Certificate Program in Land Use and Environmental Planning
Planning professionals come from a variety of backgrounds - natural science, social science, engineering and even humanities. Planners often have limited direct academic experience in planning; yet there is a body of knowledge that every planner needs to master in order to progress to positions of greater responsibility. This program delivers that body of knowledge through a complimentary combination of theory and practice - addressing practical aspects of planning in the context of broader policy issues, future implications of present decisions and processes for examining alternatives.
What you'll learn
This program will help you broaden your conceptual framework in land use and environmental planning and develop techniques and strategies for more effective job performance. Learn to work more efficiently within the increasingly complex regulatory and environmental context of planning, and enhance your ability to solve problems, and work with a wide range of constituencies and difficult public policy situations.
Who should attend
This program is designed for planners, administrators and analysts who do not have an academic background in planning and those who wish to achieve a broader, deeper understanding of the field. It is also ideal for individuals with degrees in related fields who want to enter or advance in the planning or resource management field, as well as planning commissioners or decision-makers wanting to attain a base of knowledge related to their civic responsibilities. Professionals in related fields—such as real estate, engineering, natural science, architecture, public policy, landscape architecture and law—who want to learn more about the larger context of planning, also benefit greatly from the program.
Requirements to earn the certificate
Candidates for the certificate must successfully complete 20 units of required core coursework and 8 elective courses in this program, with grades of "C" or better.
| UNITS | F | W | SP | |||
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| REQUIRED COURSES | Planning in California: An Overview and Update | 4 | 
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| Implementing Planning Law | 4 |
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| Financial Aspects of Planning | 4 |
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| Environmental Planning and Site Analysis | 4 |
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| Urban Planning Design Studio | 3 |
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Classroom format |
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Required Courses
Planning in California: An Overview and Update
4 quarter units academic credit, X432.1. 40 MCLE Hours.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of contemporary planning practices in California. Learn to unify and integrate the various aspects of planning and understand their applications. This course features the planning process, the role of politics in local government, planning and the regulatory framework for planning efforts in California. Topics include:
- current issues in California planning
- historical overview of land use regulation
- an introduction to the general plan process, specific plans and zoning
- overview of planning implementation tools such as design review and growth management
- relationship of land use planning to environmental review and transportation
- property rights and takings
- local government boundary issues
- redevelopment and "fiscalization" of land use
You will receive the most recent edition of William Fulton's Guide to California Planning. Approximately 20 hours of study and full attendance in all course meetings are required. A course assignment will be mailed to you approximately four weeks before class begins and must be turned in on the first day of class.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Implementing Planning Law
4 quarter units academic credit, X432.2. GEN CEUs, GEN Hours, MCLE Hours.
Law is used to organize and implement the planning process. This course examines the concepts and underlying principles of law that are central to the practice of land use and environmental planning through a case book approach. This course will focus on planning law in California and will cover general plans and zoning from private covenants and subdivisions to dedications, fees and exactions. The legal basis of environmental law, common law, environmental protection and CEQA will also be covered and important court cases will be reviewed. Additional course topics include:
- substantive due process
- equal protection and procedural due process
- land use controls
- restraints on the use of police power
- endangered species and wetlands
This class is very intensive and some legal analysis may be new to students. There will be approximately 20-25 hours of study and projects outside of class. Attendance is mandatory for all classes.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Financial Aspects of Planning
4 quarter units academic credit, X432.4. GEN CEUs, GEN Hours, MCLE Hours.
This course provides planners with an understanding of how planning decisions impact the economic feasibility of a proposed project—for the developer and the public agency.
Included in the course is a series of guest speakers who will cover such topics as fiscal impact analysis: how it's done and why it's so important; public financing: why it's needed and what alternatives are available; integrating fiscal and financial analysis into the planning process; the developers' perspective; how planning decisions affect the "bottom line;" striking a balance between the goals and objectives of public and private-sector participants.
Approximately 20 hours of study and full attendance to all course meetings are required. A course assignment will be mailed approximately four weeks before the course begins, which you are required to complete before the first day of class.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Environmental Planning and Site Analysis
4 quarter units academic credit, X432.3. MCLE Hours.
Examine the major components of physical planning as they relate to achieving land use policy objectives. The instructor focuses on environmental site analysis, appropriate site selection and project development. Learn how to analyze opportunities, constraints, site suitability, site design and construction feasibility.
The following topics are examined as they relate to land use planning and site design:
- water quality and drainage
- solid waste management
- circulation design
- visual analysis
- design and mitigation for significant vegetation, habitat and conservation features topography, slope and natural hazards
- energy-related site issues
- analysis of construction details as they relate to site planning
The first two-day session covers the basics of the environmental planning site analysis process, including physical and cultural elements that influence planning and design; and techniques for gathering and synthesizing site data and presenting it in map and other formats.
The second two-day session covers environmental factors that affect landscape planning and analysis at the larger scale of watersheds and regions and how to use these in land use planning.
Approximately 20 hours of study and full attendance at all course meetings are required.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Urban Planning Design Studio
3 quarter units academic credit, X432.6. .
Receive hands-on practice in professional urban planning and design skills in a studio/lecture format. You will be fully immersed in planning and design principals, examples and case studies for today's communities. Critique land use plans and site designs, create and prepare site plans, and analyze and develop planning staff reports. Emphasis is placed on urban infill and sustainable community design and the challenges and complexities of planning and urban design in growing communities. In-class studio work and critique, as well as guest lectures, a hands-on downtown design modeling charrette and field visits are also included. There will be a minimum of 24 hours of planning and design work conducted outside of class.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Elective courses: Eight elective courses are required from Land Use and Natural Resources offerings. Courses are selected by the participant to allow exploration of a broad range of topics or to concentrate on a particular area, such as CEQA and environmental regulation, subdivision, zoning or planning issues. Please check with the Land Use and Natural Resources department at (530) 757-8878 to be sure the course you are interested in qualifies as an elective in this certificate program as some restrictions do apply.
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