URBAN PLANNING ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS ANTI-BLACKNESS AND RACISM
Urban planning has often been complicit in anti-Blackness and racism, so the UCLA Department of Urban Planning is undertaking some long-overdue reforms and initiatives to address these grave assaults on equity, inclusion, and human dignity. Please click here to see our action plan, based on proposals from the student-faculty Ad Hoc Racial Justice Working Group, as developed through discussion with faculty and staff. Our plan focuses on:
- Increase department accountability to racial justice goals
- Review Urban Planning curriculum and strengthen racial justice content
- Improve departmental and classroom climate for racial justice
- Bolster admissions and improve funding for students who are Black, Indigenous or people of color
The Urban Planning Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Fund established to support student fellowships and assistantships for Master of Urban and Regional Planning and Ph.D. students, supporting students who are pursuing racial justice, and helping to diversify the student body and the field of planning. The priority for financial assistance will be assisting students from underrepresented minorities. Please consider making a donation to the fund.
If you prefer to send your donation by mail or make your donation via phone, please contact Laura Scarano at lscarano@luskin.ucla.edu or (908) 642-4104.
The UCLA Department of Urban Planning is at the intersection of unique academic, regional, geographic and professional resources that create a learning environment unlike any other. Los Angeles, one of the most culturally diverse and exciting urban settings in the world, serves as a unique laboratory for faculty and students to study and solve urban issues and problems. The world-class faculty in the department — nationally and internationally recognized scholars and leaders in community development, environmental planning, housing, land development, regional and international development, transportation, and urban design — prepare master’s and doctoral degree students to address the social, economic and spatial relationships that shape society.
For 50 years, UCLA’s Department of Urban Planning has been a leading center of innovation and action. We are consistently ranked among the nation’s top planning programs. We study urgent and topical issues at multiple scales and using interdisciplinary approaches — from local community development in Southern California to global environmental degradation.
Who We Are
Nicole Lambrou
THIRD YEAR PHD STUDENT
Click on the photo to learn more about all of our doctoral students.
Cynthia Guzmán
ALUMNA (MURP ’12)
Principal at Estolano Advisors
Brian Taylor
FACULTY
Named one of the Top 10
Transportation Thought Leaders in Academia 2016
Academic Programs
A two-year professional-degree program focused on the role of cities and urban space located in one of the world’s truly global cities — Los Angeles.
Dual-degree programs with the following other graduate programs on the UCLA campus: architecture, business, Latin American Studies, law and public health.
A four-year academic program in which students develop the research skills and experience to produce influential scholarship and secure jobs at leading research institutions.
The UCLA Luskin Undergraduate Program offers a Bachelors of Arts in Public Affairs and minor programs in Public Affairs, Gerontology, and Urban and Regional Studies.
Specializations that provide graduate students with additional expertise in the following areas: Design and Development, Food Studies, Global Public Affairs, Sustainability, Urban Humanities and Writing.
The Department of Urban Planning welcomes applications to be a Visiting Scholar, a Visiting Graduate Researcher, or a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Luskin School of Public Affairs.
News

Most Major U.S. Cities Are Underprepared for Rising Temperatures Study led by Luskin Center for Innovation highlights gaps in municipal planning for often dangerous heat
UCLA-led analysis highlights gaps in municipal planning for often dangerous heat
Nancy Pelosi and George Takei Deliver Calls to Action to Class of 2022 The House speaker and the actor-activist appear at UCLA Luskin's dual commencement ceremonies
The House speaker and the actor-activist appear at UCLA Luskin’s dual commencement ceremonies.

Declines in Accountability Among U.S., Asian Governments Since 2000 Highlighted Berggruen Governance Index assesses the quality of democracy and measures quality of life in 134 nations
Berggruen Governance Index assesses the quality of democracy and measures the quality of life in 134 nations
Also at Luskin
Contact
Department of Urban Planning
Luskin School of Public Affairs
University of California Los Angeles
3250 Public Affairs Building
Box 951666
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
phone: (310) 825-4025
fax: (310) 206-5566
upinfo@luskin.ucla.edu
Chris Tilly
Department Chair
tilly@ucla.edu
(310) 206-7150
Robin McCallum
Manager
robin@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 206-7150
Sean Campbell
Assoc Dir, Admissions and Recruitment
sean@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-8957
Brianna Miller
Academic Program Coordinator
brianna@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-2892
Danielle Maris Lacob
Graduate Advisor
danielle@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-7331
Ervin Huang
Student Affairs Officer
ervin@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-5581