This course introduces students to the field of urban planning. What are the concerns of urban planners? How do they make sense of the problems? What sort of skills are required of urban planning professionals? What are the effects of the urban planning process on the development of our urban areas? Firstly, this course approaches urban planning by a historical analysis. We therefore, first, study how cities in Britain grew and developed since the industrial revolution. In doing so, we also trace the beginnings of “modern” western urban planning, both as advocacies and “ideas” and as actual practices. In addition, the nature of urban planning, especially for the more recent periods, will be highlighted. Based on this preliminary understanding, we proceed to take stock of the various theories built to understand urban planning practices. In other word, the second part of the course deals with planning theory.