Courses - Fall 2026
URSP
Urban Studies and Planning
URSP250
The Sustainable City: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges
An exploration, through an interdisciplinary approach, of a number of issues related to making cities more sustainable in terms of environmental protection, economic opportunity, and social justice. The course assist students to develop skills in critical analysis and systems thinking and to use those skills in analyzing sustainability related problems and potential solutions, and to expand students' understanding of the political implications of crafting and moving towards a sustainable urban future.
URSP601
Research Methods
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Recommended: An undergraduate-level statistics course; and familiarity with Microsoft Excel.
Formerly: URBS601.
Use of measurement, statistics, quantitative analysis, and micro-computers in urban studies and planning.
Restriction: Must be in the URSP program.
URSP604
The Planning Process
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Credit only granted for: URSP604, URBS656, or URBS604.
Formerly: URBS604.
Legal framework for U.S. planning; approaches to the planning process; tools and technology; systems thinking; defining problems and issues; soliciting goals and values; developing and making good presentations; public participation; developing and evaluating alternatives and scenarios; plan evaluation; developing RFPs.
URSP605
Planning History and Theory
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Examination of key, selected major events and issues in U.S. planning history and the development of the [planning profession; exploration of major themes in planning theory and practical applications of them; and analysis of the relationship of history and theory.
URSP606
Planning Economics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restriction: Must not have completed URSP630.
Credit only granted for: URSP606, URBS606, or URBS630.
Formerly: URBS606.
Resource allocation in a market economy, the nature of market failures, and the justifications for public sector intervention. The limits and possibilities for planning in a market economy.
URSP611
Planning Technology: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must have permission of URSP program.
Credit only granted for: URSP688L or URSP611.
Formerly: URSP688L.
Introduces the fundamental concepts of spatial thinking and spatial analysis, as well as the basic-to-intermediate skills and techniques to apply to planning research and practice. It balances lectures on the core principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with applied instruction on managing, processing, and interpreting spatial data, emphasizing hands-on experience to provide students with essential spatial analysis and mapping skills.
Please add the following verbiage: Credit only granted for URSP611 or URSP688L.
URSP672
Planning & Design in the Multicultural Metropolis
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the URSP program, or permission from URSP program.
Credit only granted for: URSP688Z or URSP672.
Formerly: URSP688Z.
Explores theoretical, ethical, and practical questions about today's multicultural metropolis. It addresses trends racial and ethnic inequality and draws on theories of justice, multicultural and intercultural planning, and the politics of difference to explore opportunities for change. It examines planners' roles in dealing with conflicting and competing uses and users, fostering spaces that meet the needs of different groups, and promoting social and economic equity through the design of the built environment and urban policy.
Credit only granted for URSP 688Z or URSP 672
URSP688F
Recent Developments in Urban Studies; Public Transportation Planning
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
URSP688I
Recent Developments in Urban Studies; The Comprehensive Plan
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
URSP708
Community Planning Studio
Credits:
6
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
URSP709
Field Instruction
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
URSP788
Independent Study in Urban Studies and Planning
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
URSP798
Readings in Urban Studies and Planning
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
URSP799
Master's Thesis Research
Credits:
1 - 6
Grad Meth:
S-F
URSP898
Pre-Candidacy Research
Credits:
1 - 8
Grad Meth:
Reg
URSP899
Doctoral Dissertation Research
Credits:
6
Grad Meth:
S-F
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University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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