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University of Southern California

Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies and Planning (BSUSP)

BSUSP Curriculum

To view course titles and descriptions, visit the USC Catalogue here.

Pre-major Requirements

Students must complete the pre-major requirements. A minimum grade of C, 2.0 (A=4.0), must be earned in each of the pre-major couress. All pre-major requirements must be taken for a letter grade. 

  • MATH 117 – Introduction to Mathematics for Business and Economics
  • PPD 203 – Economic Analysis for Public Policy (or ECON 203 – Principles of Microeconomics

Core Curriculum

  • PPD 240 – Citizenship and Public Ethics – 4-units (fall, spring)
  • PPD 245 – The Urban Context – 4-units (fall, spring)
  • PPD 300 – Social Justice Issues in Public Policy and Urban Planning – 4-units (fall, spring)
  • PPD 301 – PPD Practices: Internship Seminar – 2-units (fall, spring, summer)
  • PPD 303 – Statistics for Policy, Planning, and Development – 4-units (fall, spring) (pre-requisite, MATH 117)

Urban Studies and Planning Core (20 units)

  • PPD 227 – Urban Planning and Development – 4-units (fall)
  • PPD 427 – Geographic Information Systems and Planning Applications – 4-units (spring)
  • PPD 430 – Urban Informatics – 4-units (fall)
  • RED 417 – History of Planning and Development – 4-units (fall, spring)
  • RED 425 – Designing Livable Communities – 4-units (fall, spring)

Urban Studies and Planning Electives (16 units)

Students in this major select 16 units of electives. Students may petition to take elective outside of the list below.

  • PPD 250 – Cities in the Developing World – 4-units (irregular)
  • PPD 306 – Visual Methods in Policy, Management, Planning and Development – 4-units (irregular)
  • PPD 357 – Government and Business – 4-units (fall, spring)
  • PPD 358 – Urban and Regional Economics – 4-units (irregular)
  • PPD 360 – Urban Transportation Planning and Policy – 4-units (fall)
  • PPD 361 – Sustainable Communities, Policy and Planning – 4-units (fall, spring)
  • PPD 364 – Technology and the City – 4-units (irregular)
  • PPD 382 – International Development – 4-units (spring)
  • PPD 410 – Comparative Urban Development – 4-units (spring)
  • PPD 414 – Community Health Policy and Planning – 4-units (spring)
  • PPD 416 – Food Policy and Planning – 2-units (irregular)
  • PPD 420 – Environmental Impact Assessment – 4-units (irregular)
  • PPD 421 – Land Use, Environment, and Housing in Developing Countries – 4-units (irregular)
  • PPD 422 – Transportation and Technology and the Future of Mobility – 4-units (spring)
  • PPD 438 – Local Economic Development – 4-units (irregular)
  • PPD 439 – Housing and Community Development – 4-units (fall)
  • PPD 478 – Social Innovation – 4-units (spring)
  • RED 351 – Land Use Regulation
  • RED 362 – Real Estate Development Fundamentals

Additional Requirements

Cross-cutting Topics Courses

Students will be required to take 4 units of cross-cutting topics courses (PPD 400), preferably in junior year after they have completed the core curriculum.

Capstone

All students will take 4 units of a capstone experience during their senior year. This may be fulfilled by taking PPD 431 Undergraduate Policy, Planning, and Development Studio (4) or PPD 497a Senior Thesis, PPD 497b Senior Thesis (2-2). Students wishing to enroll in PPD 497a, PPD 497b must have a 3.7 GPA in PPD courses and an overall 3.5 GPA.

Internships

PPD 301 – PPD Practices: Internship Seminar – 2-units (fall, spring, summer)
Urban Studies and Planning majors are required to complete 140 hours of internship by enrolling in PPD 301.

PPD 301 and the internship in a position provide numerous opportunities to develop and formulate future career goals, as well as to gain personal and professional experience while completing the undergraduate degree.

Honors

Price School honors are available at graduation to qualified PPD majors and result in a special designation of departmental honors on a student’s transcript. Achievement of PPD honors requires a 3.7 GPA in PPD major courses and a 3.5 overall GPA as well as nomination by the professor in the capstone experience. In addition, students must earn an A in their capstone course (PPD 497a, PPD 497b or PPD 431).

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