Program Overview

Introduction to the Planning Program

The Department of Urban Studies and Planning offers a Bachelor of Science in Planning, which is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of urban planning and development.

General Institute Requirements (GIRs)

The General Institute Requirements include a Communication Requirement that is integrated into both the HASS Requirement and the requirements of each major. The GIRs for the Planning program are as follows:

• Science Requirement: 6 subjects
• Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement: 8 subjects, with at least two designated as communication-intensive (CI-H) to fulfill the Communication Requirement
• Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement: 2 subjects
• Laboratory Requirement: 1 subject (12 units), which can be satisfied by 11.188 in the Departmental Program
• Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree: 17 subjects
• Physical Education Requirement: swimming requirement, plus four physical education courses for eight points

Departmental Program

The Departmental Program for the Planning major requires students to choose at least two subjects that are designated as communication-intensive (CI-M) to fulfill the Communication Requirement. The required subjects are:

• 11.001[J]: Introduction to Urban Design and Development (12 units)
• 11.002[J]: Making Public Policy (12 units)
• 14.01: Principles of Microeconomics (12 units)
• 11.188: Introduction to Spatial Analysis and GIS Laboratory (CI-M) (12 units)
• Planned Electives: select 78-81 units of Planning electives, in consultation with advisor
• Urban Field Experience: declared majors are encouraged to take the optional urban field experience subject
  • 11.027: City to City: Comparing, Researching, and Reflecting on Practice (CI-M) (12 units)
• Thesis: majors are required to write a senior thesis or complete a senior project
  • 11.THT[J]: Thesis Research Design Seminar (CI-M) (12 units)
  • 11.THU: Undergraduate Thesis (12 units)
• Units in Major: 150-153
• Unrestricted Electives: 87-90
• Units in Major That Also Satisfy the GIRs: (60)
• Total Units Beyond the GIRs Required for SB Degree: 180