April 24, 2025
The Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning and Spatial Analytics is the State of Georgia’s first undergraduate degree in urban planning. Approved by the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents this month, the program's first students will be admitted in August 2025.
Administered by the Georgia Tech School of City and Regional Planning, this new degree teaches students how to shape cities and regions into more livable, sustainable, prosperous, and resilient places. As Urban Planning and Spatial Analytics majors, students will learn how cities work and how to transform urban processes through planning, spatial analysis, policy, design, computing, and social science.
“Our new degree in Urban Planning and Spatial Analytics prepares students to shape the future of cities using data and technology. Cities, regional agencies, and private firms are increasingly seeking planners with strong technical capabilities,” said Gulsah Akar, School of City and Regional Planning chair.
“This degree’s unique curriculum bridges planning and analytics, giving students a unique skill set that is in demand across public, private, and nonprofit sectors,” Akar said.
The degree’s 10 core courses establish a foundational understanding of how cities and regions work through the complex interactions between the natural environment, built environment, and socioeconomic context. Additionally, students may cultivate specific expertise in areas such as environment, climate, land use, transportation, economic development, community development, housing, urban design, or geographic information systems.
“For Georgia Tech undergraduates, this degree will open several new and exciting career paths that had previously only been available through graduate study,” said Bill Drummond, Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning and lead organizer of the new program.
“Students will graduate to fulfilling careers as city and regional planners, geospatial analysts, and urban data analysts. At the same time, they will have the satisfaction of helping build communities that are more sustainable, resilient, livable, and prosperous," Drummond said. “This will be a win-win for our students and our communities across Georgia and the country.”
Particularly unique in the landscape of urban planning degrees, this program is situated in Georgia Tech's Midtown, Atlanta campus. Atlanta is one of the country's most diverse and rapidly growing metropolitan areas. Students in the major will have direct access to a vibrant laboratory for addressing contemporary urban and regional issues.
Students with transfer or application questions are urged to contact Anna Traykova.