Urban and Regional Planning Minor

The Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability (GPS) offers a minor in urban and regional planning that is open to all Westfield State majors. The minor introduces the challenging and vital aspects of creating, improving, and sustaining communities, cities, and regions. It provides students with knowledge of how cities and regions function and how they can transform through planning, policy, design, and social action. While it cannot convey the full scope of regional planning, the minor is an excellent addition to many other degree programs and majors at Westfield State.

Requirements for the Regional Planning Minor

The requirement is 18 credits, twelve (12) of which must be taken in residence at Westfield State University, as follows:

Foundation (6 credits)

GPS 0105 - Introduction to Community Planning Credits: 3
GPS 0106 - Envir., Sustain. & Society Credits: 3

Planning Core (6 credits)

Students must choose any two of the following courses:

GPS 0216 - Social Justice and the City Credits: 3
GPS 0219 - Land Use and Resource Planning Credits: 3
GPS 0222 - Site Planning Studio Credits: 4
GPS 0225 - Legal Issues in Zoning and Planning Credits: 3
GPS 0340 - Data Collection and Analysis Credits: 3
GPS 0352 - Planning Green Sustainable Cities Credits: 3

Planning Specializations (3 credits)

Students must choose any one of the following courses:

GPS 0204 - Housing in America Credits: 3
GPS 0233 - Planning (for) Disasters Credits: 3
GPS 0238 - Environmental Impact Analysis Credits: 3
GPS 0244 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GPS 0245 - Sustainable Energy Credits: 3
GPS 0251 - Water Resources Planning and Management Credits: 4
GPS 0314 - Sustainable Transportation Credits: 3
GPS 0317 - Special Topics in Geography and Planning Credits: 1-4
GPS 0325 - Food Systems Planning Credits: 3
GPS 0350 - Internship in Regional and Environmental Planning Credits: 3-12

Electives (3 credits)

Any course, by advisement, that matches student’s interest.

With the Chair of GPS’s approval, an upper-level course (200 or 300 level) that another department offers may substitute for no more than two of the GPS courses. Students seeking more information about the minor should contact the GPS Chair.