Undergraduate Program

Introduction to the social, economic, political and physical factors involved in the development of cities and towns. Emphasis on the nature of urban form as a reflection of the prevailing past and present political economy of society.

Development of the major issues, concepts and methods emerging from the relationship of social systems and the natural environment.

Meets New Mexico Lower-Division General Education Common Core Curriculum Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences.

Teaches the basic concepts, processes and techniques of planning. Students learn to identify planning issues, problems and research questions; collect information to answer these questions; organize and analyze information; and develop policy recommendations.

This course examines the intersections among globalization, communities, and social action. It focuses on myriad ways global forces impact communities and how they work for local change in a global era.

This course introduces students to issues associated with the design of cities and aims to establish an understanding of the theories and methodologies of urban design.

Prerequisite: 165.

Introduces the intersections of economic theory and contemporary economic development issues and policies. Surveys how economic decisions and policies impact the shaping of space and development of communities. Introduces strategies to strengthen local economies. 

This course examines the complexity of environmental policymaking, and how stakeholders can impact and are impacted by environmental planning and policy at different scales.

This course explores the dynamics of security, policing and inequality in diverse processes of urban development. Using global comparative perspectives, it explores the uneven distribution of safety, vulnerability and violence within and across communities.

Development of the form and structure of human settlements based on historical, cultural, economic and physical factors. Course includes various theoretical explanations of why settlements are organized, the way they are and how various elements of settlement system interact.

Exploration of practical skills for creating and implementing community based programs and plans with community partners. Skill development in mobilization, facilitation, and organizational development to implement community based plans and strategies.

Introduces students to the methods and techniques of qualitative inquiry. It focuses primarily on preparing students to conduct rigorous qualitative research, community based planning and analysis.

Taught completely in the field, we will evaluate the ecological health of three watersheds, exploring what John Muir described as the interconnectedness that ties everything together on this water planet.

This course addresses physical planning analytical methods and presentation skills, and prepares students for professional roles as active and effective participants in the ongoing process of managing the urban spatial environment.

Prerequisite: 165 and 181 and 265.

Working in conjunction with a local community, student learn methodology, tools and techniques of urban design practice through innovative design analysis, critical mapping, production, representation and communication in the evolution of the built environment.

Prerequisite: 165 and 181 and 265.

This course presents research, issues and perspectives about water and energy in New Mexico. It includes a speaker series with key experts from New Mexico's academic, government, research, nonprofit, and business communities.

Restriction: junior or senior standing.

An introduction to the watershed as a rational planning unit, with case studies to illustrate principles of resource inventory, identification of land use problems and the formulation of plans for protection and rehabilitation.

Problems are individualized topics conducted on a one to one student-faculty arrangement. Allows for exploration of various subjects of interest to students and faculty members.

This course introduces students to fundamental techniques and tools used to create graphics in plan making. It is designed for planners to learn to communicate ideas graphically using both hand drawing and design software.

Restriction: junior or senior standing.

A broad introduction to the housing system, housing policies, finance and funding mechanisms and development dynamics.

Basic theories and practices of regional planning and development. The physical, demographic and functional structure of regions. Problems of uneven development in the southwest; implications on the economic and cultural welfare of the region.

Various topics related to planning in the southwest.

The social, political and economic interrelations between tribal lands and their activities with the outside dominant society. Case studies are used to present views in support of tribal autonomy and tribal integration.

Development theory, community planning and human ecology in different cultural settings. The course examines cases in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Western Europe and the U.S., as contexts for applied exercises. Relevant to B.A.E.P.D.

Study of land use planning and growth management dynamics at the local level, in its physical, legal administrative and economic contexts.

Restriction: admitted to B.A.E.P.D. Environmental Planning and Design.

An introduction to hand drawing and graphic techniques. Students will become comfortable in expressing and communicating design thinking and ideas in graphic form.

Overview of GIS capabilities in the context of community issues and local government. Includes direct manipulation of ArcView software, lectures, demonstrations and analysis of urban GIS applications.

Prerequisite: 265.

Introduces students to new ways to negotiate and resolve disputes in the context of professional practice through collaborative decision making and problem solving.

Applies planning concepts and techniques to development issues facing Chicanos in New Mexico generally and Albuquerque specifically. Other Chicano communities are studied for the insights gained from a comparative approach.

A broad overview of planning theory and history, with a focus on current planning paradigms as they apply in practice. Introduces students to the roles professional planners play in practice and the strategies they employ and dilemmas they encounter.

Restriction: admitted to M.C.R.P. Community and Regional Planning.

Exploration of practical skills for creating and implementing community based programs and plans with community partners. Skill development in mobilization, facilitation, and organizational development to implement community based plans and strategies.

(Also offered as LA 504)

Architectural and planning services to organizations and groups throughout the state who cannot afford traditional professional services. Advance approval required.

Restriction: permission of program director.

Introduction to comparative analysis of social, economic and spatial data as integrated into a typical comprehensive plan. Building data sets, organization of information, use of survey research, preliminary forecasting methods. Descriptive statistics a prerequisite.

Prerequisite: 500. 

Restriction: admitted to M.C.R.P. Community and Regional Planning and permission of graduate advisor.

Introduces students to the methods and techniques of qualitative inquiry. It focuses primarily on preparing students to conduct rigorous qualitative research, community based planning and analysis.

Taught completely in the field, we will evaluate the ecological health of three watersheds, exploring what John Muir described as the interconnectedness that ties everything together on this water planet.

Research and application of planning theory and methods appropriate to real urban settings from very large to neighborhood scale. Emphasis on sustainable development, equity and regional appropriateness. May be co-taught/combined with Architecture and Landscape.

This course presents research, issues and perspectives about water and energy in New Mexico. It includes a speaker series with key experts from New Mexico's academic, government, research, nonprofit, and business communities.

An introduction to the watershed as a rational planning unit, with case studies to illustrate principles of resource inventory, identification of land use problems and the formulation of plans for protection and rehabilitation.

Professionally based experience in professional planning practice in public, private or non-profit settings. Supervision is given in the field setting as well as at an academic setting.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

Explores what it takes to practice community development. What are processes of community development and how can planners enhance and build community in ways that promote fair and just distribution of resources and impacts.

A foundation for applying planning concepts and analytical techniques to natural systems in regions. Ecology and environmental policy, land suitability analysis, natural resources accounting and impact assessment.

(Also offered as ARCH 430 / 530)

An introductory course of physical planning practice for Planning, Architecture and Landscape students. Graphic methods of analysis, field trips, cross-disciplinary projects range from regional plans to design details of the built environment.

Examines the relationship of indigenous planning to other planning approaches such as advocacy, equity, and radical planning; considers aspects of “indegeneity” such as sovereignty, land tenure, and culture, and their application to community planning.

Explores the intersections of economics and contemporary economic development issues and policies. How do economic decisions and policies impact the shaping of space and development of communities? Covers strategies to strengthen local economies.

This course introduces students to fundamental techniques and tools used to create graphics in plan making. It is designed for planners to learn to communicate ideas graphically using both hand drawing and design software.

The study of city systems, form, and development with emphasis on social, economic, political, and physical aspects of cities as partial and total systems.

Introduces students to community participatory methods, including democratizing information, building community capacity, and redistributing power in communities. This course is an anti-oppression, decolonization, and liberation centric course.

Theories and methods related to Indigenous people, spaces, and the places they inhabit, urban to the rural, local to global, past to present. Examines epistemologies about space divergent from norms.

Examines design and community development concepts in the context of the Pueblos of New Mexico. Provides an overview of history, culture, and projects based on Pueblo core values and processes.

Examines design and community development concepts in the context of the Navajo Nation; gives an overview of Navajo history, culture, and projects based on Navajo core values and worldview.

Introduction to urban transportation subject area in a seminar format. Characteristics of urban transportation systems in U.S. and foreign cities are explored as are effects of urban transportation on local economies, urban form, the environment and the neighborhood.

Engages students in visually representing and researching contemporary indigenous architecture. Includes field trips, video presentations, guest lectures and readings, which explore the theoretical concepts of Indigenous design. Students produce an exhibit as their final project.

Individual study of problems in planning undertaken with faculty advisement and supervision.

Restriction: permission of instructor.

A broad introduction to the housing system, housing policies, finance, funding mechanisms and development dynamics.

Basic theories and practices of regional planning and development. The physical, demographic and functional structure of regions. Problems of uneven development in the southwest; implications on the economic and cultural welfare of the region.

Prerequisite: 511.

Principles and practice of rural area development. Emphasis on rural issues of the Southwest. Includes field studies and analysis of theory.

Various topics related to planning in the southwest.

The social, political and economic interrelations between tribal lands and their activities with the outside dominant society. Case studies are used to present views in support of tribal autonomy and tribal integration.

Development theory, community planning and human ecology in different cultural settings. The course examines cases in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Western Europe and the U.S. as contexts for applied exercises. Relevant to B.A.E.P.D.

(Also offered as PADM 577)

Introduction to practice of public policy development in technical and professional applications. Emphasis on writing, interpretation and implementation of policy documents. Environmental, physical and social policy are highlighted.  Required for the dual M.P.A./M.C.R.P. degree.

This course covers key theories and histories about development in Latin American contexts. The dynamics of development include the political, economic, social, spatial and epistemological dimensions of social change, operating at multiple scales. 

This course engages with the politics of land and land use. It explores the legal, administrative and economic processes through which land is conceptualized, exchanged and used. 

Restriction: admitted to M.C.R.P. Community and Regional Planning.

An introduction to hand drawing and graphic techniques. Students will become comfortable in expressing and communicating design thinking and ideas in graphic form.

Overview of GIS capabilities in the context of community issues and local government. Includes direct manipulation of ArcView software, lectures, demonstrations and analysis of urban GIS applications.

(Also offered as PADM 588)

Introduces students to new ways to negotiate and resolve disputes in the context of professional practice through collaborative decision making and problem solving.

This course applies planning concepts and techniques to development issues facing Chicanos in New Mexico generally and Albuquerque specifically. We study other Chicano communities for the insights gained from a comparative approach.

Analyzes the political and economic factors shaping urban development with particular emphasis on the impacts of economic restructuring. As planners, we study how these changes affect the process of planning and policy formation.

Development of project or thesis concept, investigation of data needs, initial data collection and assembly of written and field materials necessary to conduct a professional project or thesis.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

Restriction: admitted to M.C.R.P. Community and Regional Planning.

Development of a professional project reflective of advanced work in the field. Project should have an identified client, a time frame and a final product which demonstrates competence to engage in professional level planning.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

(Also offered as ARCH, LA 590)

An introduction to the methods for the documentation, research and analysis of historic built environments as preparation for historic preservation and contemporary regional design.

(Also offered as ARCH, LA 591)

An introduction to the history, theory and professional practices of historic preservation and regional contemporary design and planning.

Advanced studio projects responsive to client needs and useful to community organizations and public agencies. Results in final planning products which demonstrate competence to engage in professional level planning. Content varies each year.

Restriction: admitted to M.C.R.P. program.

This is an exit studio in the M.C.R.P. program and builds on the skills acquired in the first year of CRP classes. Students are expected to produce planning document deliverables to the indigenous community.

Restriction: admitted to a graduate program in the School of Architecture and Planning.

Development of a research project reflective of advanced inquiry into a planning topic. Thesis should make concrete contributions to guide planning practice.

Offered on a PR/CR/NC basis only.

(Also offered as ARCH, LA 691)

Urban design history, goals and theory with emphasis on cultural and ecological vibrancy.

Restriction: admitted to a graduate program in Community and Regional Planning.

(Also offered as ARCH, LA 694)

Topics will vary but may include design of public space, streets, transit districts, tactical urbanism. This course will be organized as three modules.

Restriction: admitted to a graduate program in Community and Regional Planning.