Urban and regional planning is about creating possibilities for sustainable developments, and includes problem-solving, networking and initiatives for reorientation. Environmental problems, ageing populations, national and international migration, regional imbalances, segregation and housing shortages are some of the important challenges for future planners. The planner identifies and analyses planning problems, estimates the consequences of decisions, suggests solutions and initiates and implements various planning projects.

Programme content and structure

The Program in Urban and Regional Planner gives you both broad and deep knowledge of planning and its conditions. The multidisciplinary program has a social and humanistic perspective, i.e. social, economic and physical aspects of planning are integrated. The program is project-oriented and emphasis is placed on group work, report-writing and analyses. Fieldwork and excursions give you the opportunity to study planning problems and solutions in real situations. In semesters 1-2, you take Urban and Regional Planning I and Urban and Regional Planning II. In semester 3, you study economics or statistics, and in semester 4 and 5 archaeology, earth science, economics, economic history, environmental management, ethnology, human geography, political science, sociology and/or statistics. In semester 6, you take Urban and Regional Planning III.

Purpose and learning objectives

The programme includes:

– knowledge and understanding in urban and regional planning and understanding of applicable methodologies in urban and regional planning.

– ability to search for, gather, evaluate and critically interpret the relevant information for a formulated problem and also discuss phenomena, issues and situations critically.

– ability to identify, formulate and solve problems.

– ability to present and discuss information, problems and solutions.

– ability to identify the need for further knowledge and ongoing learning.

Degree and career options

The programme in Urban and Regional Planning leads to a B.Sc. and gives eligibility to the Master’s level in Urban and Regional Planning and other Masters’ programmes. The job market for planners is good and work tasks for urban and regional planners can be found at all levels of society, in both the public sector (government offices, civil service, counties, municipalities etc.) and the private sector and interest groups and lobby organizations.