The senate of the University of Uyo approved the establishment of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning in 1995/1996 session, as one of the pioneer Departments in the Faculty of Environmental Studies. In its letter Ref. N0: NUC/AP/71 of December 11, 1997, the Department was formally recognized and approved by the National Universities commission (NUC) and included in the list of approved academic programmes in Nigerian Universities.

The Department offers the Urban Regional Planning Programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and award the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (BURP) and Master of Urban Planning (MURP) respectively.

The programmes at both levels are tailored to meet academic and professional requirements of the NUC, the Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC) and also those of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP).

The BURP and MURP degree programmes are accredited by the Town Planners Registration Council.

MISSION STATEMENT
The Department shall provide a conducive environment for teaching, learning and research in human settlement development and management. It shall liaise with like minds and relevant institutions at home and in Diaspora in producing professionals who will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills for solving urban and regional planning problems.

PHILOSOPHY
Urban and Regional Planning (URP) is a professional discipline. It is the art, science and technology of ordering and managing rural, urban and regional land uses. Its process involves interdisciplinary activities.

As a process, these activities embody the recognition and analysis of the physical and socioeconomic needs of the society and the formulation of strategies of implementation in order to achieve set goals and objectives for a sustainable environment for human habitation. The Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Uyo strives to be a centre of excellence in urban and regional planning.

The Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (BURP) of the Department is a five-year-full-time degree programme, structured to offer a broad-based multidisciplinary and comprehensive education and training in planning design and management of the total environment.

Each of the programme is designed to link the development of skills and knowledge across various topical areas with gradual expansion of planning and design capabilities and scope, in scale and complexity.As the student progresses through the programme, increasing emphasis is laid upon creative Planning with particular application to Nigerian conditions. The student is strongly encouraged to study Urban and Regional Planning as both a powerful way of thinking and as education for a specific vocation.

On graduating from the programme a student should have developed a critical awareness of social and environmental issues, the creative approach to Urban and Regional Planning, and a sound foundation in the technical and professional requirements of Urban and Regional Planning practice.

VISION STATEMENT
The Department shall be a centre of academic and professional excellence in Urban and Regional Planning.

It shall groom, train and develop young minds into sound, research-oriented professionals who will be responsible for articulating the problems and issues of human settlements; and planning, designing, developing and managing same. 

MISSION STATEMENT
The Department shall provide a conducive environment for teaching, learning and research in human settlement development and management.

It shall liaise with like minds and relevant institutions at home and in Diaspora in producing professionals who will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills for solving urban and regional planning problems. 

GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
Given the above philosophy, the programme aims at providing a professional education of high standard with a strong focus on the needs of Nigerian professional Urban and Regional Planning market.

Being concerned with the formulation, design, implementation and monitoring of land use plans and policies at the local, urban and regional levels, the strength of Urban and Regional Planning lies in its inter-disciplinary approach that cuts across traditional academic boundaries.

The programme of study is designed such that it fulfills the need for a well-qualified graduate with a concern for environmental planning issues and an appreciation for the visual arts and human requirements as well as natural systems. 

GOAL
To provide a broad-based education and training which will assist in developing the student’s intellectual and professional capacities to a high standard. 

OBJECTIVES
The objectives to achieve the above goal are:

1. To develop the students understanding of urban and regional planning by the study of theories, methods and techniques for planning design and management of land use activities and environment;
   2. To assist the student to acquire constructive development and understanding of the social, economic, technological and legislative framework of society within the physical, social and economic processes in operation and the potential capacities of the framework for more coherent and relevant collaborative policy formulation and implementation;
   3. To provide the student with varied practical experiences of realistic planning problems;
   4. To encourage the student to develop interest in planning skills and research methods;
   5. To contribute to the manpower requirements of the nation by educating and training of prospective professional planners, and also offering of refresher courses to already registered planners through seminars, workshops and short-term courses; and
2. To provide training and re-training programmes that will elevate sub-professionals to professional cadre of the discipline.