DENTON (UNT), Texas — With a projected 13 percent increase in demand for urban and regional planners over the next 10 years, the University of North Texas College of Health and Public Service’s new Bachelor of Arts in urban policy and planning is addressing the need for skilled workers.

“This will be the first degree of its kind in the DFW region,” said Jennifer Evans-Cowley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, who also is a professor in the Department of Public Administration. “The North Texas region is booming and professional city planners are needed to work in the region’s cities and for planning consulting firms to keep pace with the growth.”

The degree, which is offered in the Department of Public Administration, will concentrate on the study of urban development, the history of cities and the impact of urban space on communities. It will include a combination of face-to-face and online courses that accommodate students’ busy schedules, as well as allow for a seamless transfer for incoming students. Students also will receive practical planning experience through a required urban planning studio.

“Student’s graduating with this degree will be career ready for a pursuit of professional opportunities in the public and private sectors,” said Laura Keyes, UNT public administration lecturer and undergraduate program coordinator. “A major strength of the program is its close affiliation with city governments and planning consulting firms within the Dallas-Fort Worth region.”

Students may begin taking courses for the degree in spring 2019.