About

Do you seek a career through which you can impact your community and the world? Do you want to help shape the future of cities, towns and neighborhoods? Are you motivated to improve quality of life and enhance sustainability?

The Bachelor of Science degree in community and regional planning will give you the knowledge and skills to make a difference. Planners play an important role in urban growth and development, helping to prepare for infrastructure (roads, railways, sidewalks, greenways and lands), build housing, and achieve a balance between the built and natural environment.

The BS in community and regional planning curriculum is 48 hours, including core courses, an area of emphasis (community planning or coastal planning), and electives. Students will choose either a minor or two concentration areas, and students are also encouraged to complete an internship.

Planners work at every scale: internationally, nationally, at the multistate level, at the state level, and for multicounty regions and localities (counties, cities and special districts). Planners also work at the scales of the neighborhood and individual development sites. The subject matter of planning is broad and includes environment, transportation, community facilities, land use, housing and community development, social and economic development, and others. Professional planners work in a variety of settings, including governments, nonprofit groups and private firms.

ECU Advantage

ECU's BS in community and regional planning is the only accredited undergraduate planning program in the state of North Carolina and one of only 15 nationally. The program has a long history and support from a strong network of alumni who work throughout eastern North Carolina and beyond.

The program provides students with hands-on experience and feedback from practicing planners during senior year studio and practicum courses. Students are encouraged to participate in the Student Planners' Action Network (SPAN), a student organization registered with the ECU Student Government Association (SGA) and the American Planning Association (APA).

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Director: Misun Hur (215-A Brewster Building; 252-328-1270; hurmi@ecu.edu)

Students entering the Community and Regional Planning, BS program are encouraged to declare their major as soon as possible in accordance with university requirements.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

I. General education requirements including the one listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

  • COMM 2410 - Public Speaking
II. Core - 33 s.h.
  • GEOG 2400 - Spatial Data Analysis OR
  • MATH 2228 - Elementary Statistical Methods I OR
  • MATH 2283 - Statistics for Business

  • PLAN 2410 - Introduction to GIS in Planning
  • PLAN 3020 - Environmental Planning
  • PLAN 3021 - Introduction to Planning Techniques
  • PLAN 3022 - History and Theory of Planning
  • PLAN 3030 - Urban and Regional Planning
  • PLAN 3031 - Quantitative Analysis in Planning
  • PLAN 3032 - Planning Legislation and Administration
  • PLAN 4065 - Land Use Planning
  • PLAN 4096 - Planning Studio
  • PLAN 4099 - Practicum in Planning
III. Areas of emphases - 9 s.h.

(In consultation with the planning advisor, choose one area of emphasis from the following.)

    A. Coastal planning and development:

    Choose three courses from the below list:

    • PLAN 4015 - Disaster Planning
    • PLAN 4045 - Environmental Resources Planning and Management
    • PLAN 4055 - Coastal Area Planning and Management
    • PLAN 4305 - Ecological Landscape Planning
    B. Community planning and development:

    Choose three courses from the below list:

    • PLAN 4003 - Urban Form and Design
    • PLAN 4025 - Housing and Neighborhood Planning
    • PLAN 4035 - Economic Development Planning
    • PLAN 4040 - Community Facilities Planning
    • PLAN 4075 - Transportation Planning
IV. Electives - 6 s.h.

Choose two additional elective courses from the below list:

  • GEOG 2420 - Cartography
  • PLAN 1900 - Sustainable Cities
  • PLAN 2030 - Global Cities
  • PLAN 3018 - Planning Internship *
  • PLAN 3025 - Racial Geographies
  • PLAN 3028 - Planning Internship *
  • PLAN 3038 - Planning Internship *
  • PLAN 3041 - Computer Applications in Planning
  • PLAN 3430 - Geographic Information Systems I
  • PLAN 4003 - Urban Form and Design **
  • PLAN 4015 - Disaster Planning **
  • PLAN 4025 - Housing and Neighborhood Planning **
  • PLAN 4035 - Economic Development Planning **
  • PLAN 4040 - Community Facilities Planning **
  • PLAN 4045 - Environmental Resources Planning and Management **
  • PLAN 4046 - Planning and Design Studio
  • PLAN 4050 - World Architecture and Urbanism
  • PLAN 4055 - Coastal Area Planning and Management **
  • PLAN 4075 - Transportation Planning **
  • PLAN 4121 - Problems in Planning
  • PLAN 4131 - Problems in Planning
  • PLAN 4250 - Environmental Impact Analysis
  • PLAN 4270 - Water Resources Management and Planning
  • PLAN 4305 - Ecological Landscape Planning **
  • PLAN 4430 - Geographic Information Systems II
  • PLAN 5985 - Historic Preservation Planning
    • Note:

    *May count a maximum of 3 s.h. from PLAN 3018, PLAN 3028, PLAN 3038 toward the degree.

    **If taken to satisfy III. A. or B., cannot count as an elective in IV.

    V. Minor and general electives to complete degree requirements for graduation.

    Choose a minor In consultation with the program coordinator.

      Note:

      Excluding general education requirements, no one course may be used to fulfill two or more degree requirements.

        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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