C O L L E G E O F A R C H I T E C T U R E , P L A N N I N G & L A N D S C A P E A R C H I T E C T U R E

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A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R O G R A M C H A I RDear Future Urban Planner,

Congratulations on your acceptance to the Master of Science in Urban Planning program at the University of Arizona. I’m reaching out on behalf of my faculty colleagues to welcome you to our community of incredible students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.

In this welcome packet you’ll find information about our program, curriculum and faculty, as well as welcome messages from alumni and the strong community of professional planners who are eager to support your planning education and career goals.

This is a fantastic time to be studying urban planning at the University of Arizona. Over the last several years we’ve expanded our faculty and, with that new energy, reconfigured our curriculum to better deliver the knowledge and skills the next generation of planners will need to address the growing and ever-changing challenges facing our cities and world. The last year has been a challenging one, but we are looking ahead to a return to normal.

It’s also an exciting time to be studying urban planning in Tucson. Our faculty, students and alumni are involved directly in many of the exciting planning-related efforts currently underway in the city, including a new equity-focused complete streets policy and ongoing conversations about infill development, gentrification/displacement, economic development, pandemic recovery, transit planning and maintaining Tucson’s affordability.

One of the things that sets our program apart is our small size (15-20 students per cohort) and our accessible faculty. This means that our master’s students have opportunities to engage directly with their professors in ways that can be rare in some of the larger planning programs. If you haven’t already, please review the attached faculty information sheet and feel free to reach out to professors you share overlapping interests with. Or if you’d like me to introduce you to a specific professor or a student in the program, just let me know.

In addition to all that our MS Urban Planning program and the University of Arizona have going for them, I think you’ll find that Tucson is a fantastic place to live. It’s quirky, fun-loving, surrounded by natural beauty and filled with great restaurants, coffee shops and breweries. Outside magazine named Tucson one of the top 12 places to live in 2019. And The New York Times recently wrote that “as Austin is to Texas, Tucson is to Arizona.” But unlike Austin and many of our West Coast neighbors, Tucson is still quite affordable.

I moved to Tucson from Portland, Oregon about seven years ago and have really fallen in love with the place—and not just because it was 75 degrees and sunny last weekend. Many of our students and alumni who moved here for the program feel the same way about Tucson and are happy to now call it home.

I look forward to hearing from you and, hopefully, seeing you in Tucson this fall.

Congratulations again,

Arlie Adkins, PhDAssociate ProfessorProgram Chair, MS Urban PlanningSchool of Landscape Architecture & Planning

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P L A N N I N G F A C U L T Y

Gina Chorover, AICP, is a lecturer in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning and program director ofthe Heritage Conservation Graduate Certificate. She teaches Comprehensive Planning. Gina was previously the Arizona Historic American Landscapes coordinator and a planner for the City of Tucson. She has produced a dozen reports for the National Park Service on historic landscapes.

Kristina Currans, PhD, assistant professor of urban planning, focuses her research on transportation and land use integration, economic impacts of transportation investment and improving data and analytical methods for site-level transportation impact analysis. She was recently awarded a two-year grant to operationalize the link between parking supply and vehicle use in California. Her courses include Planning Methods and Transportation & Land Use.

Arlie Adkins, PhD, assistant professor of urban planning and MS Urban Planning program chair, researches health and safety disparities related to urban transportation systems. He also holds an appointment in the College of Public Health. He recently completed a five-year CDC grant on physical activity and health and is currently the co-PI of the University of Arizona’s portion of the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC). He teaches Urban Transportation Planning and Planning Theory and Practice.

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P L A N N I N G F A C U L T Y

Ladd Keith, PhD, assistant professor of planning sustainable built environments and chair of CAPLA’s Sustainable Built Environments undergraduate program, researches the intersection between urban planning and climate change and explores how climate action planning can make more sustainable and resilient cities. He has worked with diverse cities across the U.S. on climate action planning across a range of plans, policies and regulations. He teaches Public Participation and Planning for Urban Resilience.

Arthur C. Nelson, PhD, FAcSS, FAICP, professor of urban planning and real estate development, has made significant contributions in the areas of real estate analysis, smart growth, infrastructure financing, transportation and economic development outcomes and metropolitan development patterns. Nelson is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and the American Institute of Certified Planners. He teaches courses in Real Estate Development and Urban Planning.

Nicole Iroz-Elardo, PhD, assistant research professor of urban planning, is cross-trained in planning and public health. Her research focuses on how to plan healthier and more equitable communities. Much of her work focuses on helping communities quantify and monetize the health impacts of transportation and land use decisions.

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P L A N N I N G F A C U L T Y

Philip Stoker, PhD, assistant professor of urban planning, researches water sustainability and the connections between land-use planning and water management. His research has been featured in the Journal of the American Planning Association and Landscape and Urban Planning, among other academic publications. Stoker teaches Introduction to GIS and Sustainable Urban Development and Design.

Adriana Zuniga-Teran, PhD, assistant research scientist, teaches and researches topics ranging from neighborhood and city-scale built environment effects on physical activity to wellbeing and the use of greenspace. In her research and teaching she explores questions related to green infrastructure and urban resilience, environmental justice, water security, groundwater governance and more.

Gary Pivo, PhD, professor of planning, works in the areas of responsible property investing, urban form and sustainable cities. He holds professorships at the University of Arizona’s College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture and the School of Natural Resources, where he teaches courses on the land development process and sustainable cities. Pivo’s research has been cited by scholars in many different fields including urban studies, transportation, environmental studies, planning, public health, engineering, geography and economics.

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A F F I L I A T E F A C U L T Y

Shujuan Li, PhD, associate professor of landscape architecture, focuses her research on the integration of spatial analysis and modeling using GIS for urban and environmental studies. Her research interests include landscape ecology, ecological planning, spatial data science and ecosystem services. She teaches Land Use Planning Analysis, Geodesign Studio and GIS courses.

Bo Yang, PhD, AICP, professor of landscape architecture, has research interests in the areas of green infrastructure design and low-impact development, landscape performance assessment, environmental planning and technology and landscape history and theory in China and East Asia. He holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Science and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Jonathan Jae-An Crisman, PhD, is an assistant professor in the public/applied humanities. He holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Development from the University of Southern California. His current research focuses on the role that art and culture play as forms of political engagement in gentrifying cities, and on the forensic, cultural and political practices around migrant death in the Borderlands.

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A M E S S A G E F R O M A L U M N I

Congratulations on your acceptance into the University of Arizona’s Master of Science in Urban Planning program! My name is Julian Griffee, and I graduated from the program in 2020. I called the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture’s third-floor studio home for two years, where I focused my studies on transportation and environmental planning.

I remember how I felt when I was accepted into the program. I had just finished my Peace Corps service, and as I made plans to move to Arizona from the East Coast I felt extremely intimidated to place myself back into a challenging, academic setting. Upon starting the program my anxieties were put to rest—CAPLA could not have provided a more nurturing and rewarding experience.

As an urban planning student at CAPLA, you’ll benefit from the diversity of backgrounds and ideas exchanged between you and your colleagues, hands-on community engaged classroom and research opportunities, CAPLA-supported attendance at professional conferences and networking opportunities from alumni and local professionals, including Friends of Planning.

Faculty and staff offer a high level of support to help you succeed. Through my access to faculty and resources, I was able to establish myself as a researcher, present at multiple conferences, become an ambassador for incoming students and earn several academic awards. Even before graduating last year, I was offered a job as town planner in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina where I’m now putting my skills from the program to use every day.

As you consider your next steps regarding grad school, I strongly encourage you to choose a place where you have access to the opportunities and strong connections I found in the MS Urban Planning program at the University of Arizona. I’m excited for all the potential that your urban planning education at CAPLA holds.

Good luck,

Julian Griffee, CZO ‘20 MS Urban PlanningTown PlannerTown of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

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Lindsey Romaniello, ‘20 MS Planning, Planner II (Long Range), Missoula County, Montana“I am exceedingly grateful for my time in the CAPLA Planning program. By providing numerous research opportunities and an engaging program curriculum, the program instilled me with the relevant skill set necessary to enter my career with confidence. I loved living in Tucson, and I have found immeasurable value in the network of students, professors, and alumni I met during my two years at the University of Arizona.”

Holly Barton, ‘19 MS Planning, Legislative District Assistant, Navajo Nation Council“As a first-generation graduate student, I wanted to find a planning program where I mattered. The program has several great attributes like the small cohort size, work opportunities outside campus, and the welcoming studio space. The supportive faculty, staff, and alumni network helped me before and after I received my degree. The education and support I received there helped broaden my knowledge to pursue opportunities beyond planning.”

Sarah Meggison, AICP, ‘15 MS Planning, Lead Planner, City of Tucson, Arizona“My two years at the University of Arizona, including opportunities for internships and real hands-on experiences, have been rocket fuel for the positions I’ve held since graduating. The program and the skills I learned while getting my degree were the foundation for my career in public service. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the University of Arizona Urban Planning program.”

Ben Anderson, AICP, ‘16 MS Planning, Principal Planner, Aspen, Colorado“The program offered a comfortable, small-scale learning environment with a fantastic studio space. Professors and professional mentors were generous with their time and advice. The combination of coursework, research opportunities, the capstone project, and professional development were invaluable to my learning and the eventual job search. And Tucson is a really awesome city!”

Robbie Aaron, AICP, ‘14 MS Planning, Planner, City of Tempe, Arizona“The program provided me with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a career I once only dreamed of. I am thankful every day for the hands-on learning experience I was provided and the opportunity to solve real world problems as part of my coursework.”

Julian Griffee, ‘20 MS Urban Planning, Town Planner, Town of Atlantic Beach, NC“Faculty & staff offer a high level of support to help you succeed. I benefited from the diversity of backgrounds and ideas exchanged with classmates, hands-on community engaged opportunities, attendance at professional conferences, and networking opportunities from alumni and local professionals. Even before graduating, I was offered a job where I’m now putting my skills from the program to use.”

A L U M N I O N T H E I R M S U P E X P E R I E N C E

EMILIO ROMEROGraduate Student Services Coordinatoreromero@arizona.edu520-621-9819

CONTACT

CAPLA.ARIZONA.EDU/URBAN-PLANNING

CAREER OUTLOOK

CAPLA Master of Science in Urban Planning graduates get jobs and become leaders in the field, both here in Tucson and around the world. They work as planners and related professionals in government agencies, private-sector firms and nonprofit organizations. Others have gone on to pursue doctoral degrees. Careers in urban planning include:

• Community development, activism and empowerment

• Comprehensive and long-range planning

• Economic development• Environmental and natural

resources planning• Historic preservation• Housing• Land use and code enforcement• Neighborhood and community

planning• Natural disaster planning and

recovery• Nonprofit management • Project management• Public administration and finance• Real estate and urban

development• Sustainability• Transportation planning• Urban design

The two-year Master of Science in Urban Planning prepares you for a meaningful career where you’ll shape a more resilience future for cities and communities, locally and across the globe.

The MS Urban Planning from the University of Arizona is fully accredited through the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).

At CAPLA, we’re pushing urban planning education, research and practice in new and exciting directions—and students from diverse backgrounds are at the heart of our award-winning and engaging work.

As an urban planning student, you’ll learn:

• Urban and regional planning theory and practice• Site planning and creative plan-making• Land use planning analysis and law• Public participation and dispute resolution• Professional written and graphic communication• Data-driven analytical methods, including geographic information

systems (GIS)• Planning for real estate and urban development, urban transportation

systems and the environment• Health and the built environment• Planning for equity, diversity and social justice

With the MS Urban Planning, you’ll graduate ready to thrive in a profession of increasing importance in the face of climate change, growing urban populations and challenges to social equity.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN URBAN PLANNING

Well-planned cities and regions are the key to confronting many of the most critical environmental, economic and social challenges facing the world today.

PLG 501APLG 514LAR 570PLG 597D

PLG 512PLG 560PLG 696B

PLG 909PLG 597Q

PLG 909

3441

12

3313

10

2333315

233311

FALL 2021Planning Theory and PracticeMethods in PlanningIntroduction to GIS for Planning and Landscape ArchitectureGraphic Skills

SPRING 2022Comprehensive Planning and Land Use ControlsLand Use Planning LawCareer Development SeminarMajor/Minor Concentration course or Elective

FALL 2022Master’s ReportPublic Participation and Dispute ResolutionMajor/Minor Concentration course or Elective Major/Minor Concentration course or Elective Major/Minor Concentration course or Elective

SPRING 2023Master’s ReportMajor/Minor Concentration course or Elective Major/Minor Concentration course or Elective Major/Minor Concentration course or Elective

NOTES:Recommended sequence of courses: 26 Core Units, 9 Units of Primary Concentration, 6 Units Secondary Concentration, 6 Elective Units; 47 Total Units.

It is recommended that students complete an internship approved by the internship coordinator.

Students are required to select a primary (3 courses/9 units) and a secondary (2 courses/6 units) concentration from one of three concentration areas or may choose to develop an Independent Concentration with the approval of an advisor.

Students are required to take 6 elective units. Elective courses must be approved by advisor.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN URBAN PLANNING CURRICULUM

ACADEMIC ADVISOREMILIO ROMEROGraduate Student Services Coordinatoreromero@arizona.edu520-621-9819

UPDATED 03/09/2021

CONCENTRATION AREAS

CORE CURRICULUM

PLG 597SPLG 508PLG 572

PLG 568PLG 569PLG 573

PLG 576PLG 569PLG 597S

ARC 571F ANTH 540ALAR 597J

333

333

333

333

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNINGSustainable Urban Development and Design (F)Climate Action Planning (S)Environmental Land Use Planning (S)

URBAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNINGUrban Transportation Planning (F)Transportation and Land Use (S) *Transportation and Society (S) **

* Offered in odd years beginning with the Spring 2021 semester** Offered in even years beginning with the Spring 2022 semester

REAL ESTATE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENTLand Development Process (S)Transportation and Land Use (S) *Sustainable Urban Development and Design (F)

HERITAGE CONSERVATIONIntroduction to Heritage Conservation (F)Cultural Resources Management (F)Documentation and Interpretation of the Historic Built Environment (S)

UNITS COURSE #

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Friends of Planning (FOP) is a network of planning professionals in Southern Arizona who help ensure the strength and impact of the graduate Urban Planning degree program at the University of Arizona. Through financial contributions and professional knowledge, the Friends of Planning provide Urban Planning students opportunities for: networking, mentorship, professional development, scholarships, and student awards.

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We advocate for the graduate urban planning degree program at the University of Arizona by providing scholarships and student awards; conveying the importance of planning to the community; and helping students gain practical experience.

Learn more at friendsofplanning.org

BBooaarrdd MMeemmbbeerrss Sarah More, FAICP, Retired

Adam Call, The Planning Center

Rebecca Ruopp, City of Tucson

Theresa Knoblock, SWCA Environmental Consultants

Sarah Meggison, AICP, City of Tucson

Ian Wan, NextGen Engineering

Barbara Becker, Ph.D., FAICP, Retired

SSaammppllee EEvveennttss aanndd AAccttiivviittiieess

Professional Planner “Office Hours”

Planning Jeopardy Fundraiser

Planning Excellence Project Competition

Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

On behalf of Friends of Planning, I’d like to congratulate you on your admission to the Master of Science Urban Planning program at the University of Arizona. We look forward to welcoming you to Tucson this fall and supporting your journey through the master’s program. That support will include professional planners from the private and public sectors, who can offer guidance, along with a variety of activities and events highlighted below. Given the world’s pressing issues -- from climate change to social and economic equity, to technological adaptation -- planning may never have faced such challenging and exciting times. We are looking forward to being a part of your new adventure!

SarahSMore Sarah More, FAICP President

Welcome!