Course Library
Browse our library of planning courses
The American City, Part 3: Learning from the Grid
This course demonstrates the well-defined formal composition and spatial processes of how American cities evolve over time.
The American City, Part 2: The Invention of a New Scale
Understand how the physical characteristics of block size and street length distinguish American cities from earlier models of urbanism, and the implications of these physical characteristics for sustainability in the 21st century.
Legal Issues in Sign Codes
This course provides basic knowledge of the legal issues involved in sign codes, focusing on constitutionally-compliant sign codes in the aftermath of U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Reed v Town of Gilbert.
The American City, Part 1: A Brief History of the Regular Grid
Learn why the regular grid has been a standard part of the town planning vocabulary around the world for nearly five millennia.
The Charrette Way: The Secrets to Collaborative Creativity
This course explores the transformative dynamics taking place in a multiple-day charrette.
Introduction to Charrettes
This course introduces the NCI System, a collaborative, design-based approach to public involvement.
Economic Impact Analysis in Land Use Planning
This course examines how input-output models contribute to economic impact analyses and presents examples of how economic impact analysis can be applied in a wide range of planning projects.
Frontage Types and the Public Realm
This course reviews the 10 primary frontage types and how each shapes the public realm. This course focuses on understanding the features and distinctions of each type and in which locations or contexts each is appropriate.
Creating a Low-Carbon, Resilient City
This course introduces strategies for achieving low-carbon, resilient communities.
Regulating Electronic Message Centers
This course provides practical, solution-focused guidance for regulations that leverage digital sign technology while protecting community aesthetic values and safety concerns. This course is available for free.
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Cities
This course provides instruction on assessing the impacts of climate change on local assets and populations.
Understanding Fiscal Impact Analyses
This course will explore the various elements of a fiscal impact analysis, particularly as it relates to residential projects.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting for Cities
Greenhouse gas emissions accounting is a core tool for developing, implementing, and monitoring climate actions and strategies. This course provides a basic overview of concepts that can be supplemented with training in specific software.
Calculating the Benefits of Parks, Trails, and Open Space
This course provides examples of how to calculate market and non-market values of parks, trails, and open space, as well as how to identify potential revenue-generating opportunities for long-term maintenance and operation.
Introduction to Climate Action Planning
This course provides an overview of the purpose, process, and potential of climate action planning.
More Sustainability Appraisal Tools and Future Prospects
Learn about the Envision infrastructure rating system, other notable tool options for evaluating community and neighborhood sustainability, and trends and prospects affecting future appraisal tools.
Land Use Planning to Support Economic Development
This course provides a general understanding of macro level socio-economic and related business and industry trends likely to influence economic development plans and associated land use policies over the next twenty years.
Urban Sustainability Appraisal Tools for Planned Neighborhoods and Landscapes
This course is the third in a four-part series on urban sustainability appraisal tools as collaboration platforms and sustainability accelerators for communities.
SketchUp 2016 for Planners: Site Planning
This course introduces intermediate SketchUp skills, like the program's geolocation functions, and demonstrates how to create more complex models of planned projects or developments.
Urban Sustainability Appraisal Tools for Communities and Existing Neighborhoods
This course is the second in a four-part series on how urban sustainability appraisal tools can serve as collaboration platforms and sustainability accelerators for communities.