Community Planning, Engagement, & Design
@ Rowan University
A B O U T T H E C O U R S E
Community Planning, Engagement, & Design (PLAN 31486/31686) is a 3-credit course offered by the Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability at Rowan University. This course is required for BS in Community & Environmental Planning and MS in Urban & Regional Planning programs. The course forms a partnership with Community Planning + Visualization Lab to conceptualize or develop class projects. Please reach out to Dr. Meenar with any questions.
This course introduces the concepts of citizen participation/engagement, social justice, governance, and working with under-represented populations, thereby contributing to a student’s understanding and ability to address aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice (DEI-SJ). It introduces various methods and techniques planners use to bring meaningful and representative citizen participation into community decision-making. Students learn qualitative methods and citizen engagement techniques such as community surveys, focus groups, and public meetings/events and are expected to apply these skills in their studio projects.
The course is both theoretical as well as applied providing experience in developing and critiquing plans and designs using physical/spatial planning as the field of study. Projects, case studies, assignments, and discussions are based on the (i) design, arrangement, appearance, and functionality of building sites, neighborhoods, and public spaces; (ii) sustainable design principles, techniques, and practices related to physical planning and urban design; and (iii) macro and micro-level design elements that make up both the public and private realms of the built environments of sustainable communities.
Fall 2022
T O P I C S
T E C H N I C A L S K I L L S
Free-hand drawing | Digital drawing & modeling using SketchUp | Physical 3D modeling | Design reviews | Plan reviews | Literature reviews |
Report writing | Memo writing | Graphic design (report + poster) | Photo montage | Presentations
C O M M U N I T Y E N G A G E M E N T T O O L S + M E T H O D S
Community surveys | Focus groups | Community events | Candid interviews | Design charrettes | Mental mapping
G U E S T S P E A K E R S
Community Planning - Local Government
Chris Brown, AICP, PP (Community Development Director, City of Hoboken)
Community Planning - State Government
Nick Angarone, AICP, PP (NJ Chief Climate Resilience Officer, NJ DEP)
Meghan Wren, AICP (Area Planner, NJ Office of Planning Advocacy)
Community Planning - Private Sector
Courtenay Mercer, AICP, PP (Principal, Mercer Planning Associates)
F I E L D T R I P S + O B S E R V A T I O N S
Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, Camden | Salvation Army Kroc Center, Camden | Downtown and Town Center, Glassboro
