Course Breakdown Across Semesters
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credits (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UP-101 | Introduction to Urban Planning | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | UP-102 | Human Geography | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | UP-103 | Environmental Sciences | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | UP-104 | Basic Mathematics | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | UP-105 | Planning Tools and Techniques | 2-0-2-4 | - |
| 2 | UP-201 | Urban Economics | 3-0-0-3 | UP-104 |
| 2 | UP-202 | Land Use Planning | 3-0-0-3 | UP-101 |
| 2 | UP-203 | Housing Policy | 3-0-0-3 | UP-101 |
| 2 | UP-204 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 2-0-2-4 | UP-102 |
| 2 | UP-205 | Fieldwork I: Urban Observation | 0-0-3-3 | UP-101 |
| 3 | UP-301 | Sustainable Development | 3-0-0-3 | UP-201 |
| 3 | UP-302 | Climate Change Adaptation | 3-0-0-3 | UP-201 |
| 3 | UP-303 | Smart Cities | 3-0-0-3 | UP-204 |
| 3 | UP-304 | Public Policy | 3-0-0-3 | UP-101 |
| 3 | UP-305 | Research Methodology | 2-0-2-4 | - |
| 4 | UP-401 | Capstone Project I | 0-0-6-6 | UP-305 |
| 4 | UP-402 | Urban Informatics | 3-0-0-3 | UP-303 |
| 4 | UP-403 | Community Engagement Strategies | 3-0-0-3 | UP-201 |
| 4 | UP-404 | Urban Finance and Budgeting | 3-0-0-3 | UP-201 |
| 4 | UP-405 | Capstone Project II | 0-0-6-6 | UP-401 |
The curriculum is structured to progressively build upon foundational knowledge while enabling students to specialize in areas relevant to current urban challenges. Each course includes a combination of lectures, discussions, lab sessions, and fieldwork to provide holistic learning experiences.
Advanced Departmental Electives
Urban Informatics: This course explores how information systems can be leveraged for better urban decision-making. Students learn to analyze large datasets from smart city sensors, visualize urban trends using data analytics platforms, and build predictive models for urban planning applications.
GIS for Urban Planning: Using industry-standard software like ArcGIS and QGIS, students gain hands-on experience in spatial analysis, mapping, and visualization techniques used in real-world urban development projects. The course emphasizes integrating GIS into policy formulation and implementation.
Sustainable Development: This elective focuses on the principles of sustainability within urban environments. Topics include renewable energy integration, waste management systems, green building design, and carbon footprint reduction strategies for cities.
Climate Change Adaptation: Students study global climate models, local adaptation strategies, vulnerability assessments, and resilience planning techniques. Case studies from cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Mumbai provide insights into successful climate-adaptive policies.
Smart Cities: A comprehensive overview of digital transformation in urban settings. This course covers IoT integration, smart mobility solutions, data governance, citizen engagement platforms, and the ethical implications of smart city technologies.
Public Policy: An introduction to policy analysis frameworks applied to urban planning contexts. Students learn how policies are formulated, implemented, evaluated, and adjusted within urban environments. Real-world case studies from Indian cities help contextualize these concepts.
Research Methodology: Designed to equip students with research skills essential for advanced planning. This course covers literature reviews, hypothesis testing, statistical analysis, survey design, and report writing in the context of urban studies.
Community Engagement Strategies: Students explore methods for involving citizens in urban planning processes. The focus is on participatory approaches, stakeholder mapping, conflict resolution, and building consensus among diverse urban communities.
Urban Finance and Budgeting: This course introduces financial mechanisms used in urban development projects. Students learn about public-private partnerships, funding models, budgeting for infrastructure, and cost-benefit analysis of planning interventions.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
Nicmar University Of Construction Studies Hyderabad strongly believes in project-based learning as a cornerstone of education. This approach encourages students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world urban problems through collaborative, hands-on projects.
The mandatory mini-projects are assigned during the second and third years. These projects allow students to work in teams, engage with local authorities or NGOs, and present their findings to stakeholders. The final-year capstone project is more substantial, often involving long-term planning initiatives or innovative proposals for sustainable development.
Students select projects based on personal interest and alignment with faculty expertise. Mentorship from experienced planners ensures guidance throughout the process. Projects are evaluated based on innovation, feasibility, research depth, presentation quality, and societal impact.