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Studies & Degrees in Housing and Community Development

Housing and community development is the field that deals with how neighbourhoods, towns and cities provide homes and services for the people who live in them. It combines urban planning, housing policy, public administration, social work and real estate. Students learn how land is used, how housing is financed and managed, how public programmes are designed and evaluated, and how residents take part in decisions about their area.

The American Planning Association describes planning as a tool that helps communities decide, among other things, where to invest in transportation, housing and parks. In the words of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, urban and regional planners develop comprehensive plans and programmes for the use of land and physical facilities in cities, counties, metropolitan areas and other jurisdictions. Housing and community development applies that work to homes and to the social life of a neighbourhood.

Qualifications and levels

Housing and community development is rarely the title of a degree. Most students reach it through a degree in urban planning, geography, public policy, social work or architecture, and specialise through optional courses, a master's degree or work experience.

  • Bachelor's degrees. Some universities offer a first degree in planning. Arizona State University, for example, lists a BSP in Urban Planning at its School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning. Its School of Community Resources and Development describes itself as known for its expertise in community development, tourism, parks and recreation, and nonprofit leadership.
  • Master's degrees. In the United States the master's degree is the usual professional route. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, planners typically need a master's degree in urban and regional planning or a related field, and master's programmes usually do not ask for a particular undergraduate degree. Accredited programmes typically include planning theory, land use law and GIS for planning.
  • Accreditation in North America. The Planning Accreditation Board accredits university programmes leading to bachelor's and master's degrees in planning. Its list includes the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning of Arizona State University, accredited through 31 December 2028.
  • Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits and official master's degrees 60, 90 or 120. There is no grado with this exact name; the subject is covered in geography, architecture, sociology and social work, and in master's degrees. The list of official master's degrees of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona includes Estudios Territoriales y Planeamiento and Políticas Sociales y Acción Comunitaria.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists three active schools under housing and community development, one each in the United States, Spain and Belarus: Arizona State University in Tempe, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Bellaterra and Vitebsk State Technological University in Vitebsk. The entries for Arizona State University and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona describe other units of those universities (an English programme and a hotel management school), so students should look for the planning, geography or public policy departments in each university's current catalogue.

The subject is closely tied to the country where it is taught. Planning law, housing finance and the division of tasks between national and local government differ from one country to another; in the United Kingdom, for instance, housing and communities are the responsibility of a ministerial department, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. A degree normally teaches the system of its own country and is taught in the local language, so it is worth checking how much of the course is comparative or international before enrolling. Students who plan to work in another country should ask the school what recognition the qualification has there.

Careers

Graduates work for local and regional government, housing associations and public housing agencies, non-profit community organisations, property developers and consultancies. Typical roles are urban or regional planner, housing officer, community development worker, programme manager in a non-profit organisation and policy analyst.

Official figures are available for the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 45,800 jobs for urban and regional planners in 2025 and projects employment to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,200 openings each year. For social and community service managers, who typically need at least a bachelor's degree and work experience, it projects growth of 7 percent over the same period and about 18,500 openings each year. These projections describe the US labour market only.

Frequently asked questions

Is housing and community development a degree in its own right?

Rarely. It is usually a specialisation within urban planning, geography, public policy, social work or architecture, or the focus of a master's degree.

Do I need a master's degree to work as a planner?

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says planners typically need a master's degree in urban and regional planning or a related field. Requirements in other countries differ, so check with the professional body of the country where you want to work.

What should I have studied before a master's degree in planning?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, US master's programmes usually do not specify a particular undergraduate degree. A background in architecture, social science or business can be useful.

Can I study this subject in Spain?

Not under this name as a grado. Related official master's degrees exist; the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, for example, lists master's degrees in territorial studies and planning and in social policy and community action.