Master’s and Ph.D. in
Urban and Regional Planning

The Stricto Sensu Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning at the Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (Univap) aims to foster research, academic activities, and scientific and technological dissemination in the field of Urban and Regional Planning. With an interdisciplinary approach, the program focuses on the production of urban and regional space, drawing upon theories and methodologies from various areas of the Applied Social Sciences.

The program is organized into three research lines: 1. Planning, Public Policies, and Structuring of Urban and Regional Space (PPEE); 2. Planning, Population, and Socio-environmental Development (PPDS); 3. Planning, Space, and Culture (PEC).

There are two levels of academic advancement. The master’s level aims to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and learning on topics related to urban and regional planning. At the doctoral level, the focus expands to critical reflection and theorization on the production of urban and regional space, encouraging a deep and analytical understanding of the processes that shape contemporary society and the practice of urban and regional planning.

Drawing on recognized and up-to-date literature on the relationship between society, space, and the natural environment, the program seeks to contribute to the analysis of the social production of space and the planning process itself. With the participation of faculty from various fields, the program promotes the exchange of ideas and knowledge, encouraging critical thinking and interdisciplinary analysis of the political, cultural, ideological, economic, and physical-territorial variables that influence socio-spatial dynamics.

Objectives
The program has the following general objectives:
• To encourage scientific research on urban and regional planning.
• To train qualified researchers to work in academia and broader society.
• To promote the dissemination of knowledge as a tool for social development.

These objectives align with the reflection and analysis of processes aimed at building a more just and sustainable urban and regional future, by developing studies and proposing planning strategies at urban and regional scales.

Organization of Activities
The program’s activities include coursework, seminars, collective advising, and culminate in final research projects on relevant topics. These projects allow students to develop research applied to various scales of socio-spatial organization, including the metropolitan region of Vale do Paraíba and the North Coast.