Minor in Urban Planning

Program & Requirements

The Minor in Urban Planning introduces students to contemporary issues and factors affecting the development and functioning of cities in the U.S. and worldwide. Urban planning is an interdisciplinary field that applies problem-solving and policy development skills and techniques from the local neighborhood to international and ‘mega-city’ context. Urban planners contribute to building livable and just urban environments through their employment in public and private sectors.

Admission

Acceptance into the Minor is selective and requires an application to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Minimum admission GPA is 2.75. The completed application form should be submitted to Alice E. Novak, BAUP Director, novak2@illinois.edu. Once we have offered you admission to the minor, you will need to complete an Intent to Pursue a Campus-Approved Minor form, requiring a signature from the Coordinator and submission to the FAA Office for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Room 110, Architecture Building.

The Department accepts applications on a continuous basis, but reserves decisions on entry until an applicant's GPA for the current semester is available. Final decisions on admission, credit checks and graduation requirements are the responsibility of the FAA Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Coursework

The Minor in Urban Planning requires 20 credit hours of coursework, consisting of 4 core courses and 2 electives. Electives are all 100, 200, 300, and 400 level courses offered by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

Core Courses

No.

Hrs

Course

Notes
UP 101
3
 Introduction to City Planning  

UP 203

OR
3
 Cities: Planning and Urban Life Pre-reqs: UP 101, ECON 102 & UP 116 (or equivalent)
UP 204
3
 Chicago: Planning and Urban Life Pre-reqs: UP 101
UP 205
3
 Ecology & its Applications  
UP 260
3
 Social Inequality & Planning Pre-reqs: UP 101


Sample List of Elective Courses

No.

Hrs

Course

Notes
UP 185
3
 Cities in a Global Perspective  
UP 210
3
 Environmental Economics Pre-reqs: ACE 100 or Econ 102
UP 335
4
 Cities & Immigrants UP 260 or consent of instructor
UP 340
3
 Planning for Healthy Cities  
UP 405
4
 Watershed Ecology & Planning Pre-req: Previous course in environmental science
UP 406
4
 Urban Ecology Senior standing or consent of instructor
UP 418
4
 GIS for Planners Upper division undergraduate or graduate standing
UP 420
4
 Planning for Historic Preservation At least junior standing
UP 423
4
 Intro to International Planning  
UP 426
4
 Urban Design & Planning Senior standing or consent of Assistant Head
UP 430
4
 Urban Transportation Planning  
UP 445
4
 Economic Development Planning Senior or graduate standing
UP 473
4
 Housing & Urban Policy Planning Pre-req: UP 260 or graduate standing
UP 474
4
 Neighborhood Planning Pre-req: UP 260 or graduate standing
UP 494
1-6
 Special Topics in Planning Pre-reqs: Varies, check section