Department of City and Regional Planning

Introduction

City and regional planning is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to improve the quality of life for people in human settlements. Planners are involved, for example, in forecasting alternative futures of a city or region, guiding the type and location of new development, analyzing transportation systems, encouraging economic development, protecting the environment, mediating diverse interests, and revitalizing urban neighborhoods. They are involved in designing solutions to pressing societal problems such as urban sprawl, unemployment, homelessness, environmental pollution, and urban decay.

City and regional planners work for a variety of public, nonprofit, and private organizations. In the public sector local, state, and federal governments all employ city and regional planners. In the nonprofit sector, planners work for national, state, and local advocacy groups promoting sustainable development. In the private sector, planners work for development companies and consulting firms.

For undergraduates the Department of City and Regional Planning offers basic coursework, opportunities for supervised practical experience, and an academic minor. Undergraduate students take courses in the department for several reasons: to learn about cities and planning processes, to enrich or expand their current area of interest in different aspects of urbanization, or to explore the possibility of graduate work leading to a career in planning. Planning courses allow students to see how the arts and sciences can be applied to improve the prosperity and livability of cities, towns, and regions. In this way they help students deepen their appreciation of their major field of study. Some planning courses may fulfill General Education requirements.

Advising

The department’s director of undergraduate studies serves as the primary point of contact for students participating in the minor. (See contact tab above.) Student advising and approval of equivalent courses are handled by the director. Students also have a primary academic advisor assigned in ConnectCarolina.

Facilities

The Department of City and Regional Planning is located in New East Building on Cameron Avenue. An important resource available to the department is the Center for Urban and Regional Studies, located in Hickerson House, where the research and service programs of the department are housed. The department also has strong ties to the Institute for the Environment. Other research centers that are of interest are Center for Community Capital, Program on Chinese Cities, Carolina Transportation Program, and the UNC Hazards Center.

Graduate School and Career Opportunities

Undergraduates interested in a career in city and regional planning can pursue postgraduate work in planning at UNC–Chapel Hill. The Department of City and Regional Planning offers several degree programs at the graduate level. A two-year program preparing students for advanced positions in professional practice in city and regional planning leads to the degree of master in city and regional planning. A program leading to the degree of doctor of philosophy prepares for careers in teaching and research. Dual graduate degree programs are offered in collaboration with related professional programs (law, business, public administration, public health, landscape architecture, and environmental sciences and engineering).

For more information please contact Student Services Manager Sarah Ward.

Minor

Urban Studies and Planning Minor

Graduate Programs

Courses

City and Regional Planning (PLAN)

Professors

Todd BenDor, Land Use and Environmental Planning and Policy, Spatial Analysis
Nikhil Kaza, Land Use and Environmental Planning and Policy, Energy and Environment, Planning Theory
Noreen McDonald, Transportation Planning
Roberto G. Quercia, Housing Finance, Housing Policy
Yan Song, Geographic Information Systems, Urban Spatial Analysis, Land Use and Site Planning
Meenu Tewari, Microeconomics, International Planning
Dale Whittington (joint appointment with the Gillings School of Global Public Health), Environmental Planning, Public Investment Theory, International Planning

Associate Professors

Danielle Spurlock, Land Use and Environmental Planning, Public Health, Social Justice, and Dispute Resolution
Andrew Whittemore, Land Use and Urban Design

Assistant Professors

Matt Bhagat-Conway, Transportation, Urban Analytics, Computational Methods
Kate Harwood, Economic Development, Housing, Real Estate, Climate Change
Ashley Hernandez, Housing and Community Development, Gentrification, Diversity and Inequality in Cities
Miyuki Hino, Land Use and Environmental Planning, Climate Change, Flooding, Coastal Resilience
Shakirah Hudani, Urbanization in the Global South (joint appointment with AAAD)
Noah Kittner, Land Use and Environmental Planning, Sustainable Energy Systems (joint appointment with ENVR)
Matt Palm, Transportation Planning, Public Transit, Transportation Equity
Renee Tapp, Housing, Real Estate, Rental Markets
Alainna Thomas, Transportation Planning, Transportation Policy, International Transportation

Teaching Assistant Professors

Alanna Coombes, Communication and Planning, Transportation, Automated Vehicles
Meetra Najrabi, Personal Finance

Adjunct Professors

LeAnn Brown, Planning Law
Frank Muraca, Data Visualization
Justin Nolan, Cities and Urban Life
Sarah Nienow, Regional Economic Analysis
Tony Perez, Urban Design, Form-based Code
Mitchell Silver, Planning Practice, Land Use Planning, Public Space, Community Development
Andrew Stewart, Historic Preservation
Roger Waldon, Land Use Planning, Planning Practice

Research Professor

Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi, Urban Analytics, Environmental Finance, Water Resources

Associated Faculty

Michele Berger, Women's and Gender Studies
Maryann P. Feldman, Public Policy, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Growth
David J. Hartzell, Real Estate Finance
Adam Lovelady, Planning Law
Tyler Mulligan, Development Finance
Judith W. Wegner, Land Use and Local Government Law
Jessie White, School of Government