Curriculum for the USP Major (Effective Fall 2024)

This is the curriculum required for all students that ENTERED UCSD Fall 2024 and later. Students who started at UCSD prior to Fall 2024 are held to the previous curriculum requirements and should check this page for details.

A bachelor of arts degree in Urban Studies and Planning (USP) will be given to students who satisfactorily complete the general education requirements of their college in addition to the urban studies and planning courses. Students are encouraged to complete the lower division courses before they enroll in the upper division courses. Completing the USP major is flexible.

Lower division* and upper division requirements must be taken for a letter grade, and graded C- or higher to count toward the major. *USP 30, which is a 2-unit lower division requirement, is the only major requirement that can be completed with Pass/No Pass grading.

A 2.0 grade point average is required for all courses in the major. You can declare the major using the major/minor tool.

Transfer students should see the USP student affairs advisor to determine whether courses taken elsewhere satisfy USP major requirements. No more than one special studies course, USP 198, USP 199, will be accepted to count towards the major.

Lower Division Requirements

6 Courses Required

USP 1: History of U.S. Urban Communities
USP 2: Urban World System OR USP 6: Introduction to Global Architecture
USP 3: The City and Social Theory OR USP 5: Introduction to Real Estate and Development
USP 4: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
USP 30: Urban Studies and Planning Colloquium (2 units, only Pass/No Pass allowed in major)
USP 60 The Practice of Planning Research
- Exception: Transfer students who previously completed the equivalent of PoliSci 30: Political Inquiry, Psychology 60: Introduction to Statistics or Sociology 60 The Practice of Social Research as transfer prep at a community college should reach out to the USP Department via the Virtual Advising Center as the department will honor those transfer equivalents for the 24-25 school year. Transfer students that did not complete the equivalent at their community college prior to entering UCSD are required to take USP 60 at UCSD.

Upper Division Requirements

12 Courses Required

three (3) Foundation Courses
one (1) Technical Elective
one (1) Research Methods Course
two (2) Senior Sequence Courses
five (5) Upper-Division Elective Courses

Three (3) Foundation Courses Required

Required for all USP majors:

USP 124: Land Use Planning
USP 173: History of Urban Planning and Design

Plus one additional foundation course from the following list:

USP 100: Introduction to Urban Planning
USP 103: American City in the Twentieth Century (HIUS 148)
USP 104: Ethnic Diversity and the City (ETHN 105)
USP 105: Urban Sociology (SOCI 153)
USP 106: The History of Race & Ethnicity in American Cities (HIUS 129)
USP 107: Urban Politics (PoliSci 102E)
USP 108: Planning Theories
USP 170: Planning for Sustainable Communities
USP 171: Sustainable Development
USP 171GS: International Sustainable Development (Summer Global Seminar offered every other year)

One (1) Technical Elective Course Required

Chosen from the following list. Should be taken Junior year.

USP 169: Introduction to Green Building
- Prerequisite: USP 124
USP 172: Graphics, Visual Communication and Urban Information
USP 175: Site Analysis
USP 177A: Urban Design Practicum
USP 183GS: International Urban Design Practicum (Summer Global Seminar offered every other year)
USP 191A: Intermediate Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Community Planning
- Prerequisite: USP 4

One (1) Research Methods Course Required

Chosen from the following list. Should be taken Junior year.

USP 125: The Design of Social Research
USP 128A: Climate Action Scholars: Community Engagement and Research
USP 129: Research Methods: Studying Racial and Ethnic Communities (ETHN 190)
USP 141A: Life Course Scholars Research and Core Fundamentals
USP 142A: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Core Fundamentals
USP 142B: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Fieldwork
USP 160: Research Methods: Analyzing Crime
USP 163: Community-Based Research and Planning
USP 188/SOCI 188: Mexican Migration Field Research Practicum
USP 193: San Diego Community Research

Two (2) Senior Sequences courses are required:

Both of the following courses are required for all USP majors:

USP 186: Senior Sequence Research Proposal (6 units - offered only in Fall quarter)
- Prerequisites: USP 30*, USP 60*,USP 124, Research Method, and Technical Elective
- Includes 2 units related to completing a USP related internship
USP 187: Senior Sequence Research Project (6 units - offered only in Winter quarter)
- Prerequisites: USP 186
- Includes 2 units related to completing a USP related internship

As part of USP 186/187 students must complete 100 hours of a USP related internship between Sept 1st and the end of Winter quarter while enrolled in the capstone. Please review the Senior Sequence page for additional information.

*Prerequisites effective Fall 2025

Five (5) Upper Division Electives - Alphabetical Order

Any USP course numbered 100-149 and 160-194 can count toward the USP Upper Division Elective Requirement as long as they are not used elsewhere in the major requirements. Courses numbered 150-159 are reserved for the Real Estate & Development major and therefore do not count toward USP Major requirments. Students may also use one special studies course (USP 198 or 199) toward their five upper division USP electives.

At least three of the upper division elective courses must be USP courses.

Be sure to check the catalog for any prerequisites.

The full list of USP upper division electives are below:

ANBI 132/BIEB 176: Conservation and the Human Predicament
CGS 134: Gender and Climate Justice
COMM 111C: Cities and Politics of Space
COMM 124A: Critical Design Practice/Advanced Studio
ECON 116: Economic Development
ENVR 102: Selected Topics in Environmental Studies (special topics can change quarterly and must be petitioned for credit)
ENVR 110: Environmental Law
ENVR 111: Environmental Law and Federal Indian Policy
ENVR 140: Wilderness and Human Values
ESYS 103: Environmental Challenges: Science and Solutions
ETHN 103: Environmental Racism
ETHN 104: Race, Space, and Segregation
ETHN 118: Contemporary Immigration Issues
ETHN 121: Contemporary Asian-American History
ETHN 123: Asian-American Politics
ETHN 131/HIUS 159: Social and Economic History of the Southwest II
ETHN 142: Medicine, Race, and the Global Politics of Inequality
ETHN 151: Ethnic Politics in America
ETHN 160: Global Indigenous Studies
ETHN 161: Black Politics and Protest Since 1941
ETHN 184: Black Intellectuals in the 20th Century
HIEU 129: Paris, Past and Present
HIUS 114: California History
HIUS 117: History of Los Angeles
HIUS 124/ETHN 125: Asian American History
HIUS 139: African-American History in the Twentieth Century
HIUS 144: Lost Neighborhoods of San Diego
HIUS 158/ETHN 130: Social and Economic History of the Southwest I
HIUS 180/ETHN 134: Immigration and Ethnicity in Modern American Society
POLI 100H: Race and Ethnicity in American Politics
POLI 100J: Race in American Political Development
POLI 103A - Calif Government & Politics (A)
POLI 105A: Latino Politics in the U.S.
POLI 117/SIO 109: Bending the Curve: Solutions to Climate Change
POLI 150A: Politics of Immigration
POLI 162: Environmental Policy
SOCI 125: Sociology of Immigration
SOCI 139: Social Inequality: Class, Race, and Gender
SOCI 151: Comparative Race and Ethnic Relations
SOCI 159: Special Topics in Social Organizations and Institutions (special topics can change quarterly and must be petitioned for credit)
SOCI 169: Citizenship, Community and Culture
SOCI 179: Social Change
SOCI 180: Social Movements and Social Protest
USP 100: Introduction to Urban Planning
USP 101/POLI 160AA: Introduction to Policy Analysis
USP 102/ECON 135: Urban Economics
USP 103/HIUS 148: American Cities in the Twentieth Century
USP 104/ETHN 105: Ethnic Diversity and the City
USP 105/SOCI 153C: Urban Sociology
USP 106/HIUS 129: History of Race and Ethnicity in American Cities
USP 107/POLI 102E: Urban Politics
USP 108: Planning Theories
USP 110/POLI 102J: Advanced Topics in Urban Politics (special topics can change quarterly and must be petitioned for credit)
USP 111/POLI 102JJ: Advanced Topics in Urban Politics (special topics can change quarterly and must be petitioned for credit)
USP 118: Inclusive Urbanism
USP 119: Planning for Natural Hazards
USP 120: Urban Planning, Infrastructure, and Real Estate
USP 128A/ANTH 128A: Climate Action Scholars: Community Engagement and Research
USP 128B/ANTH 128A: Climate Action Scholars: Climate Action Scholars: Capstone Project
USP 131: Culture, Tourism, and the Urban Economy: Case Studies of Craft Breweries
USP 132/ETHN 188: African Americans, Religion, and the City
USP 133/SOCI 152: Social Inequality and Public Policy
USP 135/ETHN 129: Asian and Latina Workers in the Global Economy
USP 136: Community Organizing
USP 137: Housing and Community Development and Practice
USP 138: Urban Economic Development
USP 140: Healthy Placemaking
USP 141A: Life Course Scholars Research and Core Fundamentals
USP 141B: Life Course Scholars Capstone Project
USP 142A: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Research
USP 142B: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Fieldwork
USP 142C: Urban Challenges: Sustainable Food Systems
USP 143: The U.S. Health Care System
USP 144: Environmental and Preventive Health Issues
USP 145: Aging-Social and Health Policy Issues
USP 147: Case Studies in Health Care Programs/Poor and Underserved Populations
USP 148: Health and the Built Environment
USP 160: Research Methods: Analyzing Crime
USP 161: Environmental Design and Crime Prevention
USP 162: Migration and the City
USP 163. Community-Based Research and Planning
USP 164: Cities in Film
USP 165A: Advanced Special Topics in Housing
USP 165B: Advanced Special Topics in Sustainability
USP 165C: Advanced Special Topics in Transportation
USP 165D: Advanced Special Topics in Urban Design and Land Use
USP 167/HIUS 123: History of New York City
USP 168:/HIUS 117: History of Los Angeles
USP 169 Introduction to Green Building
USP 170: Planning for Sustainable Communities
USP 171: Sustainable Development
USP 171GS: International Sustainable Development (Summer Global Seminar offered every other year)
USP 172: Graphics, Visual Communication, and Urban Information
USP 173GS: International Sustainable Development
USP 175: Site Analysis
USP 176: International Planning and Development: U.S.- Mexico Border
USP 177A: Urban Design Practicum
USP 177B: Advanced Urban Design
USP 179: Urban Design, Theory, and Practice
USP 180: Transportation Planning
USP 181: Public Transportation
USP 182: Gentrification
USP 183/SOCI 183: The Geography of American Opportunity
USP 183GS: International Urban Design Practicum (Summer Global Seminar offered every other year)
USP 184: Decolonizing Design: Histories and Theories
USP 188/SOCI188: Field Research in Migrant Communities - Practicum
USP 188B: Research Analysis and Reporting
USP 189: Special Topics in Urban Planning
USP 190: Senior Honors Seminar (4 units - offered only in Spring quarter)
USP 191A: Intermediate Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Community Planning
USP 191B: Advanced Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Community Planning
USP 193: San Diego Community Research
USP 194: Research Seminar in D.C. (4 units)
VIS 101A: Desgining Urban Ecologies
VIS 103: Architectural Practices
VIS 103B: Architecture and Urbanism of Korea

Five (5) Upper Division Elective - Potential Career Tracks

Below you can find some electives from the list above organized by potential career interest. You do not need to take all of the courses listed if you are interested in that career field but the courses listed explore and cultivate relavent skills and knowledge for that career track.

Bolded courses are considered foundational for the listed career track.

At least three of the upper division elective courses must be USP courses.

Be sure to check the catalog for any prerequisites.

Career Tracks: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design; Community Health; Community Organizing/Empowerment; Environmental Planning, Sustainability & Climate Change; Housing & Community Development; Land Use and Comprehensive Planning; Law or Public Policy; Research (Academic Research and Graduate School Preparation); Transportation

Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design

It is highly recommended to focus on studio coursework when possible:

USP 161: Environmental Design and Crime Prevention
USP 165D: Advanced Special Topics in Urban Design and Land Use (topics vary)
USP 172: Graphics, Visual Communication, and Urban Information
USP 175: Site Analysis
USP 177A: Urban Design Practicum
USP 177B: Advanced Urban Design
USP 179: Urban Design, Theory, and Practice
USP 183GS: International Urban Design Practicum (Summer Global Seminar offered every other year)
USP 184: Decolonizing Design: Histories and Theories
VIS 101A: Designing Urban Ecologies
VIS 103: Architectural Practices
VIS 103B: Architecture and Urbanism of Korea
COMM 111C: Cities and Politics of Space
COMM 124A: Critical Design Practice/Advanced Studio

Community Health

USP 140: Healthy Placemaking
USP 141A: Life Course Scholars Research and Core Fundamentals
USP 141B: Life Course Scholars Capstone Project
USP 142A. Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Core Fundamentals
USP 142B. Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Fieldwork
USP 142C: Sustainable Food systems
USP 143: The US Health-Care System
USP 144: Environmental and Preventive Health Issues
USP 145: Aging - Social and Health Policy Issues
USP 147: Case Studies in Health-Care Programs/Poor and Underserved Population
USP 148: Health and the Built Environment

Community Organizing/Empowerment

USP 105/SOCI 153C: Urban Sociology
USP 136: Community Organizing
USP 140: Healthy Placemaking
USP 188/SOCI 188: Field Research in Migrant Communities—Practicum
ETHN 104: Race, Space, and Segregation
ETHN 118: Contemporary Immigration Issues
ETHN 142: Medicine, Race, and the Global Politics of Inequality
ETHN 151: Ethnic Politics in America
SOCI 125: Sociology of Immigration
SOCI 139: Social Inequality: Class, Race, and Gender
SOCI 159: Special Topics in Social Organizations and Institutions (special topics can change quarterly and must be petitioned for credit)
SOCI 180: Social Movements and Social Protest

Environmental Planning, Sustainability & Climate Change

USP 119: Planning for Natural Hazards
USP 128A/ANTH 128A: Climate Action Scholars: Community Engagement and Research
USP 128B/ANTH 128A: Climate Action Scholars: Climate Action Scholars: Capstone Project
USP 142C: Urban Challenges: Sustainable Food Systems
USP 165B: Advanced Special Topics in Sustainability (topics vary)
USP 169: Introduction to Green Building
USP 170: Planning for Sustainable Communities
USP 171: Sustainable Development
USP 171GS: International Sustainable Development (Summer Global Seminar offered every other year)
ANBI 132/BIEB 176: Conservation and the Human Predicament
ENVR 102: Selected Topics in Environmental Studies (special topics can change quarterly and must be petitioned for credit)
ENVR 110: Environmental Law
ENVR 140: Wilderness and Human Values
ESYS 103: Environmental Challenges: Science and Solutions
POLI 117/SIO 109: Bending the Curve: Solutions to Climate Change
POLI 162: Environmental Policy

Housing & Community Development

Students may want to consider the RED minor as well as the electives below.

USP 100: Introduction to Urban Planning
USP 102/ECON 135: Urban Economics
USP 131: Culture, Tourism, and the Urban Economy: Case Studies of Craft Breweries
USP 137: Housing and Community Development and Practice
USP 138: Urban Economic Development
USP 142A: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Research
USP 142B: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Fieldwork
USP 148: Health and the Built Environment
USP 165A: Advanced Special Topics in Housing (topics vary)
USP 175: Site Analysis
USP 182: Gentrification
ECON 116: Economic Development

Land Use and Comprehensive Planning

USP 100: Introduction to Urban Planning
USP 101/POLI 160AA: Introduction to Policy Analysis
USP 108: Planning Theories
USP 120: Urban Planning, Infrastructure, and Real Estate
USP 137: Housing and Community Development and Practice
USP 148: Health and the Built Environment
USP 165D: Advanced Special Topics in Urban Design and Land Use (topics vary)
USP 170: Planning for Sustainable Communities
USP 191A: Intermediate Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Community Planning
USP 191B: Advanced Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Community Planning

Law or Public Policy

USP 100: Introduction to Urban Planning
USP 101/POLI 160AA: Introduction to Policy Analysis
USP 107/POLI 102E: Urban Politics
USP 110/POLI 102J: Advanced Topics in Urban Politics (special topics can change quarterly and must be petitioned for credit)
USP 111/POLI 102JJ: Advanced Topics in Urban Politics (special topics can change quarterly and must be petitioned for credit)
USP 133/SOCI 152: Social Inequality and Public Policy
USP 142A: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Research
USP 142B: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Fieldwork
USP 176: International Planning and Development: U.S.-Mexico Border
USP 188/SOCI 188: Field Research in Migrant Communities - Practicum
POLI 100H: Race and Ethnicity in American Politics
POLI 103A: Calif Government & Politics (A) (Foundation if planning to work in California)
SOCI 125: Sociology of Immigration

Research (Academic Research and Graduate School Preparation)

USP 125: The Design of Social Research
USP 128A: Climate Action Scholars: Community Engagement and Research
USP 128B: Climate Action Scholars: Capstone Project
USP 141A: Life Course Scholars Research and Core Fundamentals
USP 141B: Life Course Scholars Capstone Project
USP 142A: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Core Fundamentals
USP 142B: Urban Challenges: Homelessness in San Diego Fieldwork
USP 146: Research Methods for Built Environment and Active Living
USP 160: Research Methods: Analyzing Crime
USP 163: Community-Based Research and Planning
USP 172: Graphics, Visual Communication, and Urban Information
USP 188/SOCI 188: Field Research in Migrant Communities - Practicum
USP 188B: Research Analysis and Reporting
USP 190: Senior Honors Seminar (4 units - offered only in Spring quarter)
USP 193: San Diego Community Research

Transportation

USP 100: Introduction to Urban Planning
USP 165C: Advanced Special Topics in Transportation (topics vary)
USP 180: Transportation Planning
USP 181: Public Transportation
USP 191A: Intermediate Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Community Planning
USP 191B: Advanced Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Community Planning

Double Major and/or Minor Options

Many students will consider adding a second major or minor during their time at UC San Diego. Below are some of the most common double major and minor options for the USP Major. We have listed the five most popular at the top. Please follow the links for more information. Any additional questions can be submitted to the respective departments through the Virtual Advising Center.