Head of the Department: Lewis D. Hopkins
Correspondence and Information: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 9071/2 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-3890
GRADUATE FACULTY
Professors: C. W. Forrest, L. F. Heumann, G. J. D. Hewings, L. D.
Hopkins, T. J. Kim
Associate Professors: R. A. Herendeen, G. J. Knaap, B. A. Williams
Assistant Professors: K. P. Donaghy, R. V. George, E. K. Husband, R. B. Olshansky, K. M. Reardon, D. W. Schneider
ADMISSION
The social sciences, the physical sciences, the design professions,
engineering, and urban planning are relevant undergraduate backgrounds for
graduate work in planning. Consideration will also be given to students
prepared in the humanities and other fields. The Graduate College admission
requirements apply. International applicants must score 590 or better on the
TOEFL. The Graduate Record Examination is required for all applicants. The
additional requirements described below apply for admission to the doctoral
program.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers graduate work leading to
the degrees of master of urban planning and doctor of philosophy in regional
planning. Students can also apply to dual degree programs to obtain a juris
doctor and a master of urban planning or a master of architecture and a master
of urban planning.
MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING
The fully accredited master's degree program prepares students for careers in
professional practice. Such careers involve public service at all levels of
government, private consulting practice, or other organizations in need of
planning services. The program also may prepare students for advanced work
leading to the Ph.D. degree and a career in teaching and research. The program
combines core requirements with a student selected concentration and electives.
The program ordinarily requires two years. First-year students take courses
focusing on the basic elements of planning, including theory, land use,
history, analytical methods, spatial organization, and law. The second year
provides opportunity for further work in areas of specialized interest,
including environment, economic development, regional science, information
systems, land use, housing, community development, transportation, and
preservation planning. A thesis or a master's project is required. An
internship during the summer between the first and second year is highly
recommended.
To qualify for the master of urban planning degree, a student must complete a minimum of either (1) 15 units if a zero-credit internship course (Urban Planning 490) is successfully completed or (2) 16 units if the internship course is not elected. At least 10 units must be in urban and regional planning courses (9 units for students completing Urban Planning 490). At least 4 units must be at the 400 level, and 3 of these must be in urban and regional planning.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN REGIONAL PLANNING
The doctoral program is offered in close cooperation with an interdisciplinary
program faculty. The program is designed to educate researchers and teachers
for university positions as well as specialized practitioners for the public
and private sectors. The program emphasizes environmental science and social
science aspects of regional planning and incorporates the necessary background
in research methods and planning theory and application. Students wishing to
pursue environmental science aspects of regional planning should have completed
at least three courses in physics, chemistry, or biology; one semester of
college-level calculus or linear algebra; one semester of statistics; and one
semester of economics. Students wishing to pursue social science aspects of
regional planning should have completed at least one semester of economics;
three semesters of other social sciences courses, such as economics, political
science, or sociology; one semester of statistics; and one semester of
college-level calculus or linear algebra. Students otherwise qualified may be
admitted with deficiencies in these areas. Deficiencies may be removed by
passing proficiency examinations or by taking courses after admission to the
program, but courses taken for this purpose will not count toward fulfillment
of degree requirements.
To qualify for the Ph.D. in regional planning, 24 units of credit must be completed. The student entering with the baccalaureate degree will be required to complete at least 16 units of course credit and up to 8 units of dissertation credit. The student entering with a master's degree in planning or a closely allied field generally will be required to complete a minimum of 8 units of course credit and up to 8 units of dissertation credit. A maximum of 8 units of advanced-standing credit may be granted. All student programs will consist of courses in planning research methods and planning theory and application. Depending on the program emphasis that a student selects, appropriate courses in environmental science or social science aspects of regional planning will be chosen in consultation with the student's academic adviser. The student must pass a qualifying examination, a preliminary examination of the dissertation proposal, and a final examination on the dissertation.
FINANCIAL AID
Fellowships, tuition and service fee waivers, teaching assistantships, and
research assistantships are available each year. Financial aid is awarded on
the basis of the student's previous academic record and other indicators of
potential. In the case of assistantships, the possession of specific teaching
or research capabilities is a consideration.
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