Courses
Community & Regional Planning
0401. Planning Theory (3
s.h.)
Provides the base knowledge of planning theory that serves
as a springboard into more advanced courses in this degree
program. Explores the nature of planning and how it relates
to geography, politics, economics, society, and culture on
a local and regional level. Also details the various levels
of planning, step-by-step approaches to planning, and the many
limitations and boundaries with which planners are confronted.
0403. Planning Law and
Administration (3 s.h.)
Explains the political and legal environment of planning, including
the foundations of land use and environmental law. Introduces
students to various types of legal research and reasoning and
the numerous agencies that conduct or influence planning, including
public agencies, authorities, non-profit organizations, and
public benefit corporations. Explores policy implementation,
including legislation, regulation, and incentives.
0410. Planning Research
Design and Methods (3 s.h.)
Introduction to basic research and analytical methods, including
the conceptualization of planning problems; determination of
needs gaps; basic probability theory; descriptive and inferential
statistics; distributions, sampling, and the logic of data
gathering and analysis; hypothesis testing; analysis of relationships
among variables; estimation and projections. Not intended to
produce statisticians, but rather to make planners informed
readers and users of statistical and analytical reports.
0413. Spatial Analysis
Techniques/Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (3
s.h.)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enable planners to perform “high
tech” spatial analysis of communities and environmental features.
Sophisticated GIS systems allow users to create and manipulate
virtual representations of towns or developments and explore
different land use and transportation scenarios. This course
introduces students to these systems and their expanding, widespread
applications.
0414. Advanced Topics & Techniques
in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (3
s.h.)
Prerequisite: CRP 0413 or permission of the instructor.
Introduces the concepts and applications of Suitability Analysis
and Location Analysis. Explore different ArcGIS and ArcView
extensions, including Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst, Network
Analyst, and Image Analyst. Also introduces CommunityViz software
and its suitability for planners. Explores advanced techniques
commonly used in GIS, such as digitizing, geocoding, image
processing, and projection changing. Students use local and
regional data sets and real-world problems and projects. Instruction
focuses on practical applications in a studio format.
0420. Topics in Community
and Regional Planning (3 s.h.)
Presents a series of special topics in the area of community
and regional planning. Content will vary from semester to semester.
The topic could be in an area of specialization of a faculty
member or an examination of a current topic in the field of
planning.
Note: Summer Session I, 2004: Suburbia: Issues and Trends; Fall 2004: Redevelopment and Revitalization; Spring 2005: Planning Healthy Communities
0421. Neighborhoods,
Cities, and Regions (3 s.h.)
More than 80% of the U.S. population now lives in urbanized
areas. Examines the history of the development of urban (and
suburban) form, together with some of the environmental, physical,
social, and economic factors that created or influenced those
forms. Emphasis will be on the development of the European
and North American city, from Athens to imperial Rome, to the
19th and 20th century industrial metropolis, and its suburbs.
(Other great cities of the ancient world may be discussed.)
Looks at the late 20th century unraveling of the urban fabric
and the de-concentration of cities.
0422. Transportation
Planning (3 s.h.)
Presents an overview of the history of transportation in the
United States and the fundamentals of present day transportation
planning and policies. Explores the influences of urban form
on: modal choice; accessibility and mobility of various population
subsets (such as the economically- and physically-disadvantaged);
regional and local travel demand; and the operational efficiency
of different types of transportation systems (transit, highways,
bicycle, and pedestrian). Covers the impact of transportation
investments on land use and regional population growth, and
on environmental, community, and economic sustainability. Introduces
students to currently used transportation planning methodologies,
legal requirements, and decision-making processes. By studying
actual transportation projects, students develop a plan for
an assigned project.
0423. Sustainable Community
Design and Development (3 s.h.)
Explores the theory, practice, and social value created when
development occurs in a sustainable manner. Planning and design
of ecologically sensitive projects are addressed in a lecture/discussion
format. Case studies are used extensively in concert with guest
lecturers to provide the student with a comprehensive overview
of sustainable development. Case studies include: technologically
innovative economic development, cultural and social development,
ecological architectural design, landscape architecture and
green spaces, and transportation systems. Economic and design
comparisons are drawn between sustainable and non-sustainable
models of development. Based on the premise that sustainable
community design and development fulfills the basic needs of
people and extends opportunities for economic development without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.
0441. Environmental Planning (3
s.h.)
Environmental issues and concepts faced by planners and the
methods used to address them. Applying principles of natural
science disciplines to the analysis of man`s physical environment
and the synthesis of plans that respect and incorporate those
principles. The constraints and opportunities presented by
the natural and man-made physical environment evaluated in
the context of planning at both site-specific and regional
scales. The goal of the course is not to produce environmental
scientists, but rather to make planners aware of the environmental
questions that should be asked, and of whom. Lectures, case
studies, and roundtable discussions.
0451. Integrated Transportation
And Land Use Planning: Context-Sensitive Design
Solutions (3 s.h.)
“Context-sensitive design” seeks to blend transportation functions
with other human activities and land use characteristics. Often
transportation and land use decisions have worked at cross-purposes
due to the inconsistency of scales, the traditional focus of
transportation project planning on functional and engineering
concerns, and development decisions made without adequate regard
to traffic impacts. This course covers basic operational and
safety requirements of various transportation systems, with special
emphasis on bicycle and pedestrian travel, and appropriate designs
for different types of development and policy objectives, such
as downtown revitalization or decreasing the reliance on the
automobile. The latter part of the course is devoted to a studio
design project in which students apply design principles to solve
a transportation and/or land use problem.
0452. Transportation
Economics (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: CRP 422 or permission of instructor
or Department Chairperson.
Application of micro-economic concepts to passenger transportation
systems: utility theory and urban demand analysis and modeling;
project evaluation and prioritization; investment analysis
and pricing theory. Role of economic analysis in decision making.
Exploration of the financial and economic dimensions of urban
transportation systems: highway finance; transit finance; transit
fare policy; transportation pricing and finance methods including
user fees, tolling, and gas and sales taxes. Discussion of
the social costs of transportation and the subsidy policy.
0461. Planning Negotiation
and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3
s.h.)
Evaluation of the techniques of negotiation and alternative
dispute resolution with a special emphasis on planning issues
and disputes. The course emphasizes dispute resolution through
arbitration or mediation in lieu of litigation. Students engage
in a series of hands-on simulations, involving bargaining and
coalition building with the goal of training students to be
effective and thoughtful negotiators.
0470. Land Use Planning (3
s.h.)
A comprehensive overview of the land use planning and development
process: the comprehensive planning process; site planning
and subdivisions regulations; plan-making techniques; data
and analysis tools in land use management; legal aspects of
land use planning; zoning and land use regulation; growth management/"smart
growth" techniques; intergovernmental coordination; open-space,
agricultural, and historic preservation
0481. Sustainable Business
Practices (3 s.h.)
Environmental issues and their impact on business, communities,
institutions, and the general public are comprehensively explored.
Examines the need for companies to effectively manage environmental
issues in light of increased public demand for businesses to
take a stewardship role over natural resources and environmental
protection. Provides students with a broad and practical understanding
of environmental sustainability concepts. Examines how challenges
associated with sustainable development are multifaceted involving
economic, social, and environmental concerns. Explores how
these concerns alter business strategies and practices and
lead to new opportunities. Case studies and lectures are used
to build technical proficiencies. Lectures by guest experts.
Note: Note: Cross-listed with General and Strategic Management 0594
0501. Planning Studio
I (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: CRP 0410 and 0413.
The studio undertakes a planning project in cooperation with
a local or regional entity. Using the knowledge and skills
learned in previous courses, students develop an integrated
approach to planning and plan development with a focus on the
preparation of community and regional plans, including data
collection; site analysis and evaluation of location, market,
transportation, and environmental factors; and the balancing
of stakeholder interests. Teams will analyze real planning
situations and deliver finished projects. Students manage the
project from initial conceptualization through the final reporting,
with a view to project implementation.
0502. Planning Studio
II (3 or 6 s.h.)
Prerequisite: CRP 0501.
See CRP 0501
0503. Planning Studio
III (3 or 6 s.h.)
Prerequisite: CRP 0502.
See CRP 0501
0525. Internship in Planning (3
or 6 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Only open to matriculated students
who have completed the majority of the CRP program. Students
may opt for 3 s.h. of internship and 6 s.h. of thesis
or project, or 6 s.h. of internship and 3 s.h. of thesis
or project.
Students are required to complete a supervised 180-hour internship
(for each 3 s.h.) in which the emphasis is on the acquisition
and application of practical skills in planning. Internship
placements will be at public agencies, non-profit institutions,
and private firms. There is a designated supervisor at the
site and a CRP faculty and/or Ambler staff coordinator. Internships
may require interim reports and must culminate in a report
regarding the experience. Note: Students who have had substantial
professional experience may petition for a waiver of this requirement.
If granted, the student will be required to enroll in another
CRP graduate course.
0599. Thesis/Project
in Planning (3 or 6 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Only open to matriculated students
who have completed the majority of their coursework and
at the discretion of the graduate adviser. Under the
guidance and supervision of a faculty adviser and committee,
students will choose to do either a thesis or a project.
Provides the terminal evidence of mastery of the field. The
Master's thesis is based on planning theory, methodology, and
history. The Master's project is a practice-based model, a
case study of a planning activity or event. Students participate
in a thesis/project colloquium addressing research design,
issues, methods, and writing/presentation concerns. Students
present reports on the state of their thesis/project and seek
informed criticism and advice.