The Academic Study Plan for the Master Program of Engineering in Urban and Regional Planning
3) Comprehensive Examination (462700):
A graduate student must pass a qualifying examination (See Academic Rules and Regulations for Graduate Students).
Course Description
Urban Regeneration (462600):
Examination of the different elements of the existing built environment of urban and rural settlements. Study of the relationships and interaction patterns of these elements in order to improve the living standards.
Computer Applications in Planning (462601):
An introduction to computer programming, languages and packages. A survey of computer applications in urban planning. Analysis and practice of Computer Aided Design (CAD).
Planning & Development Issues and Legislation in Palestine (462602):
Analysis of the transformation in planning laws and regulations, current planning issues and development proposals, and development agencies and legislation in Palestine.
Planning Theory (462610):
Development of planning idea and thought. Basic concepts and functions of planning types and their interrelations. Public expenditure decisions, planning theories and processes, models of rational choice, decision environment, policy design, programming techniques and strategies, goal formulations, projections and project evaluation.
Fundamentals of Urban & Regional Planning (462611):
Basic understanding of the processes, stages, policies and aspects of urban and regional planning, which can be analyzed and practiced in Planning Studio I and II.
Housing Issues and Policies (462612):
A Fundamental understanding of housing through its social and economic aspects. Analysis of the formation and components of housing policy. Current housing problems and policies in developed and developing countries with reference to those in Palestine.
Islamic Town Planning and Architecture (462613):
Basic principles of Islamic town planning. The evolution of Islamic cities, their architectural and spatial patterns, and the general rules that affected their growth. The relationship between Islamic concepts of architecture and planning, and the corresponding modern theories.
Quantitative & Statistical Methods in Planning (462620):
The application of quantitative and statistical methods and techniques in planning. The development of carefully considered logical and quantitative argument (using data for description, estimation, comparison and explanation) is emphasized.
Urban Conservation (462622):
Analysis of the scope and theory of urban conservation. Planning and programming for urban conservation with emphasis on strategies for conservation and implementation at various levels: neighborhood, district and city. Contradictions between conservation policies and policies for urban transformation. A practical introduction to the management of historical buildings and sites. Palestinian conservation problems and policies will be analyzed.
Planning Studio I (462670):
Practice, application, and implementation of planning concepts, skills, methods and techniques at both urban and regional levels through given projects relevant to the Palestinian case.
Planning Studio II (462671):
Practice and implementation of detailed plans related to the given projects in “Planning Studio I”. Also, current planning issues and development proposals in Palestine are considered. Both the architectural and urban planning scales are emphasized.
Urban Design (462672):
Basic elements and principles of urban design. An overview of urban design process through case studies. Urban policy, plan, program and project identification. Formulation, finance, management and implementation of urban projects.
Landscape Planning & Architecture (462673):
Conceptual and theoretical bases of landscape. The nature and use of natural and man- made landscape materials and elements to develop an understanding of the making of outdoor spaces and of their sequential development.
Land Use Planning (462674):
An introduction to site planning, layout, design standards and general guidelines for the major land use elements in urban areas. Examination of public and institutional land uses (residential, industrial, commercial, transportation, recreation and public space, etc.) in a variety of cities.
Rural Planning (462675):
Natural resources, inputs and services for agricultural development. The role of agriculture in economic development. Measures of economic growth and development. Determinants and policies of rural development and planning. Implementation of practical approaches to rural development.
Fundamentals of Site Planning (462676):
Analysis of the main physical site elements, relation and location of activities on a site. The study of alternative choices of vehicular and pedestrian circulation systems. The architectural design elements of site design. Criteria for the evaluation of good site design.
Comparative Planning Studies (462677):
Analysis of issues, policies and approaches to planning and implementing urban and regional development in various countries.
Urban Morphology (462678):
The emergence of the nineteenth century urban design schools and the twentieth century urban design models within a framework of the evolution of urban design approaches and theories. Exploration of urban space from a structuralist perspective. Primary emphasis on the relationships between socio-economic, experiential, and formal structures of the urban environment.
Urban Planning in Developing Countries (462679):
Historical evolution of city system in the developing countries; cultural and environmental factors effecting similarities and variations; comparative analysis of urbanization and social change and changing physical morphology of the major cities.
Neighborhood Planning (462680):
Study and analysis of problems, resources and potentials of urban neighborhoods. Trends of neighborhood change and revitalization. Neighborhood planning policies, methods and cases. Practicing Neighborhood planning through a project or case study.
Sustainable Planning & Development (462681):
Study of the concepts, policies and trends of sustainable planning and development. Analyzing nontraditional approaches to community planning and design. Focuses on concepts and policies associated with the design of sustainable communities. Study of future alternatives for community planning and design in terms of sustainable development.
Tourism Planning (462682):
Introducing a conceptual and theoretical framework of tourism and its significance as a tool for social and economic development. An investigation of the policies, strategies related to the planning of tourism and provision of tourism activities and services at the national, regional and local levels. Emphasizing the issues related to tourism management and organization.
Special Topics in Planning (462683):
Study and analysis of various significant issues and topics in planning and urban development. The stages of urban growth: Urbanization, Suburbanization, Desurbanization, and Reurbanization. The concept of new towns as an approach to urban development in various countries.
Seminar (462690):
Basic understanding of scientific research through the preparation and presentation of selected researches related to various urban and regional planning topics.
Advanced GIS for Planners (462692):
GIS spatial functions. Definition of the planning process from a GIS perspective. GIS data models for planning. Accuracy issues of GIS data and operations. ARC/INFO
Spatial Information Extraction & Description for Planning (462693):
Spatial information extraction (collection), mainly from digital images, for planning applications. Land use maps, orthophotos, topographic mapping, site plans, utilities and infrastructure mapping, digital terrain modeling, and image processing functions. Spatial information description will also be emphasized.
Environmental Impact Analysis (461558):
Basic concepts of environmental engineering. Environmental impact assessment studies. Preparation of impact statements. Sources and control of environmental pollution. Impact of urban and industrial development. Criteria for urban planners.
Urban Infrastructure Planning (461605):
An introduction to urban environmental issues and network type service systems. Concepts and practice in infrastructure planning. Urbanization, ecological and social consequences of development in cities. Regulatory aspects and planning. Infrastructure development. Risk analysis and assessment.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (461620):
Understanding of information systems. Basic concepts and introduction to GIS. Data conversion, available technology, hardware, software and peripherals. GIS as tool for urban and regional planners. Use of GIS in planning. Basic project design steps for data conversion, raster to vector conversion and GIS. Database design, automation of data, query and analysis of spatial data. Sample projects and computer applications.
Design of Structures Resistant to Earthquakes (461625):
An introduction to seismology with emphasis on the seismic of Palestine. A study of the impact of earthquakes on buildings. Regulations and architectural and building codes related to seismical behavior of buildings. Calculation and distribution of seismic forces on the buildings and their construction elements. Formation and design of reinforced concrete for frame and walls. The nature and impact of location and foundation soil on extending the seismical forces. Applications and observations of buildings and structures faced earthquakes.
Seismic Planning Response & Disaster Management (461626):
Fundamentals of seismic planning response, natural disasters, earth glides and land use planning. Conceptual bases, elements and structure of disaster management. Analyses of risks, ability of injury, preparation, expectation, warning, responding, behavior, and rehabilitation. Study of seismic scenarios and disaster management plans. Practical examples and visual materials will be used.
Seismic Assessments and Retrofitting (461627):
Introduction to the mechanism of seismic impacts on buildings and structures. Architectural and construction requirements for buildings resistant to earthquakes. Levels of expected collapses in existing buildings. Study of evaluation elements and rehabilitation standards. Technology of supporting and fixing of existing buildings. Building systems and loading mechanism. Methods of seismic rehabilitation for existing building types.
Water Resources Development and Planning (461640):
An introduction to water resources. Water demand and supply. Surface and ground water systems. Cost-benefit analysis. Deterministic and stochastic modeling for water systems. Planning principles of water resources through case studies.
Water Supply and Sewerage Engineering (461649):
Quality of water and wastewater. Aqueducts and water pipes, pumps and pumping stations. Quality of water supplies. Treatment of water. Clarification and filtration miscellaneous water treatment methods. Wastewater collection. Sewers, flow in sewers and sewer appurtenances. Design of sewer systems.
Urban Transportation Planning (461661):
Context and definition of urban transportation planning. Characteristics of urban travel. Transportation planning and decision making. Transportation demand and supply, data collection and processing. Issues regarding the urban land use, location choice of urban activities and transportation are also analyzed.
Transportation Systems Management (461665):
Maximizing the potential of the surface streets and public transportation systems. Travel demand management. Traffic system management of the urban system.
Construction Engineering & Management (461679):
Life cycle, construction costs. Types of contracts, (here to perform economic based analysis of one more alternatives). Management principle, project break-down structure, project planning and scheduling using network, and project control. Resource leveling and safety and quality control.
Energy Planning (461683):
Energy resource issues in urban planning. Strategies for incorporating energy efficiency into housing, land-use, transportation, social services, and community development. Analysis of energy policy, with emphasis on innovative public and private sector initiatives at the community level.
Location Theory (434556):
Introduction to neo-classical location theory. Analyses of various approaches to location theory. Study and evaluation of basic determinants of location decisions, industrial location theory, agricultural and urban rent theory and land uses, and central place theory.
Urban Geography (434670):
Analysis of settlement systems and hierarchies. Models of urban form. Land use type and density of variations in urban space. Different statistical methods for the description and analysis of spatial distributes.
Demographic Aspects of Planning (434671):
Understanding of basic principles, methods and techniques of demography which are relevant for planners. The structure and distribution of population. Methods and techniques of population projection. Analysis of the causes, trends and impacts of different migration patterns both at the national and international levels.
Theories and Models of Spatial Interaction (434674):
Basic understanding of the model building process. Systems theory, mapping theory, theory-model relationships, and the spatial interaction (gravity) model. The use of these models and theories as location models in urban policy making.
Urban Sociology (435670):
A comparative study of urban societies and institutions. The origins and evolution of towns and cities. The relationship between industrialization and urbanization in the Third World; rural-urban migration, unemployment, the informal sector and squatter housing.
Environmental Psychology (435671):
History and nature of environmental psychology. Person-environment transaction. Psychological representation of molar environment. Theories of and research on human territoriality, privacy, personal space, and crowding. Environmental problems and environmentally-relevant psychology.
Industrial Sociology (435672):
Study of the main issues in industrial societies. Analyzing the Problems of technology and human relations. Industrial democracy and problems of equal participation in decision-making processes. Industrialization and modernization, and mobilization of resources. Managers, workers and organizations as viewed from both industrial and human relations.
Urban Public Policy (451670):
Analysis of selected urban problems in their legal, administrative, financial, and economic dimensions. Formulation of multi dimensional policies for the solution of these problems; means whereby interventions can be made on legal, administrative, financial, and economic variables and to develop the tools that can contribute to the formation of urban space.
Legal Aspects of Planning (451671):
Study of the planning process in relation to central and local governments. Analysis of the various legal controls available to carry out official planning policy: zoning, official map and building control, subdivision regulations, building and housing codes, aesthetic and design regulations, urban renewal and public development. Emphasis is on basic principles of constitutional law and on the interrelationships of legislation, administration and litigation.
Urban Economics (453670):
Economic theory and purposes of urban planning; the evaluation and functions of urban planning in market economies. Urban economics as a field of study; theories of urban spatial structure, urban economic structure, techniques of urban economic analysis, economic basis study of community, and economics of major urban problems. The meaning of development in different economic theories. Unbalanced and balanced growth, dualism, economic “take-off”, income distribution, labour market, development planning and desegregation of national plans, and regional growth theories.
Operations Research (465604):
An introduction to the methodology of operational research. Survey and examples of operations research models. Linear programming, networks, integer programming and queuing models. Dynamic programming. Multicriteria analysis and games.
Techniques of Project Evaluation (465673):
Alternative approaches to the evaluation of development projects at the micro and macro levels; private versus social costs and benefits, intertemporal choice problem, market imperfections and shadow prices, integration of project and sector studies. Analysis of the major evaluation techniques in the field of urban planning such as Cost-Benefit and Cost- Effectiveness analysis, Planning Balance Sheet, Optimization, Goal Achievement Matrix, and Energy analysis.