Certificate Programs

Introduction

Virginia Tech’s Urban Affairs and Planning Program is offering a Graduate Certificate in Economic Development. It is designed for those who are interested in acquiring a basic understanding of urban and regional economic development dynamics and the role of policy in influencing them.

Urban and regional planners need to know how they can develop their economies. The challenge for policymakers, economic developers and urban planners nowadays is to design appropriate local and regional economic development policies and programs to respond to challenges resulting from globalization, technological development, demographic changes, urban decline, sprawl, and social inequities.

The certificate builds upon a core of classes that provide a holistic learning experience for graduate students interested in studying urban and regional economic development planning. The sequence includes classes on urban and regional development theories (UAP 5104), local economic development planning (UAP 5784), and a practice-oriented economic development studio (UAP 5774).

Admission requirements

Admission to the Certificate Program requires status as a graduate student in good standing at Virginia Tech. Students not already enrolled at Virginia Tech cannot apply directly to the certificate. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 based on the last 60 semester hours of coursework is needed. Students may be admitted provisionally if the GPA is above 2.75 but below 3.00. Official transcripts must be submitted.

Course requirements

The Certificate requires the completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours of graduate course work. To receive the Certificate, students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the courses taken. Students seeking the Certificate must complete at least six credit hours from among the following courses plus six credit hours in electives.

UAP 5234: Urban Economy & Public Policy
UAP 5104: Urban & Regional Development Theory
UAP 5784: Local Economic Development Planning
UAP 5774: Economic Development Studio

Possible Electives Include:

UAP 5694 Asset Mgt Pub & Nonprofits
UAP 5084: Community Involvement
UAP 5714: Community Building Seminar
UAP 5264: Global Change and Local Impacts
UAP 5194: Urban Growth Management
UAP 5314: Social Analysis of Land Use Planning
UAP 5604: Housing Policy
UAP 5724: Capital Budgeting & Strategic Facilities Planning
UAP 5434: Urban Development Project Review Studio
PAPA 6314: Bud Process & Policy
PAPA 5034: Democratic Governance of the Economy

Or other courses approved by advisor; Depending on their campus location, students are encouraged to take classes offered by departments such as Economics, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Marketing, etc.

All core courses and at least eight of all 12 hours used for the Certificate must be graded on an A-F basis. All courses must be taken from programs in Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs with at least nine in Urban Affairs and Planning.

If you are interested in this program please contact Maggie Cowell at mmcowell@vt.edu.