BA/BS in Community, Urban Studies, and Planning

Community, Urban Studies, and Planning situates complex issues in local places. The program equips students with the knowledge and skills to act in neighborhoods, cities, and regions to create just and equitable communities. Bringing together theory and practice, CUSP students learn how to identify and understand how cities and communities function and change and about issues and forces that shape places. Climate change, affordable housing, healthy communities, and transit justice are just a few of the topics addressed in the program. CUSP students also learn how to understand the dreams and needs of, build relationships in, and advocate for the people and local communities affected by major issues.

Students develop participatory methods to identify community goals, build partnerships, and organize residents to act for change, as well as analytical tools to assess and mobilize spatial, economic, and social data. The CUSP program teaches students actions, programs, policies, and plans to achieve community goals. Students learn in classrooms, online, and in the field through individual and teamwork. Community based learning, working with community partners directly, is a hallmark of the program.

Community, Urban Studies, and Planning practitioners work at the intersection of topics and scales in community-oriented and public service careers. They may run nonprofit programs, work in local or state government, or support community members organizing for political and social change. They can pursue further study in graduate or professional schools to specialize in fields such as urban and regional planning, public policy, real estate, architecture, law, environmental policy, sustainable development, or landscape architecture.

Major Requirements

The PSU Bulletin is the authoritative source for information on degree requirements. Consult your advisor to make sure you understand which “catalog year” you should be looking at to track your progress toward graduation.

Core (12 credits) - the foundational sequence, students should complete these courses as soon as possible
Skills (12 credits) - teaching practical skills
Focus Area (8 credits) - discussing major topic areas in the field
Electives (26 credits) – up to 8 credits can be in other academic units
Capstone (6 credits) - one of the approved UNST 421 courses

Core (12 Credits) 

The core introduces students to the social, political, cultural, and economic aspects of urban life, as well as the structure and function of cities and the practice of urban studies and planning.

  • UNST 220 Understanding Communities (4) or USP 385U History of American Cities (4)
    USP 300U Introduction to Urban Studies (4)
    USP 311U Introduction to Urban Planning (4)

Skills (12 Credits)

These courses teach practical skills for working on urban studies and planning issues in the real world, including foundational skills in: spatial and data literacy, communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork and leadership abilities, engagement and participation strategies, and ethical and just practices.

  • USP 350U Inclusive Engagement (4)
  • USP 440 Critical Analysis of Community Data (4)

Select one

  • USP 436/536 GIS for Urban Studies & Planning (4)
  • USP 430 Participatory Research Methods (4)
  • USP 419/519 Population and Society (4)

Other skills courses may be approved by the Major coordinator.

Focus Areas (8 Credits)

These courses take an interdisciplinary approach to major themes in urban studies and planning. Each area has two required courses that provide a focused and coherent exploration of the knowledge, skills, and issues.

Climate, Environment, and Health

  • USP 313U Urban Environmental Issues (4)
  • USP 324U Healthy Communities (4)

Community Development, Organizing, and Advocacy

  • USP 301U Intro to Community Development (4)
  • USP 316 Community Organizing and Social Change (4)

Housing, Land, and Communities

  • USP 312U Urban Housing Development (4)
  • USP 326U Neighborhood Change and Gentrification (4)

Planning, Design, and Development

  • USP 323U Real Estate Development and Finance (4)
  • USP 325U Community and Built Environment (4)

Electives (26 Credits)
Any regularly offered USP course that is 300-level or higher can be used as an elective. At least 6 of these credits from courses at the 400-level. No more than 8 credits may be from non-USP courses.

MINORS

Pursue your passion for promoting livable, sustainable cities with an undergraduate minor in Community Development.

Undergraduates often wonder, “Is it worth it to declare a minor?” If you’re passionate about urban housing or creating sustainable cities and envision yourself pursuing a career related to either of these subjects, then the answer is “yes.”

Interest in community, real estate, and sustainable urban development has steadily grown in recent years among students. Our urban region has attracted considerable national and international attention and been a center of activity and innovation in addressing the challenges of incorporating these development principles into its planning an professional practice. The minors in Community Development, Real Estate Development, and Sustainable Urban Development offer students the opportunity to focus their education on these important and growing fields.

Community, Urban Studies, and Planning

27 Credits

Students graduating with a minor in Community, Urban Studies, and Planning (CUSP) will be citizen activists, empowered to take leadership roles in public affairs.  CUSP minors often find careers in not-for-profit organizations, private consulting firms, advocacy groups, and state, regional, and local governments and work on a range of issues including housing, community organizing, transportation, the environment, and economic development.

Required Courses (12 Credits):

  • UNST 220 Understanding Communities (4)
  • USP 300U Introduction to Urban Studies (4)
  • USP 311U Introduction to Urban Planning (4)

Electives

A minimum of 15 credits of additional USP coursework must be taken. Using a study abroad experience to meet some of these electives requirement may be possible; consult with an Ed Abroad advisor, the CUSP major coordinator, or your academic advisor.

All courses used to satisfy the requirements of the Minor must have been assigned a grade of Pass (undifferentiated grading) or a grade of C or above (differentiated grading). Required Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (Pass/No Pass) may not be used to fulfill the CUSP Minor requirements. No more than 8 credits of Electives taken with the undifferentiated grading option (Pass/No Pass) may be used to fulfill the CUSP Minor Requirements.

Real Estate Development Minor

25-28 Credits

The development and management of real estate is a vital function of the urban economy.  The real estate development minor will provide education to students to enter the industry.  Students in the program will develop skills to evaluate real estate development proposals and understand how real estate development fits into regional planning and economic processes.

Required (16 credits):

  • USP 311U Introduction to Urban Planning (4)
  • USP 312U Urban Housing and Development (4)
  • USP 323U Real Estate Development and Finance (4)
  • USP 431/EC 431/RE 431 Urban Economics (4)

Electives (9-12 Credits) - three (3) courses from the below list:

  • BA 332U Property, Management, and Society (4)
  • MGMT 432 Multifamily Property Management (4)
  • MGMT 433 Commercial Property and Asset Management (4)
  • USP 301U Introduction to Community Development (4)
  • USP 324U Healthy Communities (4)
  • USP 325U Community and the Built Environment (4)
  • USP 326U Neighborhood Change and Gentrification (4)
  • USP 410 International Planning, Design, and Development (4)
  • USP 419 Population and Society (4)
  • USP 427 Commercial District Revitalization (3)
  • USP 451 Community Economic Development (3)
  • USP 455 Land Use: Legal Aspects (3)
  • USP 490 Green Economics and Sustainable Development (3)
  • USP 496 Affordable Housing Finance (3)

Electives: See Bulletin or website for approved list of electives. Note: additional USP and RE courses may qualify as electives with approval of Program Coordinator.

No more than 3 courses may be taken with the undifferentiated grading option (Pass/No Pass). All courses used to satisfy the minor requirements, whether taken in USP or elsewhere, must be assigned a grade of either Pass (undifferentiated grading) or C or above (differentiated grading). 

Email the Real Estate Minor Coordinator

Sustainable Urban Development Minor 

24-27 Credits

The minor in Sustainable Urban Development will provide students with an opportunity to further their understanding of what it will take to make cities sustainable.  Students who complete the minor will understand the foundations of sustainability, the tools of sustainable development, and the issues and challenges of making places sustainable.

Several of the courses offered in the core and elective offerings provide community-based learning opportunities with community partner's within the region.  In addition, courses will provide an introduction to emerging technologies in "green" building innovations and economic development.

Required (15 credits):

USP 313: Urban Planning Issues (4)
USP 324: Healthy Communities (4)*
USP 325: Community and the Built Environment (4)
USP 490: Green Economics and Sustainable Development (3)
*Please Note: USP 324 and other courses appearing in both cluster and major/minor listings may only be counted as major/minor credits OR cluster credits, NOT both.
Electives (9-12 credits): Choose 3 courses from the approved list.