Regularly Scheduled Courses for Undergraduates
(Red course numbers relate to UNC’s former course numbering system)

050 (006E) First Year Seminars (3)
First Year Seminars offer an introduction to the intellectual life of the University. While drawing on
diverse disciplines and subject areas, the seminars share a focus on how scholars pose problems,
discover "truths," resolve controversies, and evaluate knowledge. The department offers four seminars
each year.  Fall or spring.  Faculty
    050 - Your Land, My Land, or Our Land?
    051 - Urban Growth & Sustainable Communities
    052 - Sustainable Cities
    053 - Bringing Life Back to Downtown: Commercial Redevelopment of NC's Cites & Towns
    054 - Transportation and a Sustainable Campus
    055 - Globalization and the Transformation of Local Economies
    056 - Race, Sex & Place in America
    057 - What is a Good City?  Goldstein

246 (46) Cities of the Future (3)
Introduction to the evolution of cities in history, the concept of urban morphology, and the different
elements or sub-systems of the urban system and how they have changed over time.
Fall or Summer. Faculty

247 (47) Solving Urban Problems (3)
This course is an introduction to the methods used in urban planning for solving urban problems. Students
will learn the methods used in various sub-fields of planning and will develop an ability to critically evaluate
different techniques and approaches used within these disciplines. Spring or Summer. Faculty

248 (48) Planning Workshop (3)
This workshop provides an opportunity for students to synthesize knowledge and skills obtained in the core
and elective courses in the urban studies and planning minor, as well as in their major and other undergraduate
work. The course is a practicum in which the instructor sets up a significant urban planning problem in
cooperation with a state agency or local planning agency in the Triangle region. Typically, students prepare
an issue paper that specifies the nature of the problem, its significance, and people affected by it; evaluates
current governmental policies that affect the problem; evaluates policy and program alternatives for dealing
with the problem; and recommends a new course of action. Spring. Faculty

260 (73) Urban Policy (PLCY 73) (3)
Public policy topics on the current urban agenda within the political context. Feasible policy alternatives,
implementation and the division of responsibility and coordination among levels of government and the private
sector. Spring. Faculty

267 (67, PLCY 67) Ethical Bases of Public Policy Decision-Making (3)
Critical exploration of ethical and theoretical bases for making public policy decisions. Analysis of normative
arguments of contemporary public policy issues. Faculty.
      Environmental Ethics (PDF) Summer 2005. Brower

396 Undergraduate Independent Study

691 (99) Honors Seminar in Urban and Regional Students (3)
An overview of the subject matter and methods of investigation to the study of cities and regions.  
Presentation of original papers prepared by students.  Fall or Spring.  Faculty

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Courses for Graduates and Advanced Undergraduates
(Red course numbers relate to UNC’s former course numbering system)

485 (185, ENVR 185, PLCY 185) American Environmental Policy (3)
Introduction to environmental management and policy, including basic concepts, major institutions, policy
instruments, and environmental policy analysis.  Emphasis on policies and management strategies for
protecting ecological processes and human health against environmental risks.  Fall.  Andrews

491 (246, GEOG 191) GIS for Planners (3)
Applications of GIS to typical planning problems. Introduction to GIS concepts and issues related to geography,
cartography, data management, spatial analysis, and project planning.  Laboratory exercises using ArcInfo, Arc
View, digitizing, and Global Positioning System instruction.  Fall.  Walsh, Faculty

499 (110 (12))  Experiencing Historic Architecture (PDF)
Experiencing Historic Architecture is a brief architectural history survey designed to introduce and familiarize
students in the historic built environment that surrounds all of us.  Its intent is to introduce the forms, spaces,
and stylistic traits of historic American architecture, how this idiom has evolved through the years, and how
technological evolutions and innovations that have occurred in the United States have influenced it.  Kapp

499 (110 (63)) Planning for the Transformation of North Carolina's Economy (3)
The closure of Kannapolis' Pillowtex facility and its return as an ag-biotech research center; the use of
BioWork as a retraining program for displaced workers and distressed counties; the creation of an industrial
extension partnership in advanced materials in the state's northwest; the expansion of Greenvill's medical
center as a site for innovations in patient care and medical records management: each of these is an illustration
of North Carolina's transition to the knowledge economy. Spring.  Lowe

550 (110/111) Selected Topics in Urban Studies (PDF) 
The functioning of the urban area as a complex system. Analysis of planning and policies aimed at
development and change.  Fall or spring.  Faculty

574 (110 (59)) Political Economy of Poverty & Inequality (3)
This course introduces students to the political economy of poverty alleviation programs and policies.
It explores what works well and why in this arena, and draws lessons from examining successful and
less successful attempts at designing and implementing employment generation, skill development,
capabilities enhancing poverty alleviation programs at the local level. Spring. Tewari

636 (126) Urban Transportation Planning (PDF) (3)
Fundamental characteristics of the urban transportation system as a component of urban structure.
Methodologies for the analysis of transportation problems, planning urban transportation, and the evaluation
of plans.  Spring.  Morton

637 (127) Public Transportation Strategy and Planning (3)
Alternative public urban transportation systems including mass transit, innovative transit services, and paratransit,
examined from economic, land use, social, technical, and policy perspectives. Spring.  Rodríguez

641 (141) Ecology and Land Use Planning (PDF) (3)
Integration of the structure, function and change of ecosystems with a land use planning framework. How land
use planning accommodates human use and occupancy within ecological limits to sustain long-term natural
system integrity. Fall.  Berke

662 (142) Gender Issues (3)

720 (130) Planning Methods (PDF) (3)
Accessing information from conventional and electronic sources, spatial data acquisition, analysis, and mapping.
Inferential statistics through multiple regression.  Fall.  Faculty

738 (128) Transportation Policy (3)
Prerequisite, PLAN 126 or instructor's permission.  Examination of transportation planning and policy questions:
land use relationships, modal comparisons, environmental quality, transportation demand management, paratransit
planning, the transportation needs of special populations, and international comparisons.  Fall.  Rodríguez

739 (129) Transportation Planning Models (PDF) (3)
The transportation planning process: data collection, trip generation, modal choice, trip distribution and assignment.
Social, economic, and environmental impacts of transportation. Innovative modeling techniques. Spring.  Faculty

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Courses for Graduates
(Red course numbers relate to UNC’s former course numbering system)

591 (247) Advanced Geographic Information Systems (PDF) (3)
Prerequisite, Plan 246 or equivalent. Laboratory and lecture focus on students' research interests and projects.
The contribution of GIS and spatial data analysis to resolving complex spatial problems.  Emphasis placed on
developing student projects, data acquisition, application of GIS software, and the exploration of appropriate
spatial analysis methods.  Spring.  Song

686 (219, ENVR 286) Water Policy in Lesser Developed Countries (3)
Application of multi-objective programming and planning techniques to environmental and resource management
problems. Management and planning models of water quantity and quality, air quality, land use, and public
facilities location. Spring. Whittington

697 (270) International Development and Change (3)
Global economy impact on national and community development.  Environmental degradation effects on development.
Social, economic, environmental change strategies.  Spring.  Faculty

704 (204) Theory of Planning I (PDF) (3)
The logic of planning as a professional activity. Critical overview of current process theories leading students
to develop a personal philosophy applicable to their work as planners.  Fall or Spring.  Nguyen

710 (210) Microeconomics for Planners (PDF) (3)
Consumer demand, production theory, product and factor markets, monopoly pricing, perfect and imperfect
competition. Fall. Tewari

714 (214) Urban Spatial Structure (PDF) (3)
Principal theories and empirical evidence of the contemporary spatial development of metropolitan areas.
Topics include the locational behavior of industrial, residential, retail and office activities, and public facility
location; theories of neighborhood change; the political organization of metropolitan regions; the impacts of
demographic and technological change and public policies on urban spatial form in residential neighborhoods;
normative and future perspectives on urban spatial form. Spatial analysis of metropolitan area development
trends using census and other spatial information sources is required. Fall. Rodríguez

721 (230) Advanced Planning Methods (3)
Quantitative methods of demographic and economic analysis and forecasting.  Fall.  BenDor

724 (206) Introduction to Law for Planners (PDF) (3)
Government institutions, real property, constitutional law, land use law, environmental law.  Fall.  Brower

725 (254) Development Dispute Resolution (PDF) (3)
Contemporary methods of resolving development disputes through negotiation, bargaining, and mediation.
Techniques and skills applicable to solving controversies over planning and implementation of public and
private development projects.  Spring.  Quercia

740 (240) Land Use and Environmental Policy (PDF) (3)
History, institutional setting, rationale of state and local land use and environmental policies.  Program and policy
frameworks, political and market processes, resource utilization concepts, and contemporary development policy
and resource management.  Fall.  Berke

741 (241) Land Use and Environmental Planning Policy (PDF) (3)
Methods of land use plan-making at the urban and exurban scales.  Use of GIS and spreadsheets to analyze land
suitability and spatial needs to protect the environment while accommodating projected growth.  Preparation of land
classification policies, land use area plans, and development management programs.  Spring.  Berke/Song

744 (244) Development and Environmental Management (PDF) (3)
Coordination of public powers and private actions to implement development plans and conserve environmental
resources.  Regulatory, public investment, incentive, and policy instruments used in land use and environmental
guidance systems. Spring.  Faculty

745 (245) Development Impact Assessment (PDF) (3)
Methods for data management and predictive analysis of the environmental, transportation and other infrastructure,
fiscal, and social impacts of land development projects.  Impact mitigation measures also examined.  Spring.  BenDor

747 (237) Coastal Management Policy (PDF) (3)
Analysis of national and state coastal management, laws, policies, and programs. Private sector, interest group,
government agency, and public roles in coastal resource allocation. Influence of science, values and politics. Fall.
Brower and Owens

752 (242) Principles of Site Planning and Urban Design (3)
Techniques of site analysis, project programming, and arrangement of structures on the land. Design and review
of urban development projects within limitations of regulatory standards and market criteria. Fall. Campanella

755 (355, PLCY 355) Economic Development and Science Technology Policy

757 (257) Planning for Historic Preservation (3)
Concepts, processes, and policies for historic preservation; its role in the community planning and development
process.  Spring.  Howard

760 (251) Real Estate and Affordable Housing (PDF) (3)
Fundamentals and techniques of real estate investment analysis including cases and computer modeling;
applications of the public interest in private investment decisions; tax and other public policies influencing
real estate investments; and affordable housing.  Spring.  Quercia

761 (252) Housing and Public Policy (PDF) (3)
A theory-based course in housing and market dynamics; the justification for government intervention in the
housing market; the structure and operations of the mortgage market and construction industry; the economics
of housing markets and housing market analysis; problems of racial discrimination, substandard housing, the
homeless, affordability; evaluation of public policies, including rent regulations, housing allowances, and
subsidized production programs.  Fall.  Quercia

763 (266) Urban Revitalization (PDF) (3)
Social, political, and economic theory of local communities.  Models of neighborhood change. Neighborhood
revitalization: theoretical aspects; federal, state, and local programs; role of nonprofit organizations; step-by-step
process for revitalizing an area.  Spring.  Rohe

764 (268) Techniques In Neighborhood Revitalization (3)
The steps involved in developing neighborhood revitalization plans. Students work with local neighborhood associations
in identifying both community assets and problems and the various stakeholders, conducting research on selected
issues, developing and selecting strategies for addressing those issues, and formulating an implementation strategy.
Fall.  Rohe

765 (255) The Development Process (3)
The dynamics of real property development from the developer's perspective covering market research, government
relations, site planning, financing, investment analysis, construction and project management, and marketing.
Spring.  Malizia

768 (258, PLCY 258) Community Capitalism (3)
Theory of business and community development convergence. Applications in inner city business and capital
markets, development finance, urban policies.  Fall.  Stegman

770 (261) Economic Development Policy (PDF) (3)
Introduction to basic theories, concepts, and strategies employed to pursue local and regional economic development.
Clarifies similarities and distinctions with related planning perspectives including community development, investigates
the economic logic behind various development initiatives, and reviews basic principles for critically examining
alternative policies and programs. Spring.  Lowe

771 (263) Development Planning Techniques (3)
Intermediate and advanced techniques for analyzing the development of local and regional economies.  Social accounts,
indicator construction, regional input-output models, economic and fiscal impact analysis, labor market analysis, and
regional economic forecasting techniques.  Spring.  Goldstein

773 (264) Urban And Regional Development Seminar (PDF) (3)
Fundamental concepts and theories applied to local economic development including growth, trade, product-cycle,
flexible specialization, and entrepreneurship theories.  Urban and regional development issues addressed in the North
American, South American, European, or South Asian contexts.  Fall.  Tewari

776 (267) Development Finance (3)
Community development financial institutions and loan funds for local asset building and wealth creation.  Investment
analysis to structure and finance local projects.  Real estate and business development cases. Fall.  Malizia, Faculty

784 (233, ENVR 290) Environmental Law (3)
The law of resource use and development, its administration and underlying policies, especially water resources
law, regulatory law, and natural resource administration. Fall. Heath

781 (234, ENVR 291) Water Resources Planning (3)
Water resources planning and management. Federal and state water resources policies. Analytical skills to
identify environmental problems associated with urban water resources development. Fall.  Faculty

786 (236, ENVR 292) Environmental Quality Management (3)
Planning and analysis of regional environmental systems with focus on management of mass flows that affect the quality
of the regional environment.  Particular attention in this course is paid to measuring and preventing degradation to urban
streams and wetlands.  Summer II.

785 (232, ENVR 282) Public Investment Theory (3)
Prerequisite, PLAN 210 or equivalent. Basic theory, process, and techniques of public investment planning and
decision making, involving synthesis of economic, political, and technologic aspects. Theory underlying benefit-
cost analysis, adaptation to a descriptive and normative model for planning public projects and programs.
Spring.  Whittington

788 (288) Public Policy Economics I (3)
Economic theory applied to policy issues.  Theory of utility and demand, organization and operation of product and factor
markets, production theory, regulation, welfare economics.  Fall.  Tauchen, Faculty

789 (289) Public Policy Economics II (3)
Prerequisite PLAN 288.  Additional public policy issues addressed to study further applications of economic theory.
Principles of taxation, fiscal and monetary theory, regulation and growth theory.  Spring.  Faculty

799 (310) Planning Seminar (Var.)
Original research, fieldwork, readings, or discussion of selected planning topics and issues. Fall or spring.  Faculty
         762 310 (22) Central City Revitalization (PDF)  Rohe
         799 (2) Urban Growth Simulation Modeling (PDF)  BenDor
         799 310 (29) International Conflict Management (PDF)  Whittington
         310 (36) NEURUS and ED Applied Research (PDF)  Goldstein
         310 (54) Sustainable Transportation (PDF)  Faculty
         310 (60) City Planning Practicum (PDF)  Rodríguez
         651 310 (61) Urban Form and the Design of Cities. Campanella
         779 (63) Planning for Jobs: Labor Market Transformations and Employment Policy in the 21st Century (PDF)  Lowe
         799 (64) Diversity & Inequality in Cities. (PDF)  Nguyen
         638 310 Pedestrian and Bike Transportation. Faculty

801 (301) Design of Policy Research (PDF) (3)
Logic of designing research for the analysis of planning problems and the formulation of public policies.  Elements of
research design in the four major methods: case study, survey research, quasi-experimental designs, and the social
experiment.  Detailed design of a policy-relevant research study required.  Fall.  Goldstein, Faculty

802 (302) Advanced Seminar in Research Design: Data, Methods & Evaluation (PDF) (3)
Prerequisite PLAN 301.  Practicum on the application of social science research methods to research questions and
problems developed by students in PLAN 301.  Emphasis on the craft of research, including preparation of journal
articles, reporting research results, and advanced treatment of topics introduced in PLAN 301.  Spring.  Faculty

805 (205) Theory of Planning II (PDF) (3)
Construction of methodologies for evaluating various theories of planning and intensive analysis of the North
American planning theory literature. Doctoral-level introduction to the area.  Fall.  Goldstein

823 (222/223) Planning Workshop (3)
Problem-solving, client-based courses designed to give students experience in applying planning theory and
methods to actual problem situations in economic development, housing and community development, real
estate, environmental planning, and land use and transportation. Second-year students select the section
most closely related to their specialization. Fall or spring. Faculty
     Identifying Urban Form Characteristics that Enhance the Demand for Bus Service (PDF)  Spring.  Rodríguez
     Neighborhood Revitalization in East Durham (PDF) Spring.  Quercia
     Real Estate Development, Design & Preservation (PDF) Spring.  Malizia

890/891 (200/201) Special Topics in Planning (3)
Reading, lectures, and discussions to provide opportunities to develop new concepts and courses in various
city and regional planning topics.  Fall or spring.  Faculty

896 (315) Independent Study (Var.)
Independent research or projects under the direction of a department faculty member for full-time graduate students
enrolled in the department. Fall or spring.  Faculty

911 (311) Ph.D. Research Seminar
Spring and fall.  Rohe

953 Ph.D. Seminar - Environment Management Policy

992 (392) Master's Project (3)
Original research paper or capstone project related to planning practice. Fall or spring. Faculty.

994 (394) Doctoral Dissertation (Var.)