University of Minnesota
HHH
http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/hhh
myU OneStop



The Humphrey School of Public Affairs is the University of Minnesota's school of policy and planning.


Land Use + Urban Design

The land use and urban design concentration equips students to understand the links between the physical form and land development patterns in cities and regions, and the economic, social, and political forces that shape them. Students in this concentration can download the concetration sheet for information on specific courses that fulfill concentration requirements.

Planning the built + natural environment

The challenge of land use and urban design is to guide development in ways that preserve and restore the ecological integrity of urban and rural areas while improving the quality of life for residents, facilitating a vital economy, promoting the efficient use of land and community assets, and respecting fiscal and legal requirements. Graduates work in local and regional governments or for private design firms developing comprehensive land use plans, neighborhood and district plans, public space and street plans, and growth management programs.

What students in this concentration study

Students in the land use and urban design concentration learn the analytical, communication, and graphic design skills required to implement sustainable land use planning practices and urban design projects. These skills include:

  • Preparing population and economic forecasts
  • Building community consensus
  • Assessing land use and urban design scenarios
  • Identifying suitable development locations
  • Developing context-sensitive growth management policies

The courses in the concentration enable students to contribute to the design, function, and sustainability of our cities and metropolitan regions. The discipline explores how federal, state, and local planning programs address the management of burgeoning metropolitan growth and provides knowledge about the alternative theories and methods for the physical improvement of urban places. The concentration equips students to take on responsibilities that range from creating "complete" streets and livable neighborhoods to entirely reshaping metropolitan America. Students who want to gain additional depth in urban design may consider applying to the Certificate in Metropolitan Design program offered by the University of Minnesota Metropolitan Design Center.

Possible courses in the concentration

Below is just a small sampling of of the dozens of courses related to land use and urban design. You can find additional ideas on the concentration sheet.

Research centers

Students interested in land use and urban design may be interested in the work of the following Humphrey School research areas and centers:

Concentration forms