Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis

USC Price trains leaders who build a better, more socially just world. In the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis, we are committed to planning programs that emphasize the interaction of data and social justice. You will learn modern, data-oriented tools that train you for excellence in an urban realm that is constantly shifting thanks to emerging technology; yet data, by themselves, will not bring justice. That’s why our department teaches social justice throughout our core curriculum. The world needs this values-based leadership more than ever – and our graduates are already making change happen, with alumni who serve as the chief resilience officer for the City of Houston, the youngest Mayor ever elected in the City of Compton, California, and founders and executives at the fastest growing technology firms in the urban arena. Join us in our important work to make cities work for all and especially, for the most vulnerable among us.

David Sloane
Professor
Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis

Liz Falletta
Professor (Teaching)
Vice Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis
Faculty Director, Executive Master of Urban Planning Degree

Academic Programs

Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies and Planning

These are all challenges faced by cities today. Every human problem is an urban problem, and every human advancement occurs in cities. For the first time in history, half of the world’s population lives in cities. Through rigorous coursework and practical experience, the Price School’s Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies and Planning gives you the tools you need to effect real and lasting change in urban environments.

Students standing around a map of a city

Master of Urban Planning

The Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program at the USC Price School of Public Policy is one of the most distinguished academic programs of its kind. USC Price is ranked 3rd overall among public affairs schools – and No. 2 in the Urban Policy category – according to U.S. News & World Report; and Planetizen considers the MUP program one of Top 10 Graduate Urban Planning Programs.

Executive Master of Urban Planning Online

Urban planning is becoming increasingly complex. Industry professionals have to navigate stronger regulation, dwindling public resources and political forces that simultaneously restrict government support and heighten income inequality. This makes advanced specialized training more and more crucial.

Department Faculty

Name	Position	Expertise
Marlon Boarnet	Professor Director, METRANS Transportation Center	Transportation, travel behavior, urban growth patterns, regional science, urban economics
Geoff Boeing	Assistant Professor	Transportation networks, urban form, data science, urban informatics
Santina Contreras	Assistant Professor	Environmental Planning, Natural Hazards, Community Engagement, International Development, Engineering for Development
Elizabeth Currid-Halkett	Professor James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning	Economic development, the arts, cultural economy, social networks, urban growth, economic geography
Liz Falletta	Professor (Teaching) Program Director, Urban Planning Programs	Architecture, urban design, design criticism
Genevieve Giuliano	Distinguished Professor Margaret and John Ferraro Chair in Effective Local Government	Transportation policy, metropolitan spatial structure, travel demand, urban transportation
Eric Heikkila	Professor	Urban development, economic development, East Asian cities, urban economics, urban information systems
Annette M. Kim	Associate Professor Director, Spatial Analysis Lab (SLAB)	Housing and land use; international development planning; East Asian urbanization; race, arts, and placemaking; critical mapping and urban analytics
Geraldine Knatz	Professor of the Practice of Policy and Engineering	Seaport policy and management, maritime transportation, international trade, seaport sustainability, environmental impact analysis
LaVonna B. Lewis	Professor (Teaching) Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion	American politics, public policy (most notably health policy), interest groups, and federal programs
Dowell Myers	Professor Director, Population Dynamics Research Group	Demographic change, future of California, housing impacts, workforce and education, immigration and assimilation, communication for consensus about change
Adam Rose	Professor (Research)	Energy and environmental economics, public policy, natural hazards and terrorism, regional science, applied general equilibrium modeling
Lisa Schweitzer	Professor	Environmental justice, Sustainable transportation, Hazardous materials in urban environments, Community environmental quality
David Sloane	Professor Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis	Urban history, community health planning, health disparities, cultural landscapes
Lois M. Takahashi	Professor (Teaching) Houston I. Flournoy Professor of State Government Coordinator, Master of Public Administration - Sacramento	Public and social service delivery to vulnerable populations in the U.S. and in Southeast/South Asian cities

Name

Position

Expertise

Marlon Boarnet

Professor
Director, METRANS Transportation Center

Transportation, travel behavior, urban growth patterns, regional science, urban economics

Geoff Boeing

Assistant Professor

Transportation networks, urban form, data science, urban informatics

Santina Contreras

Assistant Professor

Environmental Planning, Natural Hazards, Community Engagement, International Development, Engineering for Development

Elizabeth Currid-Halkett

Professor
James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning

Economic development, the arts, cultural economy, social networks, urban growth, economic geography

Liz Falletta

Professor (Teaching)
Program Director, Urban Planning Programs

Architecture, urban design, design criticism

Genevieve Giuliano

Distinguished Professor
Margaret and John Ferraro Chair in Effective Local Government

Transportation policy, metropolitan spatial structure, travel demand, urban transportation

Eric Heikkila

Professor

Urban development, economic development, East Asian cities, urban economics, urban information systems

Annette M. Kim

Associate Professor
Director, Spatial Analysis Lab (SLAB)

Housing and land use; international development planning; East Asian urbanization; race, arts, and placemaking; critical mapping and urban analytics

Geraldine Knatz

Professor of the Practice of Policy and Engineering

Seaport policy and management, maritime transportation, international trade, seaport sustainability, environmental impact analysis

LaVonna B. Lewis

Professor (Teaching)
Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

American politics, public policy (most notably health policy), interest groups, and federal programs

Dowell Myers

Professor
Director, Population Dynamics Research Group

Demographic change, future of California, housing impacts, workforce and education, immigration and assimilation, communication for consensus about change

Adam Rose

Professor (Research)

Energy and environmental economics, public policy, natural hazards and terrorism, regional science, applied general equilibrium modeling

Lisa Schweitzer

Professor

Environmental justice, Sustainable transportation, Hazardous materials in urban environments, Community environmental quality

David Sloane

Professor
Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis

Urban history, community health planning, health disparities, cultural landscapes

Lois M. Takahashi

Professor (Teaching)
Houston I. Flournoy Professor of State Government
Coordinator, Master of Public Administration - Sacramento

Public and social service delivery to vulnerable populations in the U.S. and in Southeast/South Asian cities