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The Student Planning Association (SPA) is for students pursuing a Master of Community Planning (M.C.P.) in the Urban Studies and Planning Program at UMD. It promotes student involvement in the planning program and profession, fostering social and intellectual interactions among students, faculty, staff and alumni.SPA Activities:

The Real Estate Club: The Real Estate Club at the University of Maryland allows members to explore the wealth building opportunities of real estate through the education of market conditions, financing, investing, rehabbing, management, and developing. Members have the opportunity to hear from real estate professionals and partake in site visits.

Jump into our sandbox! From a 24/7 student workspace that fosters collaboration and friendship, to high-tech, model-making makerspaces, we’ve got what you need to dream and design big.

The school’s heart is the Great Space, a 118-foot, two story atrium and a hub of activity. The Great Space accommodates lectures and critiques, but is flexible enough to also be used for a variety of schoolwide events: symposiums, celebrations, career fairs, parties, thesis reviews, frisbee matches and the Beaux Arts Ball.

Design studio is a collaborative teaching-and-learning environment and the heart of the architecture program. Located on the ground floor of the architecture building, it comprises assigned desk space for third- and fourth-year undergraduates and graduate students to conduct individual design work, as well as ample flexible space for group work.

The Fabrication Lab—affectionately known as the Fab Lab—is where vision meets craftsmanship. Here, students and faculty transform ideas into precise three-dimensional models of urban sites, landscapes, buildings, and building components. The Fab Lab spans two spaces: the Machine Shop and the Laser/3D Print Lab.

See the World—Change Your ViewIt began in 1971 with a four-week, three-continent adventure led by brand-new faculty and a world-famous architect—and we haven’t stopped exploring. At the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, study abroad is more than a trip; it’s a cornerstone of your education.

Italy: Florence and TuscanyThis program immerses you in the architectural, landscape, urban, artistic, and cultural traditions of Florence and Tuscany—foundations of many disciplines today.

Scandinavia Culture + PlaceLearn first hand about the role culture, geography, and history play in architectural form by investigating the built and natural environment in Scandinavia.

Japan: The Built Environment, Planning, and the Exploration of Social Justice and EquityStudents will explore contemporary urban life in Hiroshima and Kyoto—two cities rich in history, culture, and influence on the built environment.

Cuba: An Interdisciplinary Journey to HavanaHavana—fresh off its 500th anniversary—is a jewel of architectural preservation and a living laboratory of five centuries of urban planning. Its rich history, vibrant culture and complex real estate environment make it unlike anywhere else in the world.

India: Chandigarh Urban Redevelopment Project This interdisciplinary course explores urban redevelopment through site and market analysis, land use planning, urban design, real estate finance, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, architectural design, and sustainable communities. Chandigarh, planned by Le Corbusier, offers planning students a unique study opportunity.