Course Library
Browse our library of planning courses
City Dreamers
The film "City Dreamers," directed by Joseph Hillel and released in 2018, tells the story of four women designers who worked to shape North American cities throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century.
Effective City Branding
Learn how branding can capture and promote the unique characteristics of cities, and how your city could succeed as not only a wonderful place to be, but a strong brand that attracts visitors, new citizens, and new industries and businesses.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers and black ink to create plans that are detailed and expressive enough to use both in academic and professional presentations.
Working From Home for Planners
The future of work and the future of education are location independent, and we’re all better off because of it. This course will cover three topics: Productivity, Teamwork, and Public Meetings.
The Pruitt-Igoe Myth
The 2011 documentary film, “The Myth of Pruitt-Igoe,” documents the rapid rise and fall of a housing complex in St. Louis that became a symbol for the failure of public housing policy in the late 20th century.
Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City
“Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City” tells the story of Daniel Burnham’s life and achievements, as one of the most influential architects and planners in American history.
Urbanized
This film surveys some of the most pressing challenges of contemporary urbanism, while also presenting some of the most ambitious ideas for addressing those challenges. In Urbanized, the ideas don't always require the most famous architects and financing from the richest people in the world. According to Urbanized, ambition can be self-taught, community-based, and balanced with nature.
The Future of Cities After COVID-19
This virtual panel discussion focuses on the potential for the COVID-19 pandemic to influence the development, demographic, and environmental trends of the future. Speakers: Allison Arieff, William Fulton, Scott Frazier, and Mariela Alfonzo. Moderator: James Brasuell.
The Human Scale
The Human Scale juxtaposes the urban experiences of cities across the World to raise questions about the costs of modernity and to argue in favor of city planning that reclaims the public realm for social life. This new approach to planning is measured by walking distances, social interactions, and social inclusion, rather than vehicle speeds and parking spaces.
The YIMBY Movement: Opportunities and Challenges for Planners
Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) is a relatively new movement, but YIMBYs are quickly gaining political power and numbers. This course discusses the origins, goals, and tactics of the YIMBY movement.
Transportation Planning: Principles and Practices of Transportation Finance
This course explains principles of transportation finance and reviews the general structure for funding transportation projects. Learn about the history of U.S. funding, from strong local funding to state and federal involvement to regional funding sources.
Measuring Neighborhood Segregation and Diversity
This course reviews the various ways to measure both segregation and diversity at the neighborhood scale.
Introduction to City Planning 3: Midcentury Modern (1940-1979)
This course explores the central role of planning in envisioning cities in the middle 20th century. World War II and the Cold War re-ordered power and politics in new ways. The tragic destruction and loss of World War II gave transformed into exciting opportunities for planners to try new things, in new ways.
Virtual Reality for Planners 2: Modeling in SketchUp
Learn how to use SketchUp to create content appropriate for a virtual reality environment. By the end of the course, viewers will be ready to learn how to prepare a final model for export into Unity.
Virtual Reality for Planners 1: Introduction
This course provides an overview of virtual reality (VR) and the elements that lead to effective urban design simulations and, ultimately, how to produce VR applications that enable users to explore urban design scenarios.
CityEngine for Planners 3: Integration and GIS
Learn how to import real-world data from satellite imagery and terrain to GIS data.
21st Century Storytelling: Video for Planners
This course will give you motivation to create video content, and give you practical, affordable tips to be heard among the online noise.
Urban Design for Planners 3: Neighborhoods and Centers
This course demonstrates how to delineate a set of neighborhoods and neighborhood centers for a given area and suggests design improvements that enhance neighborhood centers.
Urban Design for Planners 2: Getting Started with QGIS and SketchUp
The second course in the Urban Design for Planners series provides training on two important tools: SketchUp and QGIS.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process. The first course introduces the software you’ll use to create analytical maps, 3D models, and 2D graphic designs.