Urban Planning and Design Studio

Online

Develop practical urban planning and urban design skills through a hands-on studio and lecture experience that mirrors professional planning practice. Explore planning and design principles while examining real-world examples and case studies that address the opportunities and challenges facing today's growing communities.

You’ll critique land use plans and site designs based on General Plan policies, zoning and design guidelines. The course emphasizes urban infill and sustainable community design and the challenges and complexities of planning and urban design utilizing community engagement.

By the end of the course, you'll have practical experience analyzing planning and design proposals and developing professional-quality planning documents and design solutions.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply urban planning and urban design principles to real-world planning projects
  • Analyze and critique land use plans and site designs
  • Prepare conceptual site plans and planning staff reports
  • Evaluate planning and design solutions that support urban infill and sustainable community development
  • Apply planning concepts during collaborative studio exercises and design charrettes
  • Communicate planning and design recommendations using professional planning practices

Skills You Will Gain

  • Urban planning and design
  • Site planning
  • Land use analysis
  • Planning staff report writing
  • Urban infill planning
  • Sustainable community design
  • Design critique and evaluation
  • Collaborative design charrette participation
  • Professional planning communication

There will be a minimum of 24 hours of planning and design work conducted outside of class.

Course Format and Pacing
This seven-week online course includes six (6) weekly live, instructor-led Zoom sessions. Students will access the program through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Students can expect to spend a total of approximately 24 hours on this course. Active engagement and participation are essential to fully benefit from the course and achieve the best learning outcomes.

Academic Units
3
Section Number
273LEP104
Instruction Method
Online class

Association Credits

American Planning Assoc (AICP)
30.00 AICP hours
CA Dept of Public Health (REHS)
30.00 REHS hours

Section Notes

Access to your course in Canvas will be available 7 days before the course start date. Please note that course start and end dates, as well as live sessions (if applicable), are subject to change.

Enrollment Policies

Drop requests (withdraw with a refund) will be approved, less a $50 processing fee, if the request is received before the refund deadline. View complete enrollment policy information, including details on withdrawals and transfers.  
 
Refund Deadline: 1/3/2028. Refunds and/or enrollment transfers will not be approved after this date.   
 
Students enrolling after the first day of class are expected to reach out to their instructor to make sure they receive all content and are on track with the course. 

Technical Requirements

To ensure your success in this course, please review our technical requirements page. https://cpe.ucdavis.edu/areas-study/online-programs/technical-requirements

Discounts

CAAA Member Discount

Current members of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) and other UC alumni associations receive 10% off the course fee of one course per quarter, not to exceed $100. If you don't have your discount code, contact CAAA at [email protected] to request it.