Urban Policy Planning and Local Governments METU Middle East Technical University

Overview

Key Features

The complexity of urban problems and policy processes require a multi-disciplinary approach. UPL is a joint program established by the Department of City and Regional Planning and the Department of Political Science and Public Administration to meet this objective. As part of the multi-disciplinary approach, the Urban Policy Planning and Local Governments from METU Middle East Technical University admits not only the graduates of these two main disciplines, but also the students from other fields such as law, economics, management, psychology, sociology, engineering and architecture.

The program has two main orientations. On the one hand, it provides a synthesis of different disciplines, by enjoying the contributions of each field. On the other hand, the program aims to strengthen the link between theory and practice of urban management and policy making. By doing this; it challenges the pragmatic approaches which have traditionally dominated the urban policy processes. The program focused on the following issues in the previous years: Urban Poverty, Participation in Local Governments, Local Government Finance, Strategic Planning in Local Governments, Provincial Development Plans, Health in Urban Areas, etc.

The program encourages the graduates of different disciplines, especially who work in municipalities, planning agencies and other policy oriented institutions. Students are accepted to M.S. and Ph.D programs. The students of the program are allowed to choose between thesis and non-thesis programs on the basis of their interests and future professional choices.