Urban and Regional Planning - BS, Urban Design Track
The Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning degree program is based in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning (LAUP) within the School of Architecture at Texas A&M University. The Urban and Regional Planning program equips students for entry-level positions in planning allied fields and prepares them for graduate studies in fields such as Urban Planning and Land Development. The core curriculum, designed to equip students with knowledge and skills to deal effectively with the opportunities and challenges inherent in the development, growth and culture of neighborhoods, cities, and regions, is based on theoretical training in the natural, physical, and social sciences. Students acquire skills that enable them to apply these theories to develop communities, cities, and regions which are safe, healthy, and sustainable.
Critical thinking and analytical skills are emphasized for problem-solving at the community and regional scale. Classroom service-learning experiences enable graduates to more reliably and realistically assess complex community problems, design solutions for overcoming those problems, and evaluate the outcomes of programs and policies in meeting community and regional needs.
The Urban Design Track emphasizes physical solutions and the urban form of communities and cities, related to land uses, site planning, the provision of infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, and storm water management, and the provision of public spaces. Skill-building emphasizes graphic representation and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for both analysis and design.