UW-River Falls Accounting Academic Plan

Land Use Planning . . .

is a cyclical process of determining a community’s needs and then setting utilization and development goals to meet those needs in
an efficient, effective and sustainable manner.
Although a highly technical discipline, land use planning also relies on ethics and an understanding of social dynamics as equitable development options are sought to benefit the common good through democratic processes.

Department of Plant and Earth Science
324 Agriculture Science Hall
(715) 425-3345

Goals

to provide an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in land use planning,

to prepare students for entry level professional planning positions or graduate studies in planning,

to provide theoretical and experiential training in rural, suburban and regional design principles,

to provide training in applied technical skills such as geographic information systems, quantitative methods and remote sensing.

This program utilizes a methods approach to planning techniques including activities such as visioning, problem-solving, consensus-building, conflict resolution and evaluation, and is focused on planning, zoning and land management administration of communities and rural areas.

Program and/or Curriculum

At least 32 credits in land use planning are required in the major. In addition, students must complete 41-43 credits of general education requirements, 15 credits of support courses, and 19-23 credits of directed electives. The support courses are in the areas of cartography, geographic information systems, public speaking, and business/technical writing. The remaining curriculum consists of electives that allow a student to select additional courses that best prepare them for their chosen professional emphasis.

Faculty

The environmental science and management unit within the plant and earth science department is home to the land use planning major. There are four full-time faculty that form the instructional and student advising core for the major. Because land use planning is such a
diverse discipline, numerous other faculty provide support courses for the major.

Career Opportunities

The process of translating development plans and policies into programs and projects requires a wide array of technical skills and a well-rounded knowledge base. In a rural and community setting, land use planners typically:

develop site, master and comprehensive plans for public and private development.

draft policy and regulations on land use zones and subdivisions.

critique and rule on new development proposals.

draft and maintain the accuracy of land use maps.

In industry, land use planners are often involved in:

facility siting, finance and development

environmental regulations compliance

solid and hazardous waste handling

strategic planning and growth management

In all cases, planners strive to match a site’s physical capabilities with the most compatible land
use option.

Bachelor of Science Degree. Land Use Planning. Academic Advising Plan.

Semester 1 (Fall)

BIOL 150 General Biology ~ 3
ESM 105 Introduction to Environmental Studies 3
ESM 151 Intro to Land Use Theory and Practice 3
ENGL 100 Academic Reading and Writing ~ 3
MATH 146 College Algebra ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 5 (Fall)

ESM 303 Environmental Policies and
Administration ~ 3
GEOG 360 Geographic Information Systems:
Theory & Methods ~ 3
GEOG 385 Seminar: The American Frontier ~ 3
Directed elective courses ~ 6
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 2 (Spring)

CHEM 121 General Chemistry I ~ 5
ENGL 200 Investigating Ideas: Reading, Writing,
and the Disciplines ~ 3
GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology ~ 3
POLS 114 American National, State and Local
Government ~ 3
P ED 108 Health and Fitness for Life ~ 1
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 6 (Spring)

ENGL 266 Business Writing
or ENGL 367 Technical Writing ~ 3
ESM 305 Environmental Impact Assessment ~ 2
ESM 307 Cultural Perspectives on the
Environment ~ 3
ESM 333 Remote Sensing of Natural Resources 3
ESM 363 GIS Applications in Resource
Management ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 14

Semester 3 (Fall)

ART 100 Introduction to Art ~ 3
GEOG 250 Introduction to Cartography and
Geographic Information Systems ~ 3
ECON 100 Modern Economics ~ 3
SCTA 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication ~ 3
SOIL 210 Introduction to Soil Science ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 7 (Fall)

ESM 393 Comprehensive Planning ~ 3
ESM 411 Site Planning and Development ~ 4
Physical education activities courses (two) ~ 1
Directed elective courses (two) ~ 6
Total semester credits ~ 14

Semester 4 (Spring)

AGED 202 Leadership and Group Dynamics
or SCTA 208 Problem Solving in Small Group Communication
or SCTA 211 Public Speaking ~ 3
ENGL 243 Types of Literature ~ 3
ESM 220 Environmental Sustainability:
Theory/Issues and Management ~ 3
GENG 265 Engineering Graphics ~ 3
HIST 201 Introduction to Asian Civilization ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 8 (Spring)

ESM 435 Advanced Land Use Planning
and Design ~ 4
ESM 485 Senior Seminar in Resource Mngt ~ 1
Directed elective courses (three) ~ 10
Total semester credits ~ 15

Summer Session - Sophomore or Junior Year

ESM 270 Internship I ~ 2-4

Summary of Degree Requirements

General Education ~ 43 cr.
Core ~ 37-39 cr.
Required Supporting Courses ~ 18 cr.
Directed Electives ~ 20-22 cr.
Credits to Degree ~ 120 cr.

This curriculum plan includes 20-22 credits of directed
electives that could be used for a minor. Other possible
plans could be developed for different general studies
course selections, courses taken in a different order, or
whether 2 or 4 credits are taken for ESM 270.

PDF version

Updated December, 2005