UC Berkeley's Urban Planning Summer Programs Are Back on Campus

After two years of virtual summer programs, the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley is excited to have its intensive, full-time courses on campus again. UC Berkeley faculty and leading innovators of the San Francisco Bay Area are looking forward to in-person and hands-on instruction. The demanding classes are taught on different levels - high school students, current college students, and (recent) college graduates will find the right challenge.

With expert guidance, students have the opportunity to explore the methods and theories of environmental design, experience the culture of planning and design studios, and learn to apply a range of representation techniques. Most of the intensive courses don’t require any previous knowledge of environmental design and will immerse students into the process of creating built environments. Each program also includes lectures and discussions as well as site visits. 

For example, undergraduate students who are interested in exploring the design and innovation for sustainable cities should consider the five-week Disc* program. Students from any department and any college are welcome to apply themselves in this interdisciplinary program on how to approach urbanism's wicked problems.

[IN]CITY, on the other hand, is geared towards post-baccalaureate students who are considering graduate study in city and regional planning. No previous planning or design experience is necessary to be eligible. This class is a comprehensive six-week introduction to the study and practice of urban planning through the lens of sustainability. By attending daily lectures and engaging in studio work, participants acquire the skills necessary to inform planning proposals. [IN]CITY assignments are generally real projects with actual clients who represent a diverse group of stakeholder organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Students develop in-depth recommendations, analyses and proposals for these client projects, which run the gamut of planning practice: housing and design, bike mobility and transportation, public health and environmental justice, community development and gentrification, urban design, climate action and art in public spaces.

Attending any of these well-regarded programs will allow aspiring designers to challenge themselves and to grow as an individual and as a designer. In addition, students earn a Certificate of Completion and credit on an official UC Berkeley transcript. Applications are accepted through mid-May. Due to rolling admissions, it is strongly recommended to apply early.