The Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning is designed to enhance knowledge, skills, and career development in the field of community, urban and regional planning.
Planning has been identified as one of the key policy issues in central Florida, which is a major growth area in the state.
The Urban and Regional Planning graduate certificate requires 18 credit hours of courses, including 12 credit hours of required courses and 6 credit hours of elective courses.
Total Credit Hours Required: 18 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
12 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- PAD5336 - Introduction to Urban Planning (3)
- PAD5337 - Urban Design (3)
- PAD5338 - Land Use and Planning Law (3)
- PAD6716 - Information Systems for Public Managers and Planners (3)
Restricted Electives
6 Total Credits
- Complete at least 2 of the following:
- PAD5356 - Managing Community and Economic Development (3)
- PAD6316 - Planning Methods (3)
- PAD6387 - Transportation Policy (3)
- PAD6397 - Managing Emergencies and Crises (3)
- PAD6353 - Environmental Planning and Policy (3)
- PAD6825 - Cross-Sectoral Governance (3)
- PAD6847 - Planning Healthy Communities (3)
Grand Total Credits: 18
Application Requirements
Admission is open to those with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution recognized by UCF. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
All applicants to this certificate program will be required to submit:
- One official transcript meeting the minimum GPA requirement of 2.5, in a sealed envelope, from each college/university attended. Current professional résumé including experience in the field (paid or voluntary).
- Goal Statement: The goal statement is a key component of the admission review process and serves as an example of the applicant's ability to express himself or herself in writing. The goal statement must be no longer than two pages double-spaced (500-800 words) and should address the following:
- Personal background and career aspirations in urban and regional planning.
- Reason for pursuing graduate study in urban and regional planning, including your future career goals and plans.
- Specific areas of urban and regional planning that interests you.
These documents must be attached to the application. Applications must be submitted by the established deadline date. Applications received after the established deadline may not be considered. Students are expected to be computer literate and have computer internet access upon entry to the program. Admission to this program is competitive; applicants meeting the minimum admission requirements are not guaranteed admission to this program.
Application Deadlines
| Urban and Regional Planning Graduate Certificate | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | | Jul 1 | Dec 1 | |
| International Applicants | | | | |
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Students must achieve a grade of "B-" (80%) or better in every course. Grades 'C' or lower cannot be used to fulfill certificate requirements. Students must maintain a program of study and graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher and can only graduate with a graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher.
