URBAN DESIGN

Have you ever wondered why some cities flourish, becoming modern and livable, while others struggle with traffic congestion, environmental issues, and poor planning? Urban design is the key to creating ideal living spaces, blending aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. If you have a passion for architecture, urban planning, then the Urban Design program is the perfect choice for you.

Program Introduction

Urban design has always been an interdisciplinary research field encompassing architecture, urban and rural planning, landscape architecture, and other related disciplines.

The Urban Design program at Southwest Jiaotong University is built on the foundations of architecture, urban and rural planning, landscape architecture, and environmental art, while integrating cutting-edge knowledge from information science, transportation engineering, and other interdisciplinary fields. Through the establishment of a high-level faculty team and a distinct training program, the program emphasizes an open and international education approach. Leveraging the university's specialized research areas and cross-college collaborations, it addresses major societal needs such as urban rail transit construction and smart city development. The program aims to cultivate high-quality engineering professionals with a strong distinctive focus, international vision, competitiveness, and innovative capabilities.

By continuously breaking new ground, fostering innovation, and strengthening leadership, this program combines technological innovation talent development with revolutionary technological advancements. It seeks to establish an emerging professional system for sustainable urban development, realizing future advancements in intelligent urban rail transit and creating an outstanding undergraduate program in urban design.

Training Objectives

The Urban Design program is based on architecture, urban and rural planning, landscape architecture, and environmental art, integrating advanced interdisciplinary knowledge from information science and transportation engineering. 

By building a high-quality faculty team and a distinctive training program, it emphasizes an open and international education approach. Supported by the university’s specialized research fields and cross-institutional collaborations, the program addresses critical societal needs such as urban rail transit construction and smart city development. 

It aims to cultivate high-quality engineering professionals with a strong distinctive focus, international vision, competitiveness, and innovative capabilities.

Graduation Requirements

This program aims to develop graduates who embody the “Five Qualities” of Southwest Jiaotong University students:

• Social Responsibility and Strong Character

• Professional Ethics and Technical Skills

• Scientific Literacy and Humanistic Spirit

• Historical Perspective and Global Vision

• Innovative Thinking and Critical Thinking

Students are expected to achieve well-rounded development in moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education during their academic years. Graduates must complete the required core, elective, and specialized courses as outlined in the Urban Design Four-Year Curriculum Plan, ensuring they meet the necessary qualifications in knowledge, skills, and personal development, while also cultivating lifelong learning abilities.

Core Courses

• Principles of Urban Planning

• Fundamentals of Architectural Design

• Principles of Landscape Design

• Urban Geography

• Urban Sociology

• Urban Economics

• Urban Transportation Planning

• Urban Environmental Planning

• Urban Morphology

• Urban Information Modeling

Research Directions

• Urban Public Space Design

• Urban Renewal and Revitalization

• Sustainable Urban Development

• Digital Cities

• Cultural Heritage Conservation and Utilization

• Urban Transportation Planning and Design

• Urban Landscape Design

• Urban Ecological Planning

Degree Awarded

Bachelor Degree

Career Prospects

Graduates can pursue careers in various organizations, including urban planning and design institutes, architectural design firms, landscape design companies, real estate development firms, and government agencies, engaging in:

• Urban Planning

• Architectural Design

• Landscape Design

• Project Management

• Research and Teaching

Related Majors

• Architecture

• Urban and Rural Planning

• Landscape Architecture

• Historic Building Conservation and Engineering

• Human Settlements Science and Technology

• Smart Building and Construction

Top Universities Offering Urban Design

• Tongji University

• Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology

• Southwest Jiaotong University

• Shanghai University

• Central Academy of Fine Arts