Mission Statement

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning at The Florida State University educates students to think critically, exhibit technical competence, facilitate adaptive learning, and to effectively engage the political process over the course of their professional planning careers. The faculty conduct research and carry out service that contributes to a better understanding and shaping of resilient communities and ecosystems in order to promote human capabilities, social justice, sustainable livelihoods, and community health and safety.

Planning at Florida State seeks to inform and shape policy in the areas of Land Planning and Policy, Alternative Transportation in the Modern City, Planning for Healthy and Resilient Communities, Community and Neighborhood Change, Collaborative and Participatory Governance, Housing Affordability, and Human Settlements and Institutions in the Context of Global Change. In teaching, faculty desire to balance classroom-based and hands-on learning. The Department pursues research, teaching, and service collaborations with other units in the University, partners in our region and in Florida, and worldwide. The Department recognizes a particular responsibility to document, examine, and enhance planning in the State of Florida for the purposes of improving planning practice both within Florida and elsewhere.