attribute can be applied towards the culminating experience requirement
• One Capstone course from (minimum 4 credits):
  • ENVS 410 - Agroecology and Resilient Communities (4 credits)
  • or UEPP 410 - Agroecology and Resilient Communities (4 credits)
  • ENVS 417 - Science, Management and Outreach of Contaminated Sites (4 credits)
  • ENVS 430 - Borderlands: Resource Management (4 credits)
  • ENVS 466 - Greening Business Applications (5 credits)
  • or MGMT 466 - Greening Business Applications (5 credits)
  • UEPP 474 - Planning for Sustainable Communities (4 credits)
  • ENVS 491 - Environmental Communication (5 credits)
  • ENVS 493 - Environmental Impact Assessment (5 credits)
  • or ESCI 493 - Environmental Impact Assessment (5 credits)
  • or UEPP 493 - Environmental Impact Assessment (5 credits)
  • ESCI 454 - Science, Management and Outreach of Contaminated Sites (4 credits)
  • ESCI 470 - Ecological Restoration (5 credits)
  • ESCI 490 - Environmental Risk Assessment (4 credits)
  • ESCI 491 - Oceanography of the Salish Sea (4 credits)
  • ESCI 494 - Marine Conservation (5 credits)
• Experiential: One or more courses (minimum 5 credits):
  • UEPP 498A - Senior Thesis (1-15 credits)
  • UEPP 498B - Internship (1-15 credits)
  • UEPP 498C - Senior Project (1-15 credits)
  • UEPP 498D - International Study (1-15 credits)
  • An approved ENVS/ESCI/UEPP 437 Faculty-Led Study Abroad

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement