Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science Course?

You are welcome to another educative post in the Sure Success Career Guide Series. Today, we want to help prospective university students to make the right choices and also fill their JAMB forms correctly. So we are going to provide answer to those asking the question, “Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science course in Nigeria?” This clarification is very crucial because many university aspirants are confused as to whether the course “Urban and Regional Planning” is an art, commercial, social science or science course.

Quick Overview
Course	Urban and Regional Planning
Course Duration	4 years for UTME candidates, 3 years for DE candidates.
Suitability	Urban and Regional Planning is a Science course and suitable for Science students.
Faculty	Environmental Sciences
JAMB Subjects Requirement	Use of English, Mathematics and any two subjects from Physics, Chemistry, Economics and Geography.
O’level Subject Requirement	Credit pass Five (5) subjects in not more than two sittings in Mathematics, English Language, Geography and any two of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Government, Biology.

The Need to Clarify Whether Urban and Regional Planning is a Science, Art or Commercial Course

There is a very important need to help candidates gain clarity on where exactly Urban and Regional Planning belongs as a course. Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science course? Is it a Commercial course or an Art Course?

Actually, there are three stages when candidates need this clarification the most. The first is during the season of buying and filling of JAMB form.

The second time candidates ask the question we are dealing with on this post is during application for Change of Course/Institution. That is, when they have seen that their JAMB score is too low for their initial course, and they are considering changing to Urban and Regional Planning.

The last stage at which candidates need clarification on where Urban and Regional Planning belongs as a course is during application supplementary admission. That is, when they have missed merit admission into their dream course but have a chance of getting Urban and Regional Planning through supplementary admission.

At those points, candidates want to know who is qualified to apply for Urban and Regional Planning; is it the science, art or commercial student?

Any mistake here will close the door of admission into Urban and Regional Planning against you.

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Why are Candidates Confused as to Whether Urban and Regional Planning is a Science, Art or Commercial Course?

Many candidates are confused about whether Urban and Regional Planning is a science or art course because it seems to be a mix of both.

On one hand, it is scientific because it involves things like studying data and using maps to make decisions about cities. This side of the discipline looks at facts and figures to understand things like population and the environment.

On the other hand, there’s an artistic side of Urban and Regional Planning where planners use creativity to design cities that look good and are good for people.

So, the confusion comes from the fact that Urban Planning needs both science (facts and data) and art (creative design) to work well. It’s a bit of both worlds, making it tricky to categorize neatly as just science or art.

But we are going to bring clarity to that in the next few sections.

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Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science Course?

Yes, Urban and Regional Planning is a Science course.

This is true, despite the fact that the course is creative and design-oriented with focus on shaping aesthetically pleasing urban environments.

However, non-science students may qualify to apply for Urban and Regional Planning if they have the required O’level subjects in their SSCE and the right JAMB subject combination for Urban and Regional Planning.

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Why is Urban and Regional Planning a Science Course?

There are three major evidences that prove that Urban and Regional Planning is a science course. Here they are:

1. Urban and Regional Planning involves data analysis and geographic information systems.
2. It requires pure science subjects like Physics at O’level.
3. Most schools require science subjects like Mathematics and Physics as part of JAMB subject combination for Urban and Regional Planning.

Urban and Regional Planning Involves Data Analysis and Geographic Information Systems

Most science disciplines involve data collection and analysis. It is in this sense that we consider Urban and Regional Planning to be a science course because it involves rigorous data collection, analysis and interpretation. It also involves geographic information systems.

Planners must also understand Geography, Physics and mathematics in order to function effectively; and these are pure sciences.

Urban and Regional Planning Requires Pure Science Subjects at O’level

According to the Current Official JAMB Brochure, candidates seeking admissions into Urban and Regional Planning must possess credit level passes in five (5) subjects in not more than two sittings in Mathematics, English Language, Geography and any two of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Government, Biology.

In other words, Physics and Chemistry are at the top of the optional subjects that any candidate who wishes to study Urban and Regional Planning must possess in SSCE. Biology is also there as an option in the list of subjects that can be used to complete the O’level subject requirement for Urban and Regional Planning. Obviously, Art and Commercial students do not offer these Science subjects. So a typical Art or Commercial student would not qualify to gain admission into Urban and Regional Planning.

Although they can still qualify if they choose Mathematics, English Language, Geography, Economics and Government.

Specific Urban and Regional Planning Requirements by Some Universities

• MAUTECH requires Five `O’ level credits in English Mathematics, Geography and any other two (one from Physics/ Chemistry/Biology/Agric Science) and (one other from Economics/Social Sciences/Tech. Drawing/ Creative Arts).
• UNILAG requires credit passes from Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics and Technical Drawing as the fourth and fifth subjects.
• RENAISSANCE requires five SSCE credit passes including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geography/Tech. Drawing at not more than two sittings.
• BELLS requires five SSCE Credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Geography and any two from Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Technical Drawing.
• UNIJOS requires two other credit passes from Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Biology, Fine Art and Technical Drawing.
• FUTO requires at least five ‘O’ Level credits in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English Language, and any other from Geography, Biology, Economics, Technical Drawing.

The above are just a few examples of the specific O’level requirements for admission into Urban and Regional Planning. You can see that virtually every school requires that aspirants must have science subjects like Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics in their SSCE. Those science subjects are not offered by Art and Commercial students.

This goes to show that Urban and Regional Planning is a science course.

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Most Schools Require Science Subjects as Part of JAMB Subject Combination for Urban and Regional Planning

If you check the JAMB brochure, you will find the JAMB subject combination for Urban and Regional Planning stated as follows: Use of English, Mathematics and any two subjects from Physics, Chemistry, Economics and Geography.

This is the general subject combination for Urban and Regional Planning in JAMB brochure.

The challenge that Art and Commercial students have with the JAMB subjects for Urban and Regional Planning is that Mathematics is compulsory. Furthermore, almost all the schools in Nigeria require candidates to pick any two subjects from Physics, Chemistry, Economics and Geography.

So if you did not offer Physics and Chemistry in your O’level as an Art or Commercial student, you will find it difficult to meet the UTME subjects requirement for Urban and Regional Planning. Except you go for Economics and Geography.

Other Related Questions to Our Topic: “Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science Course?”

Before we conclude, let’s answer one or two other questions around our topic, “Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science course?”

Is Urban and Regional Planning a Commercial Course?

No, Urban and Regional Planning is not a commercial course. It’s true that the course optionally requires Economics which most commercial students offer, but it also requires some pure science subjects which commercial students don’t normally offer. So it is very easy for a Science student without Economics in their SSCE to gain admission into Urban and Regional Planning..

Is Urban and Regional Planning an Art Course?

No, Urban and Regional Planning is not an Art course in the strict sense of it. It is a pure science course. This is partly because an Art student is very unlikely to meet the O’level and JAMB subject requirements for Urban and Regional Planning in most universities. Urban and Regional Planning requires that candidates credit some pure science subjects in their SSCE. Sadly, the phobia for those pure science subjects is the major reason why the Art students ran away from sciences.

Is Urban and Regional Planning Art or Science?

Urban and Regional Planning is Science. Some of the obvious reasons why Urban and Regional Planning is a science are discussed above.

Is Urban and Regional Planning an Engineering Course?

No, Urban and Regional Planning is not an engineering course although Planners and civil/structural engineers work together in the field.

However, in some institutions, Urban and Regional Planning is under the faculty of Engineering and Technology. But in most institutions, the course is under the faculty of environmental sciences while engineering is a separate faculty on its own.

Is Urban and Regional Planning a Social Science Course?

No, Urban and Regional Planning is not a social science course as the discipline is not focused on human beings and their insatiable needs. Rather, Urban and Regional Planning is a science course in Nigeria and most other countries of the world.

Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science Course in JAMB?

Yes, Urban and Regional Planning is a science course in JAMB. This can easily be confirmed from the JAMB subject combination for Urban and Regional Planning which is: Use of English, Mathematics and any two subjects from Physics, Chemistry, Economics and Geography.

Is Urban and Regional Planning Harder than Medicine?

We cannot give an easy YES or NO to this question. More so, there is no general answer to the question. One course may be ‘hard’ for someone and easy for another. It all depends on academic background, natural intelligence and personal effort.

Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science Course in Nigeria?

Yes, Urban and Regional Planning is a science course in Nigeria. If you are a science student and meet the necessary requirements, you can go for the course.

Is Urban and Regional Planning a Good Course in Nigeria?

Yes, Urban and Regional Planning is a good course with very lucrative career opportunities. You can go for it if you desire to study it.

Under which faculty is Urban and Regional Planning?

Urban And Regional Planning is a department under the faculty of Environmental studies in most schools. In some other schools, the course is under the faculty of Engineering Sciences.

Alright.

It’s a wrap.

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Conclusion

In this article, we set out to answer the pertinent question, “Is Urban and Regional Planning a Science course?” And we did justice to it.

If you are a science student with Physics, Chemistry and other necessary subjects in your SSCE result, you are in the best position to apply for Urban and Regional Planning. As a science student, the JAMB subjects for Urban and Regional Planning shouldn’t be difficult for you to handle. However, social science or Art students may not have the required pure science subjects like Chemistry and Physics. More so, they may not be confident enough to sit for any pure science subject in JAMB. However, they can still qualify if they choose Mathematics, English Language, Geography, Economics and Government.

In conclusion, Urban and Regional Planning is a science course in Nigerian universities and polytechnics.

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