Help make your community a more beautiful, healthy and equitable place. Learn the skills you need to solve problems in urban areas with the Urban Studies and Planning major.
Why Study Urban Studies and Planning?
More than half of the world's population lives in urban areas. These cities, towns and suburbs need planners to create safe and healthy communities.
By majoring in urban studies and planning, you will help shape the modern city. You will collaborate with the community to propose projects from housing to parks. You will seek innovative and sustainable solutions. With this degree, you will be ready to enter into a career in urban planning, local government management and the nonprofit sector.
Why Study Urban Studies and Planning at CSUN?
Top in the Nation
CSUN has been ranked the second best college for urban studies by Great Value Colleges. We were selected not only for our affordability but for our courses on research methods, planning theory, community-based urban design and more. By studying at CSUN, you will receive a top-notch education at a great price.
Real-world Experience
Our courses emphasize experiential learning. You'll learn how to use the field's current tools, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). You'll design and analyze plans and zoning requirements for real neighborhoods. You will conduct your own urban field research, where you will propose improvements or solutions for local neighborhoods. You may even present your findings to community stakeholders.
Internship Opportunities
As a complement to your coursework, you will complete a planning internship. It can be with a government agency, nonprofit organization or a private-sector organization. You'll gain real-world skills as you find solutions to urban problems. These experiences will help you begin your career in planning.
What You'll Learn
As an Urban Studies and Planning major, you will understand the needs of living in an urban environment. You will address complex problems from transportation to sustainability. You will learn to cooperate with community members to find solutions that improve the lives of all.
For your major, you will complete the required courses and choose your own electives. You will also complete supervised fieldwork and an internship.
In your required courses, you will learn:
- Urban and public policies of modern cities
- Graphic communication tools, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and computer-aided design
- Planning theory and planning law
- Sustainable growth in cities
- Research methods in urban studies and planning
In your elective courses, you can choose from a variety of topics including:
- Geographical information science, using GIS software
- General plan and zoning laws in California
- Cities of the developing world
- The urban history of Los Angeles
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and other environmental concerns
- Urban housing
- Urban social policy, distributional equity and environmental movements in urban planning
- Community development
- Urban land-use and transportation planning
Careers & Outcomes
With a degree in urban studies and planning, you will be ready to begin your career working with local government agencies, private firms and nonprofit organizations.
Job opportunities are available in a variety of fields, including:
- Urban and regional planning
- Community development
- Municipal government
- Environmental analysis and planning
- Public administration
- Transportation
- Real estate and property development
- Nonprofit advocacy
- Private consulting
Employers of recent alumni include:
- City of Los Angeles, Planning Department
- LA Metro
- CalTrans
- City of Santa Clarita, Community Development
Common career paths for graduates include:
- City and urban planning
- Transportation planning
- Regional planning
- Property development
- Urban design
- Community development
Job titles for graduates include:
- Planing technician
- Assistant/associate planner
- Principal planner
- Regional planner
- Transportation planner
- Community organizer
- Planning director
Planning for the CSUN community.
Every year the Urban Planning Students of Northridge (UPSN) designs and implements an urban planning project at CSUN. The association embodies principles such as equity, sustainability and community development. Join us to find new friends, networking opportunities and more.
Study Abroad
At the Urban Studies and Planning Department, we encourage you to study abroad. You'll gain new perspectives that will inform your future goals and projects. Through the CSU International Program Study Centers, you can find courses that fulfill your degree requirements.