PLN: Planning

College of Business and Public Management

How to Read Course Descriptions

The bolded first line begins with a capitalized abbreviation that designates the subject area followed by the course number and title. The credit hour value is also displayed.

Components: Indicates that the course has multiple components, such as lecture (LEC) and laboratory (LAB). The corresponding faculty contact hours are included in parentheses [e.g., LEC (2), LAB (3)] but are not related to the number of credits the student receives.

The course description outlines what topics are covered in the course.

Prerequisites: Coursework and/or other requirements to be completed before taking the course.

Corequisites: Course(s) that must be taken in the same term.

"Recommended courses": Prerequisites or corequisites that are not required for enrollment in a particular course but would aid the student in successful completion of that course.

"Gen Ed Attribute for Students Admitted Prior to Fall 2020": Indicates the general education attributes that apply to a particular course for a student whose university admit term is before Fall 2020.

"Gen Ed Attribute for Students Admitted Fall 2020 and After": Indicates the general education attributes that apply to a particular course for a student whose university admit term is Fall 2020 or later.

"Gen Ed Attribute": Indicates the general education attributes that apply to a particular course, regardless of the student's university admit term.

General Education Key: List of available general education areas that a particular course may satisfy. Certain areas cannot be simultaneously satisfied by the same course. See General Education Requirements for more information.

SD - Science Distributive Requirement
BSD - Behavioral & Social Science Distributive Requirement
HD - Humanities Distributive Requirement
AD - Arts Distributive Requirement
EC - English Composition Requirement
I - Interdisciplinary Requirement
J - Diverse Communities Requirement
W - Writing Emphasis Requirement
SE - Speaking Emphasis Requirement
ET - Ethics Requirement
F - Foreign Languages Culture Cluster
AR - Arabic Culture Cluster
ASL - American Sign Language Culture Cluster
CC - Classical Civilizations Culture Cluster
FA - French & Francophone Area Culture Cluster
GER - German Culture Cluster
IT - Italian Culture Cluster
REE - Russian & Eastern European Culture Cluster
SP - Spanish Culture Cluster

Distance Education: Indicates if a course is approved to be offered via distance education. See the class schedule for details.

Consent: Department must give permission for a student to enroll in a course. Generally done through an electronic code that is created in myWCU, allowing the student to then enroll themselves into the course.

Typically Offered: Indicates what semester the course is usually offered. Availability is not guaranteed, as some courses are not offered every year.

Repeatable for Credit: Indicates if a student can take the course more than once and obtain credit. Verify the maximum allowable number of credits with the department.

Cross Listed: Indicates if there are any other course offerings that are considered equivalent to the course listing.

How to Read Course Descriptions

PLN 201. Real Estate Fundamentals. 3 Credits.

This course introduces students to foundational real estate concepts to support the practice of real estate in Pennsylvania. Student will learn about the language, principles, and laws that govern the business of real estate. Emphasis is on the underlying concepts of land and property, legal rights related to real estate, and the laws and procedures that govern the conveyance of these rights. This is one of the two courses required to sit for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson License Examination.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

PLN 202. Real Estate Practice. 3 Credits.

This course provides students with an overview of real estate practice in Pennsylvania, including the various facets of the real estate business and the techniques, procedures, and ethics involved in real estate transactions. The course will prepare real estate professionals to following proper procedures and behave ethically to protect the interests of consumers in the provision of services. This is one of the two courses required to sit for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson License Examination.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

PLN 214. Introduction to Planning. 3 Credits.

The methods of analyzing problems of urban and regional planning. Emphasis is placed on systems of housing, recreation, transportation, industry, and commerce.
Gen Ed Attribute: Behavioral and Social Science Distributive.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Fall.

PLN 301. Planning History, Theory, and Ethics. 3 Credits.

Planning theory is crucial to understanding how planners make decisions. Making ethical decisions is a critical component in the everyday life of an urban planner. This course takes an in-depth look at various planning theories including comprehensive, incremental, mixed scanning, advocacy, equity, and radical approaches to planning while adhering to the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) code of ethics and conduct. Students examine the history and evolution of planning; planning within a democracy; how planning influences society; new directions within the field, including sustainability; and finally the relationship between planning theory, practice, and ethical decision making. As a result, it will enable students to critically understand the purpose and contribution of planning within society as well as the role of the planner, including the issues of planning ethics, professional standards and conduct, and principles of the AICP Code of Ethics.
Gen Ed Attribute: Ethics Requirement, Writing Emphasis.
Typically offered in Spring.

PLN 302. Community Engagement Techniques. 3 Credits.

This course focuses on qualitative methods and citizen engagement techniques for planning practice. Discussion centers on citizen participation, social justice, governance and working with under-represented populations. The course includes how to conduct a community survey, structure a public meeting, conduct a focus group, and other methods planners use to bring meaningful citizen participation into community decision-making.
Typically offered in Spring.

PLN 316. Planning for Resilient Communities and Natural Disasters. 3 Credits.

This course will focus on urban planning practices that help mitigate the impacts of various disasters to make resilient cities. It will provide students with the capacity to develop planning and public service skills to understand, diagnose and address causes, consequences, and mitigation and adaptation measures for a wide variety of emergencies and disasters. The course is both international and place-based in scope, with an emphasis on identifying best practices to help local communities survive the impact of major disasters.
Typically offered in Spring.
Cross listed courses GEO 316, PLN 316.

PLN 318. Economic Development Planning. 3 Credits.

This course is concerned with the spatial patterns of economic activities, including production, consumption, and settlement. It provides an understanding of their location and the processes of change. The course is both international and place-based in scope, with an emphasis on economic concepts and the global economy, and the local impacts of global economic forces, as well as the role that the local public sector plays in generating economic development (jobs, employment, and tax base). The class is geared both to students interested in exploring the role of the public sector in facilitating private sector investment and those interested in preparing themselves for a career position in planning, economic development, real estate, or public policy in general.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Fall & Summer.

PLN 320. Land Use Planning. 3 Credits.

An inquiry into the development of comprehensive land use studies by governmental and private agencies, emphasizing the development of skills in problem identification and resolution.
Pre / Co requisites: PLN 320 requires a prerequisite of PLN 214.
Typically offered in Fall.

PLN 322. Land Development Controls. 3 Credits.

An insight into the "why" and "how" of land development, emphasizing the role of local government in zoning, subdivision regulation, and other land regulations.
Pre / Co requisites: PLN 322 requires a prerequisite of PLN 214.
Gen Ed Attribute: Speaking Emphasis.
Typically offered in Spring.

PLN 326. Quantitative Analysis in Geography and Planning. 3 Credits.

Applications of basic statistical techniques to problems of spatial significance, emphasizing the adaptation of technique to problem, and the understanding and interpretation of specific analytical methods as applied to real-world situations.
Pre / Co requisites: PLN 326 requires a prerequisite of MAT 103 or MAT 115 or MAT 113 or MAT 143 or MAT 121 or MAT 161 or MAT 131 or MAT 199.
Typically offered in Spring.
Cross listed courses GEO 326, PLN 326.

PLN 331. Transportation Planning. 3 Credits.

Transportation planning is a key component of our communities and regions. This course addresses the various components of the transportation system of an urban area and the planning processes to provide transportation facilities as integral elements of the urban community. The primary geographical focus is the metropolitan area. The student will consider the various modes of the transportation system: automobile, rail, mass transit, air, water, bikeways and pedestrian components. Each mode is addressed in terms of systems elements: governance, financing, the planning process, environmental aspects and sustainability. The course is appropriate for the student new to community planning as well as the student who has focused interested in transportation planning and considerations it encompasses. The course serves as a base of career building in community planning; transportation planning; or serving as a base of knowledge for the informed citizen and user of the transportation system in a sustainable manner.
Typically offered in Spring.
Cross listed courses GEO 331, PLN 331.

PLN 336. Environmental Planning. 3 Credits.

Introduction to the concepts and tools of environmental planning, which include landscape form and function in planning. Applications to local and regional issues are stressed.
Typically offered in Spring.
Cross listed courses GEO 336, PLN 336.

PLN 354. Housing and Planning in America. 3 Credits.

This course provides an overview of the physical, social, economic, and political forces that shape current housing conditions of the United States. The course introduces key concepts and institutions that influence the production, distribution, and maintenance of housing in the U.S. and other select countries. The Philadelphia metropolitan area is emphasized as a case study for understanding the implications of present and future housing plans, geography, and policies in the U.S.
Typically offered in Fall.
Cross listed courses PLN 354, GEO 354.

PLN 403. Planning Design (Studio A). 3 Credits.

Selected experiences designed to assist the student (either as an individual or as a member of a group) in developing proficiency in information-providing techniques.
Pre / Co requisites: PLN 403 requires a prerequisite of PLN 214.
Typically offered in Fall.
Cross listed courses PLN 403, GEO 403.

PLN 405. Planning Design (Studio B). 3 Credits.

Selected experiences designed to assist the student (either as an individual or as a member of a group) in developing proficiency in site planning and urban design techniques.
Pre / Co requisites: PLN 405 requires a prerequisite of PLN 214.
Typically offered in Spring.

PLN: Planning

How to Read Course Descriptions

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