Bachelor of Arts in Urban & Regional Planning

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About

In the Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning, you’ll learn the skills needed for a successful career in planning. You’ll study community development, various planning methods and techniques, planning law and legislation, and specific planning for different settings. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, allowing you to tackle real-world problems.

Admission Requirements

While there are no formal admission requirements to enter the undergraduate planning program, it’s important to have fundamental skills in English composition and mathematics. Typically, students entering the program as second- or third-quarter sophomores or juniors should have completed these prerequisites. If you haven’t, you’ll need to take some English and math classes during your first three quarters in the program. The university also requires all students earning a Bachelor of Arts degree to fulfill a foreign language requirement.

Curriculum & Requirements  Public Information

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Urban and Regional Planning Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Required Disciplinary Core Courses
CSBS 320STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES5
PLAN 201INTRODUCTION TO URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING5
PLAN 400PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (Offered at one credit per quarter. Take across three quarters, for 3 credits total.)3
PLAN 404PLANNING METHODS AND TECHNIQUES5
PLAN 405PLANNING PRESENT TECHNIQUES5
PLAN 406PLANNING LAW AND LEGISLATION5
PLAN 407COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT5
PLAN 430ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING5
PLAN 440LAND USE PLANNING5
PLAN 450TRANSPORTATION PLANNING5
PLAN 460URBAN DESIGN3
PLAN 464GIS FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL ANALYSIS4-5
or GEOS 321 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES
or GEOS 323 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Electives16
Note: electives in other departments possible. Consult with the undergraduate planning advisor.
THE CITY
COMPARATIVE URBANIZATION
PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION
COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLANNING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
PLANNING, POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
WALKABLE COMMUNITIES
TRIBAL GOVERNANCE
Courses with the following topical/non-standard numbers may be used as electives if approved by a planning advisor.
EXPERIMENTAL COURSE
WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR
SEMINAR
DIRECTED STUDY
Required capstone
PLAN 490SENIOR CAPSTONE: PLANNING STUDIO5
Total Credits76-77

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

This major requires the completion of the World Language requirement. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete two years of a single language in high school or one year of a single language in college.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ENGL 1015ENGL 2015MATH 1075
Humanities & Arts BACR 115PLAN 2015Social Science BACR 215
Social Science BACR 1 (PLAN 100 recommended)5Humanities & Arts BACR 215Natural Science BACR 115
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
PLAN 4055CSBS 3205PLAN 4405
PLAN 4075PLAN 4045PLAN 4603
Global Studies - graduation requirement15PLAN 4065Diversity - graduation requirement15
  Elective - minor or general elective2
 15 15 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
PLAN 4001PLAN 4001PLAN 4001
PLAN 4505PLAN 4305Planning Elective24
Natural Science BACR 215Planning Elective24Planning Elective24
Elective - minor or general elective5Planning Elective24Elective - minor or general elective5
  Elective - minor or general elective2
 16 14 16
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
PLAN 4644Elective - minor or general elective5PLAN 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
 14 15 15
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Electives–chose 16 credits from the approved list. Courses offered with topical/non-standard numbers may be used as electives if approved by a planning advisor. Electives in other departments possible upon consultation with and permission of the undergraduate planning advisor.

Applied Learning Opportunities

  • Classroom-based applied learning/simulation: Practice decision-making through simulations, case studies, role playing, and other hands-on activities in the classroom.
  • Community-based projects: Team up with local organizations on projects that allow you to solve problems and make a difference.
  • Field work: Take your learning beyond the classroom through immersive experiences.
  • Internships: Get real-world experience (and often credit or pay) by working in a professional setting connected to your career goals.
  • Student employment & leadership at EWU: Gain skills, connections, and confidence through on-campus jobs and leadership roles in student government, departments, athletics, or clubs.
  • Undergraduate research: Collaborate with professors on research projects where you ask questions, solve problems, and present what you discover.
An EWU urban regional planning student presents her research

Sample Courses

PLAN 406. PLANNING LAW AND LEGISLATION. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: PLAN 201 or permission of instructor.
Reviews the constitutional, statutory and case law governing public planning and regulatory activities, with specific emphasis on the legal aspects of regulating private lands to further public objectives and Washington state law.

Catalog Listing

PLAN 442. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. 3 Credits.

Pre-requisites: PLAN 201 or instructor permission.
Examines the case for sustainable urban and rural development and explores examples of efforts to create sustainable development.

Catalog Listing

PLAN 475. TRIBAL GOVERNANCE. 4 Credits.

Notes: may be stacked with PLAN 523.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 or permission of instructor.
Presents an overview of Native American community and culture, the history of tribal government, tribal businesses, contemporary structures, and the applications of strategic planning techniques to Native American communities. Emphasizes appropriate community development and planning techniques which promote tribal self-determination and preserve tribal sovereignty. Students utilize contemporary tribal communities as a case studies approach to better understand tribal governance.

Catalog Listing

Career Possibilities

  • Urban Planner
  • City Planner
  • Land Use Planner
  • Zoning Specialist
  • Development Review Coordinator
  • Regional Planner
  • Community Development Planner
  • Planning Technician

  • Transportation Planner
  • Infrastructure Coordinator
  • Traffic Analyst
  • Public Transit Planner
  • Rail and Aviation Planner
  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner
  • Logistics and Mobility Consultant
  • Transportation Systems Analyst

  • Environmental Planner
  • Sustainability Consultant
  • Climate Change Policy Advisor
  • Urban Resilience Specialist
  • Environmental Impact Analyst
  • Green Infrastructure Planner
  • Conservation and Land Use Specialist
  • Renewable Energy Site Planner

  • Economic Development Planner
  • Housing Policy Analyst
  • Affordable Housing Developer
  • Real Estate Development Planner
  • Economic Forecasting Specialist
  • Urban Economist
  • Redevelopment Project Manager
  • Land Acquisition Specialist

  • Historic Preservation Planner
  • Cultural Resource Manager
  • Heritage Site Coordinator
  • Historical Research Analyst
  • Cultural District Planner
  • Preservation Policy Advocate
  • Adaptive Reuse Planner

  • GIS Analyst
  • Spatial Data Specialist
  • Remote Sensing Analyst
  • Urban Data Scientist
  • Mapping and Visualization Specialist
  • Geospatial Programmer
  • Location Intelligence Consultant
  • Smart Cities Technology Coordinator

  • Urban Policy Advisor
  • Public Affairs Consultant
  • Legislative Analyst 
  • Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Specialist
  • Regional Policy Analyst
  • Municipal Program Coordinator
  • Public Engagement Specialist
  • Land Policy Researcher

  • Nonprofit Program Manager 
  • Community Organizer
  • Housing Advocate
  • Urban Agriculture Coordinator
  • Advocacy and Outreach Specialist
  • Grant Writer
  • Neighborhood Development Specialist
  • Public Housing Coordinator

  • Urban Designer
  • Public Space Planner
  • Site Planner
  • Community Visioning Facilitator
  • Streetscape Designer
  • Urban Aesthetics Consultant

  • Emergency Management Planner
  • Hazard Mitigation Specialist
  • Disaster Recovery Coordinator
  • Resilience Planner
  • Risk Assessment Analyst
  • Crisis Management Consultant
  • Post-Disaster Redevelopment Specialist
  • Floodplain Management Planner

  • International Development Planner
  • Global Urban Policy Analyst
  • Consultant for International Organizations (e.g., UN-Habitat)
  • Urbanization Specialist 
  • Humanitarian Aid Urban Planner
  • Global Infrastructure Advisor
  • Cross-Border Planning Consultant
  • Megacity Growth Strategist

  • Urban Planning Consultant
  • Real Estate Development Analyst
  • Infrastructure Project Manager
  • Private Sector Zoning Advisor
  • Corporate Sustainability Planner
  • Land Development Project Manager
  • Site Selection Analyst
  • Environmental Consulting Specialist

As an Urban and Regional Planning major, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to design and manage sustainable, livable communities.

This field focuses on land use, transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental planning. You’ll learn how to tackle the complex challenges of urbanization and community development by combining spatial analysis, policy-making, and public engagement.

You’ll graduate well-prepared to create equitable and efficient spaces that balance growth with environmental responsibility. You can pursue meaningful careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, working in areas like urban design, policy analysis, infrastructure development, and more.

Explore careers in Urban and Regional Planning:

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2334 W Lawrence Ave
Ste 209
Chicago, IL 60625

Accreditation

The EWU Urban and Regional Planning program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).

Public Information

PAB Accreditation Seal