Chair's Welcome
Florida Atlantic University Department of Urban and Regional Planning is the only planning school located in South Florida, one of the most populous and dynamic regions of the U.S. We offer the following degree programs: Bachelor of Urban Design, Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning, and Master of Urban and Regional Planning. We also offer a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems.
Here are some of our highlights:
Location, Location, Location: The FAU main campus is located in South Florida, a vibrant area containing Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The region’s population growth creates the ideal workplace and playground for our urban planning students. Historically, this region has offered an abundance of internships and job opportunities abound.
Day, Night, and Online Classes: With many night classes to accommodate working individuals, our degrees can be completed by those working at full- and part-time jobs. Online classes also make it easier for students to complete their degrees. Plus, our low student to faculty ratio gives students the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their professors.
Accredited Master’s Program: The FAU Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program is one of only four planning programs fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board in the state of Florida (and the only one in the South Florida). We also offer an Advanced Standing Program that permits qualified undergraduate students to complete both bachelor's and master's degrees in less time than would normally be required.
Connections: URP students are engaged in and connected to the South Florida area. Starting with class projects that involve South Florida communities and area professionals, URP students have the opportunity to become paid research assistants in one of two URP research facilities: the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions (CUES) and the Visual Planning Technology Lab (VPT Lab). Our program maintains strong connections with the professional planning community, including the Treasure Coast and Broward sections of the American Planning Association. We also offer a mentorship program that pairs planning students with planning professionals to foster immersive learning.
Innovative and Vital Research: Faculty research and teaching strengths include transportation, land use, economic development, housing and community development, hazard mitigation, geographic information systems, health and the built environment, environmental planning, and land use and zoning laws.
FAU is also investing in our students with its innovative Undergraduate Research Grants Program, which offers research funds and fellowships for FAU students to work on their own research projects with faculty. Research assistantships are available to master's students on a competitive basis.
State-of-the-art facilities and resources: Whether it’s the 30-workstation URP Computer Classroom with high-end processors, solid state drives, and graphics cards, our 14-workstation Production Studio equipped with the same and large graphic displays, or our Virtual Desktop for remote access to DURP applications and network resources, it’s clear that our school is serious about technology. We also have two research assistant offices with state-of-the-art computers.
Like what you see? Explore our degrees and programs at the left to learn more and apply. Need to ask questions or schedule a visit? Please contact me below. Thank you.
PETER J. HENN, J.D., AICP
Chair and Senior Instructor
Department of Urban & Regional Planning
Contact Me