The Urban and Regional Planning minor focuses on people, their environment and spatial issues emerging from their interaction. Space is a finite resource and we need to use it carefully, particularly in the Netherlands. An urban or regional planner considers the future use of space and concentrates primarily on the built environment. Societal changes constantly require spatial modifications. Planners work to ensure that spatial changes are implemented as effectively as possible.
Students interested in decision-making and policy on current issues such as:
Please note that due to the minor starting in 2024-2025, the information in the 2023-2024 Course Catalogue may be outdated. For the most current programme and detailed course descriptions, refer to the 2024-2025 Course Catalogue from June onwards.
This course introduces fundamental models of spatial interventions, blending theory with practical examples across four central planning themes. Students explore theoretical approaches in the first week of each theme, then engage in practical problem-solving exercises using diverse forms of knowledge. Topics include eco-modern planning roots, urban development governance, inclusive city planning, and deliberative planning methods.
Students may select either one thematic elective and (In)Accessible Cities: Disabilities and Urban Space (30 EC minor) or two thematic electives (36 EC minor). Students may also consider replacing one thematic elective by the course: Spatial Implications of Environmental Change (5132SIE12Y), offered by the Bachelor's programme Future Planet Studies.
This course examines population dynamics and migration's impact on spatial developments across different scales, emphasizing their relevance for policy-making and societal practices like housing and labor markets. By exploring these dynamics in relation to spatial development issues, it provides valuable insights for students interested in urban geography, planning, sociology, economics, urban studies, or migration studies.
This course combines lectures, workshops, and storytelling events to explore urban studies. Lectures delve into the historical shaping of contemporary cities, workshops facilitate critical analysis of key texts and urban changes, and storytelling events illustrate the practical relevance of theoretical debates in understanding urban life.
This course delves into the accelerating environmental changes caused by human activities, focusing on the Anthropocene epoch. It examines both global environmental issues and local urban responses, emphasizing the interaction between social and natural systems. Through theories like Social-Ecological Systems and Political Ecology, as well as concepts such as climate governance and environmental justice, students explore the complexities of societal reactions to environmental change.
This course examines contemporary urban development within complex governance settings, focusing on housing, property markets, and the built environment. It delves into the influence of neoliberalism on cities, particularly regarding financialisation and privatisation of housing. Through a planning perspective, it analyzes the actors, economics, politics, and governance of property and housing development, aiming to foster critical thinking and explore innovative planning solutions.
This module addresses the challenges of urban mobility, emphasising the need to balance its positive and negative impacts. It equips participants with a critical perspective to understand the complexities of urban development and mobility systems, while also focusing on practical skills for planning solutions. The course aims to foster a holistic understanding of mobility issues and prepare students to contribute constructively to ongoing debates and developments in urban mobility.
New course. More information will follow soon via the Course Catalogue.
This minor may serve as a good preparation for academic Bachelor’s students who want to apply for admission to the Master's programmes in Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Geography (Human Geography) or Spatial Sustainability Studies and the Research Master's programme in Urban Studies. Always check the entry requirements of the Master’s programme you are interested in.