This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2025-2026 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Program accreditation
Planning Accreditation Board
Program goal
The Certificate in Urban Revitalization provides specialized training in the techniques and processes of city and neighborhood revitalization. Topics include adaptive reuse of buildings, historic preservation, real estate market analysis and the role of private-public partnerships in financing development projects. The certificate is useful for midcareer professionals who wish to learn new skills to expand their career options. It also is useful for recent college graduates who desire advanced training beyond the baccalaureate level and accelerated entry into the job market.
At any time, students in the certificate program may apply for admission into the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program and, if accepted, may transfer the certificate credits toward partial fulfillment of the master’s degree requirements.
Student learning outcomes
- Understand the community, economic, physical and historic drivers of urban revitalization
- Develop an understanding of the community engagement, analysis and policy tools to facilitate urban revitalization
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Fall | Feb 1 (early admission); Apr 1 (priority deadline); May 1 (final deadline) | |
| Spring | Oct 1 |
Special requirements
- These deadlines are designed to allow sufficient time for application review and admission processing. Applications may be submitted after the deadline; however, there is no guarantee of sufficient time for processing. Any application submitted too late for current semester processing will be considered for the following semester.
In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, the prerequisites and general criteria of eligibility for admission to the urban revitalization certificate program include:
- Completion of an official application form
- Three letters of reference
- Letter of intent describing interest in applying for the Certificate in Urban Revitalization
- An official transcript showing successful completion of a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average of 2.7 (out of 4.0) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate study
- Demonstration of professional experience in planning or work related to the certificate program (The experience requirement may be waived for candidates who demonstrate professional promise.)
All courses in the graduate Certificate in Urban Revitalization may be applied to meet the requirement of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree. However, successful completion of the certificate does not guarantee admission into the M.U.R.P. degree program.
Degree requirements
In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, the Certificate in Urban Revitalization program requires 18 graduate credit hours of course work.
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | 6 | |
| Urban Economic Development Policy | ||
| Urban Commercial Revitalization | ||
| Electives 1 | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Real Estate Development | ||
| Cases in Real Estate | ||
| Historic Preservation in Planning | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
or URSP 621 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
| Real Estate Development Finance for Planners | ||
| Special Topics in Urban and Regional Studies and Planning 2 | ||
| Introduction to Planning | ||
| Principles of Urban Design | ||
| Land Use Planning | ||
| Sustainable Community Development | ||
| Housing Policy | ||
| Adaptive Reuse of Buildings | ||
| Foundations for Development Planning | ||
| Topics in Urban and Regional Planning (architectural analysis and historical preservation) 2 | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
With the approval of the program chair, other appropriate graduate courses may be applied as electives.
URSP 591 or URSP 691 may be selected when the topic is related to urban revitalization.
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this certificate is 18.
Students who complete the requirements for this program will receive a Certificate in Urban Revitalization.
Contact
Xueming (Jimmy) Chen, Ph.D.
Professor and program chair
xchen2@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1254
Additional contacts
Benjamin Teresa, Ph.D.
Assistant professor and assistant program chair
bfteresa@vcu.edu
(804) 828-8297
Wilder School recruitment
wsrecruit@vcu.edu
(804) 827-0364
Program website: wilder.vcu.edu/academic/certificate/urban.html