Bachelor's in Urban Planning and Design at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Programme overview

The BS in Urban Planning and Design treats planning and urban design as one process, with a focus on GIS, visual communication and public-space design. It is aligned with Planning Accreditation Board learning outcomes.

Faculty: Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy | Duration: 53-55 credits (major) | Study mode: full-time | Location: New Brunswick, NJ, United States

What you will study

Required courses include Intro to Urban Planning and Design, Designing Healthy Cities, Introduction to GIS, Graphic Communication for Planning, Site Planning and Urban Design, History and Theory of Urban Planning, Methods of Planning Analysis, Planning and Design Studio I and II, Environmental Law and Policy, plus five 3-credit electives. Only courses with C or better count.

Career pathways

Graduates can pursue graduate study in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, public policy or public administration, or enter entry-level jobs in the public, private or nonprofit sectors.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences students (code 971) apply to the major before declaring it and need College Writing (355:101) or equivalent with a C or better and good academic standing. Transfer applicants (971D) need at least 30 credits, C or better in prerequisites and an overall GPA of at least 2.50. Applications are accepted in set cycles.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Fall (September) entry: first-year Early Action application due November 1, 2026 and Regular Decision due December 1, 2026 for September 2027 entry; Spring (January) entry for 2027 is open to first-year and transfer applicants to the School of Arts and Sciences, with an application due date of October 1, 2026.

New Brunswick, Fall/September 2027: first-year Early Action November 1, 2026 (decision by January 31, 2027); first-year Regular Decision December 1, 2026 (decision by February 28, 2027); all transfer applicants February 1, 2027; candidate reply date May 1, 2027. Applications after the due dates are considered on a rolling, space-available basis. Applicants must apply by December 1 to be considered for honors and merit-based scholarships.

New Brunswick, Spring/January 2027: all first-year and transfer applications due October 1, 2026; online decision December 1, 2026; candidate reply date December 7, 2026.

Applications are submitted through the Rutgers Application or the Common App. SAT and ACT scores are optional for Rutgers-New Brunswick undergraduate applicants (SAT code 2765, ACT code 2592); Rutgers maintains test-optional and test-blind policies through 2027. Application fee is paid online by credit card or by mailed check; fee waivers are accepted from the National School Lunch Program, military or veteran applicants, College Board, NACAC, ACT and EOF.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.rutgers.edu/apply

Explore more study programmes

Engineering