University of Southern California

Minor in Urban Policy and Planning

Students focus on the application of public policy, urban planning and public management to analyze and solve urban problems. They have the opportunity to apply these applications to such areas as real estate and housing, nonprofit and voluntary sector approaches to problem-solving, or sustainable communities. This 24-unit, six-course minor is an introduction to the professional and academic fields of either urban planning and development, or public policy and management.

» Required Foundation Courses
» Elective Courses
» Examples of Three-course Clusters
» Contact Information

Required Foundation Courses

To fulfill their required eight units of foundation coursework, students take Urban Context for Policy and Planning (PPD 245) and select from either Public Policy and Management (PPD 225) or Urban Planning and Development (PPD 227).

The Urban Context for Policy and Planning (PPD 245)
The urban context for planning and policy decisions. Socioeconomic, physical, and spatial structure of cities; and the underlying demographic, economic, and social processes that drive their ongoing transformation.

Public Policy and Management (PPD 225)
Institutions, legal context, and processes of public policy and management. Contemporary theories of public policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. Public managerial challenges and reforms.

Urban Planning and Development (PPD 227)
City building and development process; who plans, politics of planning and development; major topics include land use, fiscal policy, transportation, sustainability, and economic development

Elective Courses

Students select three elective courses:
  • Crime and Public Policy (PPD 342)
  • Urban Institutions and Policies (PPD 350)
  • Urban Transportation Planning and Policy (PPD 360)
  • Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development (PPD 362)
  • The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest (PPD 371)
  • Public Service in an Urban Setting (PPD 372)
  • Designing Livable Communities (PPD 425)
  • Housing and Community Development (PPD 439)
  • Sustainability Planning (PPD 461)

Examples of Three-course Clusters

Students can create a specialty focus by combining complementary foundation and elective coursework.

Real Estate/Housing

  • Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development (PPD 362)
  • Designing Livable Communities (PPD 425)
  • Housing and Community Development (PPD 439)

Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector Approaches to Problem Solving

  • The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest (PPD 371)
  • Public Service in an Urban Setting (PPD 372)
  • Housing and Community Development (PPD 439) or
  • Sustainability Planning (PPD 461)

Sustainable Communities

  • Urban Transportation Planning and Policy (PPD 360)
  • Designing Livable Communities (PPD 425)
  • Sustainability Planning (PPD 461)

Critical Urban Policy Issues (any three)

  • Crime and Public Policy (PPD 342)
  • Urban Institutions and Policies (PPD 350)
  • Urban Transportation Planning and Policy (PPD 360)
  • Housing and Community Development (PPD 439)

Contact Information

Trina Chakrabortty, Coordinator of Recruitment and Admission
USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development
Ralph and Goldy Lewis Hall 111
Los Angeles, California 90089-0626
(213) 740-0550
tchakrab@usc.edu