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About URPL


Welcome from the Chair


Three Core Missions

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning has three core missions of teaching, research, and outreach.  First, we actively prepare qualified graduate students to become competent, creative and effective practicing planners.  Second, we contribute to knowledge in the field of planning through scholarly and applied research.  Third, we undertake professional planning activities and provide service in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin - Extension, a variety of public agencies, planning consulting firms and other private and non-profit sector organizations. 

History

Urban planning has a long history at the University of Wisconsin, and the present program began officially in 1962. Over the years URPL has experimented with the curriculum and have debated basic issues such as the degree of specialization appropriate for planning education and the relationship between research and service in a professional program.

Overall, the program has evolved through six rather distinct phases, each with its own administrative and curricular structure.  To learn about how the past shaped the mission and goals of URPL today, read The History of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

Location

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning is located in one of the major cities of the Upper Midwest.  Many of the area’s best examples of planning, architecture, and natural resource preservation are within a short reach.  URPL is in close proximity to the following planning resources:

  • 1 mile to the State of Wisconsin Capitol Building and other state government offices
  • 1 mile to the City of Madison and Dane County office buildings
  • 1 mile to Monona Terrace, a convention center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
  • 7 miles to Middleton Hills, a New Urbanist community
  • 1 hour to Taliesin, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
  • 1.25 hours to Milwaukee
  • 1.5 hours to Greendale, one of 3 Greenbelt communities in America built on the garden city model
  • 2.5 hours to Chicago
  • 4 hours to Minneapolis