Urban and Environmental Planning

Undergraduate students entering the School of Architecture share a Common First Year in the School of Architecture curriculum. Students take core courses in Architectural History, Architecture, and Urban and Environmental Planning to provide a framework for the study of contemporary culture through observation, analysis, and design of built and natural environments. Students must pass each core course with a grade of C- or higher. During the spring semester of the first year, students choose an intended major: Bachelor of Architectural History, Bachelor of Science Architecture, or Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning.

The Program in Urban and Environmental Planning balances professional planning skills and urban studies with a liberal arts education emphasizing interdisciplinary study. Students take courses in the social and natural sciences, the humanities, and in design fields that are complemented by professional planning and elective courses. Program graduates begin work in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors in urban and rural areas ranging from city and county planning offices to real estate and development firms to economic development agencies. Some students continue for graduate professional studies.

The scope of the planner's work encompasses present and future urban and environmental concerns, including such diverse issues such as environmental impact, quality of life, urban design, transportation, and the public and private costs of development and land use. Public sector planners work for all levels of government, formulating plans to redevelop or rehabilitate downtowns and neighborhoods, develop land aesthetically and profitably, create sustainable transportation plans, and regulate private development and impact to protect public interests. Planners frame long-range designs and shorter-term strategies that meet community plans and goals. Private sector planners employed with land developers, utilities, banks, property management firms, industries, architectural and design firms and other major corporations do similar work according to the particular concerns of each business. Planners in the nonprofit sector represent a variety of environmental, citizen advocacy, and community and economic development organizations.  Many of these concerns are integrated with the department's focus on sustainable community development, social equity, and environmental planning.

All undergraduates who complete their degree in good academic standing are invited to continue their studies and complete their graduate degree at UVA. Students who complete their 7th semester with a cumulative 3.3 GPA or higher are guaranteed direct admission into the corresponding graduate program. For direct entry into graduate programs in Architecture (MArch) and Landscape Architecture (MLA), undergraduate architecture students must also achieve a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in design studios. These graduates are also invited to defer their admission for two years allowing them to enroll immediately or in either of the next two entering classes. In this way, Historians and Planners can earn the graduate degree (MArH and MUEP) in five years, Architects earn a professional graduate degree (MArch or MLA) in six years. See Direct Admissions Policy.

Typically, the most important factor in the admission evaluation process is demonstrated academic achievement in a challenging secondary school program. Outstanding grades, good performance in Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate or honors courses, and superior standardized test scores are valued in the process. The admission committee looks for applicants who have completed the most rigorous academic courses available in their secondary schools and recommends that prospective students should exceed minimum high school graduation requirements. We require an official transcript. The secondary program should include no fewer than 16 academic courses and must include the following courses:

• English 4 units
• Mathematics 4 units
• Foreign Language 2 units
• Science (from among biology, chemistry, and physics) 2 units (*)
• Social Studies 1 unit

(*) If applying to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, three units, including chemistry and physics, are strongly recommended. Also, foreign language is recommended, but not required for admission to the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Because full-time students at the University take five academic courses each term, the committee recommends that students take no fewer than four, and preferably five, academic courses (English, math, social science, science, and foreign language) each year in grades nine through twelve. The committee examines the extracurricular activities, special talents and interests, background, and the applicant’s ability to write effectively. Two letters of recommendation, from the secondary school counselor and one academic teacher of the student’s choice, are required.

University of Virginia uses the Common Application. All applications must be submitted by the application deadline with a non-refundable application fee of $70. Candidates seeking an application fee waiver can receive one by answering the related questions on the Common Application.

First-year students can apply to University of Virginia through Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision. Early Decision is a binding program with an October 15th deadline and a mid-December notification. Students who choose the Early Decision process must withdraw all other applications if admitted and submit their enrollment deposit by January 1st. Applying Early Action to UVA is a non-binding, nonrestrictive admission plan. Students who apply Early Action may also apply to other institutions. Early Decision and Early Action students be admitted, denied admission, or deferred until the Regular Decision process. The Regular Decision deadline is January 1st and the admission committee will notify applicants of their decision by April 1. During Regular Decision, the admission committee may offer admission, deny admission or offer a spot on the waiting list. Those students who are admitted under Early Action or Regular Decision will have until May 1 to make their deposit and reserve a seat in the first-year class.

The committee requires SAT I or ACT scores from first-year applicants. Students in countries that do not offer these tests may request a waiver by emailing [email protected]. Results of these tests should be self-reported on the Common Application. If the student is admitted and chooses to enroll, official scores reports must be submitted to verify the self-reported scores. The last recommended test dates are one month prior to the chosen application deadline. Scores received after the deadline may be uploaded through the student portal. Applicants should consult the testing agency websites for the appropriate registration deadlines, which generally precede the test dates by several weeks.

Decisions are posted in the student’s portal. Those applicants who are offered admission are mailed a paper copy of the admission letter. Upon accepted their offer of admission, students will pay a $400 tuition deposit to guarantee space in the entering class. This deposit is not refundable.