Chair's Welcome
Discover an exceptional planning school located in one of the most populous and dynamic regions of the U.S. See for yourself why you belong at the Florida Atlantic University Department of Urban and Regional Planning. We offer the following degree programs: Bachelor of Urban Design, Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning, and Master of Urban and Regional Planning. We also offer a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems and students can study urban planning with our faculty through the Ph.D. program in the Department of Geosciences.
Here are some of our highlights:
Location, Location, Location: The FAU main campus is located in South Florida, a vibrant area containing Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and 100 other municipalities. The region’s natural beauty and population growth create the ideal workplace and playground for our urban planning students. Historically, this region has offered an abundance of internships and job opportunities abound.
Accredited Master’s Program: The FAU Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program is one of only four planning programs fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board in the state of Florida (and the only one in the South Florida area). The Program was reaccredited in 2018 for the maximum period of seven years. We also offer an Advanced Standing Program that permits qualified undergraduate students to complete both bachelor's and master's degrees in less time than would normally be required.
Day, Night, and Online Classes: With many night classes to accommodate working individuals, our degrees can be completed by those working at full- and part-time jobs. Online classes also make it easier for students to complete their degrees. Plus, our low student to faculty ratio gives students the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their professors.
Connections: URP students are engaged in and connected to the South Florida area. Starting with class projects that involve South Florida communities and area professionals, URP students also take field trips, hear guest lectures, and have the opportunity to become paid research assistants in one of two URP research facilities: the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions (CUES) and the Visual Planning Technology Lab (VPT Lab), where students work on research projects that help them to form connections with area professionals and build their resumes. Plus, the Planning Society @ FAU is a student organization that conducts community service projects and career development events. Our program maintains strong connections with the professional planning community, including the Treasure Coast and Broward sections of the American Planning Association. We also offer a mentorship program that pairs planning students with planning professionals to foster immersive learning.
Innovative and Vital Research: CUES, the VPT Lab, and independent faculty research sponsors include: the National Science Foundation; the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Transportation; FEMA and the Florida Department of Emergency Management; the United States Geological Survey; The Nature Conservancy; the Alzheimer's Association, Kresge Foundation, Broward and Palm Beach Counties; the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach; many Community Redevelopment Agencies and Downtown Development Authorities; and other local planning organizations. Faculty research and teaching strengths include transportation and land use, economic development, housing and community development, hazard mitigation, geographic information systems, health and the built environment, and environmental planning.
FAU is also investing in our students with its innovative Undergraduate Research Grants Program, which offers research funds and fellowships for FAU students to work on their own research projects with faculty. Research assistantships are available to master's students on a competitive basis.
State-of-the-art facilities and resources: Whether it’s the 28-workstation URP Computer Classroom with high-end processors, solid state drives, and graphics cards, our eight-workstation Production Studio equipped with ultra-sharp 30-inch monitors and interactive tablets, or our Virtual Desktop for remote access to SURP applications and network resources, it’s clear that our school is serious about technology. We also have two research assistant offices with state-of-the-art computers.
Like what you see? Explore our degrees and programs at the left to learn more and apply. Need to ask questions or schedule a visit? Please contact me below.
Diana Mitsova, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Department of Urban & Regional Planning
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