Minor in Urban Planning overview

As urban areas grow, the skills needed to manage and direct this growth become increasingly complex, involving not just the delivery of goods and services to citizens, but also issues related to the juxtaposition of the built environment upon the natural environment.

By pursuing a minor in urban planning at Texas A&M, students will earn an education within a multi-disciplinary atmosphere where analytical skills and critical thinking are harvested. Students will then apply this acquired knowledge to address real-world issues which communities and regions face on a daily basis. Those earning a minor in urban planning can effectively solve problems related to a number of complex issues involving the built and natural environment, transportation, health, economic development, among others.

The minor in urban planning program will provide a solid educational basis for those students wishing to pursue a post-graduate education within the planning field. Also, because of its broad scope, the minor program may serve as an effective introduction to graduate studies in other social science disciplines such as economics, geography, political science, and public policy.

The minor program will prepare students for entry-level positions in a variety of fields including state and local government; advocacy, grant-making and civic organizations; real estate management; environmental science; social assistance services; and health care services.

Urban Planning Courses

Course Listings
Urban Planning Courses
College of Architecture Courses
All Texas A&M University courses
2005 – 2006 Graduate Catalog
2005-2006 Academic Calendar

Curriculum

Course Offerings: Students pursuing the minor in urban planning must select 15 hours from among the courses listed in the curriculum:

Satisfactory completion of courses: To be awarded the minor in Urban & Regional Planning and receive transcript recognition, students must obtain a "C" or better in each of the courses selected from the list above.

Transfer courses: Transfer courses are not permitted.

Effective date: This minor became effective at the beginning of the fall semester 2003. Students declaring a minor in Urban & Regional Planning must meet all requirements listed in this document to receive transcript recognition. Students must declare their intent to seek the minor prior to the semester in which they intend to graduate.

Upper level courses: All students pursuing the minor in Urban & Regional Planning must have U3 (junior) or U4 (senior) classification to enroll in required 300 – 400 level courses.

Advising: Per University guidelines, the student’s home college or major department is responsible for advising students pursuing a minor in Urban & Regional Planning. In addition, students are required to meet with the Minor Advisor in the Department of Landscape Architecture for advising prior to admission to the program. 

Minor in Urban Planning Faculty

Dr. Dawn Jourdan, Minor in Urban Planning Coordinator

Professors

* These are the faculty who are primarily associated with the Minor in Urban Planning Program

Dr. Sherry Bame (coordinator for the pending Bachelor’s of Science degree in Urban and Regional Studies): Dr. Bame has a special interest in health systems planning and policy, environmental health, and health-related disaster planning. She teaches PLAN 365.

Dr. Cecilia Giusti: Dr. Giusti's interests include urban and regional economic development in developing countries, especially in Latin America. She teaches PLAN 415.

Dr. Dawn Jourdan: Dr. Jourdan is the Minor Program Advisor. Her interests include citizen participation, historic preservation, and the legal aspects related to urban planning. She teaches PLAN 360 and 365.

Dr. Michael Neuman: Dr. Neuman's primary research interests include planning theory and sustainable urbanism. He teaches PLAN 415.

Dr. George Rogers: Dr. Rogers is interested in the areas of sustainability, risk analysis and planning, technology and society, and quantitative methods. He teaches PLAN 414.

Dr. Don Sweeney: Dr. Sweeney's professional interests involve all aspects of health systems policy, and planning management. He teaches PLAN 370.

Dr. Shannon VanZandt: Dr. VanZandt’s interests include sustainable community development and housing. She teaches PLAN 356.

Dr. Kimberly Winson-Geideman: Dr. Winson-Geideman’s interests include brownfield redevelopment and property valuation. She teaches LDEV 467.

Dr. Doug Wunneberger: Dr. Wunneburger's primary research interests include the integration of spatial and information technology for studies in landscape ecology-based planning and management. He teaches Land 461.

Admissions

Students who wish to pursue the minor in urban planning should consult the Minor Advisor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. The minor advisor will review the applicant’s qualifications for admission to the minor program. Students applying for the minor must have a 3.0 or better overall GPR.

Upon consulting with the Minor Advisor, the student must file their application in their home college or major department. It is important to note that not all Colleges or departments outside the College of Architecture will permit students to obtain a minor.

Contact Information

Texas A&M University
Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
Minor in Urban Planning
Dr. Dawn Jourdan, Esq., Interim Minor Program Coordinator
332 A Langford Arch. Center
3137 TAMU
College Station, Texas 77843-3137
Tel. 979-458-4121
Fax: 979-862-1111

E-mail: djourdan@archmail.tamu.edu
Web: http://archone.tamu.edu

Urban Planning scholarships and fellowships

Scholarships and fellowships are available at the university, college, department, and program level. Please see the University’s Department of Student Financial Aid for information regarding university-level scholarships. Information about other scholarships and fellowships can be found below.

Program Scholarships

Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association Scholarships - Established by the Education Foundation of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association; awarded to students pursuing a master of urban planning degree.

Katherine F. Turnbull Transportation Scholarship – Established by Katherine F. Turnbull, Ph.D., ’93, of the Texas Transportation Institute; awarded to a student pursuing a master of urban planning degree with transportation as their declared emphasis area or intending to concentrate their studies in transportation. $1,000 per year

The David Pugh Planning and Land Use Law Scholarship - Established by McDonald Associates of Dallas, Texas, in honor of Dr. David Pugh - associate professor of urban planning, former MUP program coordinator and associate professor; awarded to a Texas resident entering the Master of Urban Planning program who has demonstrated scholarship, an interest in public service and an interest in planning and land use law. Two years/$1,000 per year.

College Scholarships

College-Wide Scholarships: Rotates to every department in the College of Architecture.

Undergraduate or Graduate student - R. Joseph Reeves Endowed Memorial Scholarship - Endowed by the Roy T. Reeves Family Trust; awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student in the College of Architecture in good academic standing.

Colonel James E. Ray '63 Endowed Scholarship - Established by alumni, colleagues and friends to recognize the accomplishments of Colonel James E. Ray '63; awarded on a rotating basis to a full-time student in one of the three College of Architecture departments. The award is based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities and financial need.

Resources for Students...[more]

Urban Planning Career Information

Planners work in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Planners in the public sector work for cities, states, regional governments, and federal offices. In smaller organizations one planner may be involved in transportation, housing, land use, design, and economic development planning. In larger organizations planners may specialize in one or two areas.

Planners in the private sector work for consulting firms, real estate developers, architecture and engineering firms, utility companies and law firms. Their work may be specialized, such as negotiating easements for utilities, or more general, such as preparing comprehensive plans for cities.

Planners also work for non-profits. Organizations that assist with low-income housing, issues related to senior citizens, and that write grants for small cities all need planners.

Planners may work for a variety of organizations throughout their careers. Planning jobs are available in large and small towns, in dense urban areas and in rural areas for groups such as the Native American tribal offices. For information about careers in planning see related links below.

Urban Planning Student Organizations

The Association of Student Planners

This student organization is open to all MUP students. The Association plans student events to learn about planning, and just to have fun! The Association of Student Planners is a student organization run by the students. Membership in the student organization entitles you to receive a monthly journal and they provide guest speakers for the university community and coordinate travel to state and national conferences.

The Texas A&M Institute of Transportation Engineers Student Chapter

Despite the name this organization is open to all people interested in transportation. Membership in the student organization entitles you to receive ITE Journal, the monthly journal of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The Texas A&M Student Chapter promotes the discussion of transportation problems and solutions. They provide guest speakers for the university community and coordinate travel to state and national transportation conferences.