Master of Urban and Regional Planning
Department of Political Science and Planning
Pafford 140 • 678-839-6504
www.westga.edu/assetsDept/index_5738.php
Professors:
S. Caress, L. Howe, R. Sanders, R. Schaefer (Chair)
Associate Professor:
S. Lee
Assistant Professors:
H. Jun, P. Rutledge
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning is designed to prepare students for a planning career in public, private and non-profit sectors. The curriculum combines an appreciation of planning as a profession, substantive studies regarding urban and regional challenges and opportunities, and a set of analytical skills useful to planning practice.
Admission to the program is open to students with an undergraduate degree in geography, political science, sociology, planning, or a related discipline. Students entering the program must meet admission guidelines established by the College of Social Sciences and the requirements set forth by the department. Departmental requirements include evidence of superior academic ability, and evidence of an interest in planning.
Master of Urban and Regional Planning students will demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of:
- The theoretical foundations of public planning.
- The methods and techniques of contemporary planning practice.
- The substantive knowledge base necessary to study and practice in the field of planning.
Program of Study
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning requires the completion of 36 semester hours of graduate credit*, and the program is a non-thesis program. All students must take three core courses (nine hours): Planning Theory and Practice, Research Methods for Public Administration, and Capstone Project or Internship. Students are required to take seven courses (21 hours) among the listed elective courses. Four courses out of the seven elective courses required must be PLAN 5000 or 6000 level courses. With an approval from the advisor, students may fill the remaining two courses (six hours) with urban and regional planning related courses in other disciplines such as Public Administration, Geography, Economics, Sociology, and History. Students can also fill the remaining six hours with the elective courses.
*Students who pursue the Geographic Information Systems Certificate need 39-40 semester hours.
Core Courses (6 credits)
(PLAN 5786) Capstone Project or Internship
(POLS 6202) Research Methods for Public Administration
Elective Courses (21 credits)
PLAN 5701 Technology and Sustainable Economic Development
PLAN 5705 Computers in Politics, Planning, and Management
PLAN 5721 Housing and Community Development
PLAN 5722 Environmental Planning
PLAN 5723 Transportation Planning
PLAN 5724 Sustainable Development
PLAN 6285 Planning Methods
PLAN 6702 Land Use Planning
POLS 5209 Environmental Policy
POLS 6204 Public Policy Analysis & Evaluation
POLS 6205 Administrative Law/Procedures
GEOG 5553 Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 6753 Advanced GIS and Spatial Analysis
Capstone/Internship
Students are required to complete either a capstone or an internship. A capstone project is
a professional project or analysis focusing on a topic relevant to planning. The capstone
may be a report, a plan or plans, drawings, models and/or other professional quality work
appropriate to the project.
