Doctor of Public Administration (DPA), Urban Planning and Development
100% online DPA
Year-round
enrollment
255K+ Alumni Worldwide
Doctor of Public Administration (DPA), Specialization in Urban Planning and Development
The Urban Planning and Development Specialization focuses on community planning and urban development within the public sector. It aims to improve professional knowledge and combine this understanding with scholarly ideas for developing urban communities. This is achieved through studying planning theory and further exploration in community planning and urban development, providing a comprehensive approach to public administration. Ultimately, students will also prepare a grant proposal for an urban development project.
Specialization Requirements
(3 courses, 9 semester credit hours)
Course Name
The course introduces students to urban planning theory in detail, starting with early theoretical models and working toward contemporary planning theory. Initially, students will become familiar with early planning theory, including the Garden City Movement, the Theory of the City, the Concentric Zone Model, the Sector Model, and the Multiple Nuclei Model. As the course progresses, students will become familiar with more contemporary theories, including the Theory of Community Development, the Right to the City framework, the Theory of Range and Threshold, the Rank Size Rule, Bid Rent Theory, Central Place Theory, the Theory of Creative Class, the Theory of Ladder, Broken Windows Theory, and the Theory of Drive in Culture. Students will also analyze the aforementioned theories and apply them in contemporary situations in urban planning and development.
The course covers elements related to urbanization and planning aspects common in urban environments, including land use, zoning, urban economics, site planning, and transportation. Initially, the concept of urbanization will be explored. Each component of physical planning and urban development will be covered individually. Furthermore, sustainability will be discussed. The signature assignment will bring together the integral components in a comprehensive plan for urban development in a particular area.
The course is designed to teach students the essential elements of grant writing, including how to search for Requests for Proposals, craft Letters of Intent and Inquiry, and write grant proposals. All parts of a grant proposal, such as Executive Summaries, Statements of Need, Project Descriptions, Budgets, Evaluation Plans, Organizational Backgrounds, Sustainability Plans, and Partnerships and Collaborations, are covered. The course also discusses the administration of grants within an agency. For the signature assignment, students will choose an RFP and develop a grant proposal. Finally, students will present their grant proposals virtually as a culminating project.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Assess various planning theories to determine feasibility and best practice in urban development.
- Determine appropriate community planning approaches to represent ideal development of urban areas and urban communities.
- Demonstrate effective grant writing through the completion of a grant proposal aligned with a focus on urban planning and development in a public administration context.
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
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