Urban Studies, Planning, and Policy
B.A. Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
Undergraduate students who major in Urban Studies, Planning, and Policy will become acquainted with the global challenges of urbanization and the analytical skills needed for addressing them. Students will acquire the background for entering graduate study in related fields, including urban planning, community and economic development, and transportation, to name only a few, or for seeking entry-level positions in fields that address urban problems, including urban planning, community development, transportation, and housing. Additionally, Urban Studies, Planning, and Policy majors can augment their training with a degree specialization in Geographic Information Systems.
Requirements
All students must meet the University Requirements. All students must meet the School Requirements.
Departmental Requirements
Twelve courses (48 units) as specified below:
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A. Three lower-division courses: | ||
| UPPP 4 | Introduction to Urban Studies | |
| UPPP 5 | Introduction to Urban Planning and Policy | |
| UPPP 40 | Cities, Communities, and Urban Problems | |
| orUPPP 41 | Introduction to Labor Studies | |
| orUPPP 42 | The Green New Deal | |
| B. Three of the following core upper-division courses: | ||
| UPPP 101 | History of Cities | |
| UPPP 107 | Urban and Regional Planning | |
| UPPP 113 | Poverty and Change in Developing Countries | |
| UPPP 131 | Environmental Sustainability I | |
| UPPP 146 | Principles of Economics for Planning and Policy | |
| UPPP 155 | Urban Design Principles | |
| UPPP 166 | Urban Politics and Policy | |
| C. Six additional upper-division electives from UPPP 100 - UPPP 190. | ||
Optional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialization
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A. Complete: | ||
| UPPP 120 | Introduction to GIS for Planning and Policy | |
| UPPP 125 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | |
| UPPP 127 | Spatial Analysis Project | |
- Courses taken for the GIS Specialization can be used towards the Urban Studies major. Courses must be taken for a letter grade in order to count for the GIS Specialization.
NOTE: For students double majoring in Urban Studies and Environmental Science and Policy, the optional Geographic Information Systems Specialization can only be applied to one major.