Course: Preparation Course for Certified Urban Designer (CUD)

Course Content Outline:

Day 1: 3D Design, Creativity and Critical Insight

• Deconstruct and reconstruct (how to take apart and recreate designs or
• problems)
• Generate creative solutions (i.e., thinking in ways not yet apparent)
• Using professional judgment to make decisions based on incomplete information
• Integrating broader critical and imaginative thinking into logistical (physical)
• hypothesis
• Understanding diverse perspectives and values

Day 2: Sustainability

• Built environment (open spaces, infrastructures)
• Natural environment (water, land form, climate)
• Historic preservation
• Retrofitting buildings
• Energy (conservation, generation)
• Cultural associations (references)
• Sense of community identity
• Appreciation for traditional patterns, materials and practice
• Access to transportation
• Access to housing
• Jobs to housing balance
• Access to services

Day 3: Urban Framework

• History and Precedents
• Theory and City Forms
• Land Use, Density and Intensity
• Urban Typology
• Block typology
• Street typology
• Publicly accessible open spaces, streets and orientation
• Civic and cultural facilities

Day 4: Agency

• Understanding and Managing Change
• Tools and techniques appropriate to the audience (e.g., social media, mainstream media, public presentation, engagement and education etc.)
• Communicating benefits of urban design
• Engaging in diagnostic activities
• Project management | Conflict resolution | Managing interdisciplinary teams
• Aesthetics (sense of beauty) | Fiscal impact | Quality of life (sense of place) | Improved health, safety and wellness

Day 5:Implementation Tools | Development | Legal | Tools of the trade 

• Design Standards and Urban Design
• Capital Improvement Programs
• Incentives: Public, Private and Instutional
• Real Estate Economics
• Construction impacts | Capital, operating, maintenance and lifecycle cost
• Ownership rights | Case law | Land, building, fire and related codes
• Visual evaluation tools | GIS | Graphic presentation of quantitative information
• CUD exam structure and competency domains
• Sample test questions and review discussions

The Scandinavian Academy for Training and Development adopts the latest scientific and professional methodologies in training and human resource development, aiming to enhance the efficiency of individuals and organizations. Training programs are delivered through a comprehensive approach that includes:

• Theoretical lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations and visual materials (videos and short films).
• Scientific evaluation of participants before and after the program to measure progress and knowledge acquisition.
• Brainstorming sessions and practical role-playing to simulate real-life scenarios.
• Case studies tailored to align with the training content and participants work nature.
• Assessment tests conducted at the end of the program to evaluate the achievement of training objectives.

Each participant receives the training material (both theoretical and practical) in printed form and saved on a CD or flash drive. Detailed reports, including attendance records, final results, and overall program evaluations, are also provided.

Training materials are prepared professionally by a team of experts and specialists in various fields. At the end of the program, participants are awarded a professional attendance certificate, signed and accredited by the Scandinavian Academy for Training and Development.

Program Timings:

• 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Arab cities.
• 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in European and Asian cities.

The program includes:

• A daily buffet provided during the sessions to ensure participants comfort.

Course Introduction:

Urban design is at the intersection of architecture, planning, and social policy. With growing global urbanization, there is an increasing demand for certified professionals capable of shaping sustainable, functional, and people-centered urban environments. This preparation course is tailored for professionals aiming to obtain the Certified Urban Designer (CUD) credential. It equips participants with essential theoretical knowledge, practical tools, and exam-oriented strategies aligned with international certification standards.

Participants will engage in analytical thinking, real-world case studies, design simulation exercises, and focused review sessions to ensure readiness for the CUD exam and for future roles in urban development and planning.

General Objective:

To prepare participants to successfully pass the Certified Urban Designer (CUD) exam and apply core principles of urban design in planning, development, and design contexts.

Detailed Objectives:

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the foundational principles, history, and evolution of urban design.
• Analyze the key elements of spatial planning, zoning, land use, and environmental integration.
• Apply urban morphology, movement frameworks, and placemaking concepts in design scenarios.
• Use analytical tools such as site analysis, SWOT, and GIS in urban planning.
• Develop comprehensive urban design proposals aligned with community needs and sustainability goals.
• Review and practice questions aligned with the Certified Urban Designer (CUD) exam format.

Target Audience:

• Urban planners and architects preparing for the CUD certification
• Professionals in municipal planning departments and consulting firms
• Graduates in architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning
• Practitioners seeking to upgrade their credentials in urban design

The Scandinavian Academy for Training and Development is committed to hosting all training programs in dedicated and well-equipped hotel facilities specifically designed for conducting and delivering training sessions, unless explicitly stated otherwise on our website. Participants will be notified of the program venue within 7 to 21 days prior to the programs start date, based on the Academys assessment and the programs circumstances. The Scandinavian Academy for Training and Development emphasizes that it holds no responsibility for any force majeure events that may prevent the program from being held at the designated venue. Nevertheless, the Scandinavian Academy for Training and Development will make every effort to provide suitable alternatives and extend the necessary support to participants in the event of a venue change due to unforeseen circumstances.