“DURP is one of just a few programs whose graduates consistently… practice good discernment and understand the relationships and politics that infuse every day of a planner’s work.”
– Sara Dechter, Class of 2004
Faculty
John Felkner
Lisa Turner de Vera
Description
The International Planning specialization prepares students for the challenges of guiding economic and social development in the context of increasing globalization, commonly defined as the increasing interconnectedness of people, places, and institutions worldwide. This increasing interconnectedness brings with it particular challenges for urban and regional planning systems in the 21st century. These include the global challenges of climate change and other environmental issues, such as water provision, which threaten urban and regional planning systems in both developing and developed countries, and require cross-border and international collaboration. They also include creating sustainable systems to manage rapid global urbanization, as well as the development of collaborative planning systems to respond to and mitigate other natural hazards, such as global pandemics.
An increasing number of issues transcend both highly developed and developing countries and require innovative urban and regional planning strategies. Global cities are now grappling with the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, and increased urban heat, necessitating resilient infrastructure and adaptive planning to withstand these changes. Environmental sustainability is imperative as urban areas have a substantial impact on resource depletion and pollution. Implementing sustainable practices such as green building, waste recycling, urban farming, and more sustainable national economic accounting systems such as natural capital accounting, are vital to reduce the ecological footprint of cities. Rapid urbanization is another significant challenge, particularly pronounced in developing countries: urban growth often outpaces the available infrastructure and services, leading to problems like overcrowded housing and inadequate sanitation facilities. This is closely tied to the issue of housing affordability: as demand for housing in cities grows, so too does the cost, leading to gentrification, homelessness, and economic segregation. At the same time, transportation and mobility are crucial for urban functionality: cities must manage traffic congestion, reduce emissions, integrate various transport modes, and expand public transit access to maintain efficiency and sustainability. Moreover, urban areas are hotspots for economic inequality and social segregation, where close proximity of affluent and poor communities highlights stark disparities in living conditions. Public health and safety are major concerns, with planning needed to mitigate pollution and crime, and the threat of future pandemics. Additionally, the integration of technology in urban management, through the smart cities concept, offers opportunities for improvement but also introduces issues of privacy, security, cyber security and Artificial Intelligence (AI) resilience, and a digital divide. Effective governance and public participation in planning processes are essential for addressing these complex urban issues. Ensuring that governance is transparent and inclusive remains a significant challenge. These issues require a multifaceted approach that includes policy innovation, community engagement, and international cooperation to ensure sustainable and equitable urban development.
Courses address cross-cutting issues such as globalization, democratization, and sustainable development. They provide students with an understanding of the legal and institutional context within which planners operate and of sector-specific issues and strategies. The latter include regional economic development and connectivity, sustainable transport systems, participatory planning, housing and infrastructure, and the role and impact of population growth and distribution. Students also develop skills in the preparation of development plans, and in the design, management and implementation of development projects.
Students are encouraged to select a concentration in a particular issue area of international planning and development. Concentrations can be in one of the other Department specializations (such as Environmental Planning, Transportation Planning, or Neighborhood Planning and Community Development) or can consist of thematically selected electives from within, or outside the Department. Additional examples of appropriate concentrations include international housing, planning for poverty, resilient urban systems, planning for climate change, food systems planning, natural capital accounting, disaster planning and emergency management, green infrastructure, health planning, international organizations, environmental conflict and economic development, non-governmental or non-profit organizations, development administration and finance, and others. Students should consult with an advisor from the specialization for the coursework appropriate to different concentrations.
Required Courses
Required:
- URP 5610 Introduction to Development Planning
- URP 5611 Strategies for Planning in Less Developed Countries
Choose at least 1 of the following:
- URP 5355 International Transportation Planning
- URP 5805 Multicultural Urbanism
In addition to these required courses, a wide range of graduate courses offered in other Departments at FSU provide a rich array to support a broad range of student interests within the International Planning specialization. Students are encouraged to consider these courses and work with their advisors to select courses that will support their particular interests, within the realm of international planning. The following is a partial listing of related available courses at FSU:
- INR 5936 Climate Change and Food
- INR 5507 International Organizations
- ECO 5005 Economic Principles for International Affairs
- ECS 5015 Economic Development: Theory and Problems
- Geo 5358 Environmental Conflict and Economic Development
- GEO 5453 Global Health
- GEO 5417 Race and Place
- INR 5036 International Political Economy
- PAD 5142 Managing the Non-Profit Organization
- PAD 5173 Nongovernmental Organizations
- PAD 5208 Budget and Finance in Non-Profit Organizations
- PAD 5310 Disaster Management Planning for Poor Urban Communities
- PAD 5378 Disaster Systems
- PAD 5389 Disasters: From Shock to Recovery
- PAD 5397 Foundations of Emergency Management
- PAD 5398 Emergency Management Programs, Planning, and Policy
- PAD 5475 Women, Disasters and Conflict
- PAD 5828 The Third Sector: Non-Profit, Non-Gov Organizations, and Disaster
- PAD 5835 International and Comparative Disaster Management
- PAD 5836 International and Comparative Administration
- PAD 5845 Public Health and Emergency Management
- SYA 6933 International Migration
- SYD 5046 International Population Dynamics
- SYD 5105 Population Theory
- SYD 5135 Techniques of Population Analysis
- SYD 5215 Health and Survival
- LAW 6260 Public International Law
Employment Placements
Recent Job Placements
- USAID
- American Red Cross, Coastal Virginia Section
- ABA ROLI Consulting Group, Washington, DC
- MEDAIR Disaster Relief, Haiti
- Florida Dept Emergency Mgmt
- SODADE, Haiti
- Best Buddies International – Area Director for Asia and Oceania
- Housing Bureau, Portland, OR
- ANERA, Beirut, Lebanon
- CRS, Brazil
Specialization Research at FSU
Ongoing Research Projects by Faculty and Students
- New towns and new capital cities in Africa
- Women’s employment in Columbia
- Resiliency and squatter settlements
- How participatory, multistakeholder urban programs affect health, safety, and well-being in Kerala, India