Certificate Program in Land Use and Environmental Planning
Planning professionals come from a variety of backgrounds—social science, natural science, engineering and even the humanities, facilities and interior design. Regardless of your background, the UC Davis Extension Land Use and Environmental Planning Certificate Program will give you the foundation you need to master the body of knowledge every planner should have. Through theory and practice, this program delivers—addressing practical aspects of planning in the context of larger issues, future implications of present decisions and processes for examining alternatives.
Gain practical knowledge that matters
- Broaden your conceptual framework in planning.
- Develop ideas, strategies and skills for more effective job performance.
- Learn to work more effectively within the increasingly complex regulatory and environmental context of planning.
- Improve your ability to solve problems and work with a wide range of constituencies.
- Network with other professionals.
- Gain comprehensive knowledge you can apply immediately.
Designed for professionals like you
This program is designed for planners, resource managers, administrators and analysts who desire a broader, deeper understanding of the field. It is also ideal for planning commissioners and other decision-makers who want to add to their civic responsibilities foundation. Professionals in related fields such as real estate, engineering, landscape architecture, law, public health, facility management and those wanting to learn more about planning will also benefit.
To earn the certificate
You must complete 20 units of required core coursework and eight elective courses with grades of "C" or better.
| UNITS | F | W | SP | |||
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| REQUIRED COURSES | Environmental Planning and Site Analysis | 4 | 
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| Urban Planning Design Studio | 3 |
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| Planning in California: Overview and Update | 4 |
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| Planning and Environmental Law | 3 |
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| Community Involvement and Communication in Planning | 2 |
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| Financial Aspects of Planning | 4 |
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F=Fall W=Winter SP=Spring SU=Summer;
Schedules subject to change
Classroom format |
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Required Courses
Environmental Planning and Site Analysis
4 quarter units academic credit, X432.3. 40 MCLE Hours
Examine the major components of physical planning as they relate to achieving land use policy objectives. Focus on environmental site analysis, appropriate site selection and project development. Learn how to analyze opportunities, constraints, site suitability, site design and construction feasibility.
Examine the following topics 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 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 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. 30 MCLE Hours
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 principles, 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.
Planning in California: Overview and Update
4 quarter units academic credit, X432.1. 40 AICP Hours, 40 MCLE CEUs
Gain a comprehensive understanding of contemporary planning practices in California. Learn to unify and integrate the various aspects of planning and understand their applications.
Topics include:
- State planning
- Land use regulation
- The General Plan process, specific plans and zoning
- Planning implementation tools
- The relationship between land use planning to environmental review and transportation
- Property rights and takings
- Local government boundary issues
- Redevelopment and the fiscalization of land use
Take home 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.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Planning in California: Overview and Update starts January 21, 2010
Planning and Environmental Law
3 quarter units academic credit, X432.8. 30 MCLE CEUs, 30 AICP CEUs
Gain the knowledge needed to analyze a case, discuss the salient legal points in a professional manner and communicate legal principles with members of the public, decision-makers, other planners and governmental counsel. Learn about the traditional aspects of planning law-from nuisance and trespass to constitutional law. Study the General Plan, subdivision controls, variations on zoning controls and extractions, eminent domain and the impact of climate change on land use. Discuss environmental law, including a survey of the public trust doctrine, CEQA, NEPA and specific resource issues such as coastal management and wetlands.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Planning and Environmental Law starts February 16, 2010
Community Involvement and Communication in Planning
2 quarter units academic credit, X432.7. MCLE Hours
Understand the theoretical background and the hands-on practice of involving stakeholders in urban planning and design decisions. Practice selected communication and facilitation techniques that create mutually beneficial solutions. Examine how to assess a case situation and determine what type of processes are right for each planning or design project. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a series of techniques used in planning and design and public processes. Explore different approaches to communicating complex and technical planning information to community groups. Engage as stakeholders or facilitators to resolve complex public policy problems in urban planning with several simulated negotiations. Examine case studies and analyze what went well, what went wrong and why.
Prerequisites:
Planning in California: Overview and Update, Urban Planning Design Studio.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Financial Aspects of Planning
4 quarter units academic credit, X432.4. 40 MCLE Hours
Gain 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 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.
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.
