Sustainable Planning, Development, and Design in the Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Why you should go
The Netherlands, specifically Amsterdam, will be our urban lab where we will learn about sustainable planning, development and design. In our introductory studio, we will focus on improving the quality of urban life as seen through the lens of Jan Gehl’s pioneering work and today’s global shift to human-centered public spaces that emphasize pedestrians, fosters social interaction, supports community, and promotes well-being through parks, plazas, and street design. In our second course, on sustainable development, we will learn about the innovative efforts being employed in the Netherlands to address global climate change sustainability. This includes learning about green infrastructure, affordable housing, transportation and sea-level rise. If you want to see first-hand the impact of placemaking and policy to create vibrant, welcoming, sustainable and accessible places – join us in Amsterdam!
Courses
- USP 171GS: International Sustainable Development (Draft PDF)
- USP 183GS: International Urban Design Practicum (Draft PDF)
Faculty Leaders
Mirle Rabinowitz Bussell, Ph.D.mbussell@ucsd.edu
Mirle Rabinowitz Bussell is a Teaching Professor and the Chair of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. She is also the Faculty Director of Homelessness Hub. She has been at UC San Diego since 1998! She has degrees in architecture and urban planning and conducts research on housing, homelessness, and community development in historically underserved communities. She loves to teach and is a recipient of a UC San Diego Distinguished Teaching Award.
Professor Bussell has a passion for traveling and has visited over sixteen different countries. She studied abroad in London while she was in college and it was a transformative experience. She has taught three prior Global Seminars (one in Germany and two in the Netherlands) and is excited to return to the Netherlands this summer. She knows Amsterdam particularly well and is excited to share her knowledge about the city and what makes it an innovator in sustainable planning, development and design. She also has many suggestions for sites to see, neighborhoods to explore, and places to eat.
Sue Peerson, FAICP
speerson@ucsd.edu
Sue Peerson is a Senior Continuing Lecturer in the Urban Studies and Planning Department. For the past 16 years, she has taught innovative urban design studios, site analysis, and graphics & visual communication courses with a focus on the built environment. Trained as a city planner and landscape architect -- her research focuses on placemaking and the public realm in contemporary cities. With over 30 years of professional experience, she brings together planning, law, urban design and landscape architecture to her portfolio of public and private sector work. Our Global Seminar in the Netherlands brings together two things she loves -- teaching and travel. Sue enjoys exploring Amsterdam taking photos and drawing in my sketchbook. This will be her 3rd Global Seminar in the Netherlands teaching alongside Professor Bussell and the 4th Global seminar they have led together.
"There is no better way to see how a city is shaped by history, social change, and environmental factors than to give a guided walk with students during our Global Seminar in the Netherlands. Learning the principles of urban design and placemaking goes beyond the classroom. Amsterdam is our urban lab where students become keen observers of the built environment using different tools and techniques to document public space and public life. I thoroughly enjoy teaching a Global Seminar because it brings students and faculty together in impactful and memorable ways."
Who should go
Our Global Seminar is open to all majors, specifically students interested in learning about sustainable urban design, planning and development. If you want to: experiment with different hands-on exercises to become familiar with urban design principles; explore different drawing tools and techniques to observe and critique the city; keep a sketchbook as a visual journal – don’t worry, you don’t need to know how to draw. We want you to observe your surroundings, take notes and photographs, and share your ideas. If you want to learn about the challenges and policy solutions to addressing sustainable development goals, you will have numerous opportunities to do so during our five weeks together. Additionally, this Global Seminar is ideal for students who are eager to enjoy urban life. Amsterdam is walkable, bikeable and it’s easy to use public transit. You may find yourself sitting along a canal or going to the local open-air market to study city life. That is exactly what we want you to do. We hope you join us in Amsterdam!
Information Sessions
- General (choose one):
- Tuesday, Sept. 30, 3:00 - 4:00 pm (Zoom)
- Tuesday, Oct. 28, 3:30-4:30 pm (in-person)
- Program-specific: Monday, November 3rd, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Register here for the live Zoom link, and/or to get the post-session recording.
Dates
| Departure from U.S.: | Sat., June 27, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Arrival: | Sun., June 28, 2026 |
| Mandatory Orientation: | Mon., June 29, 2026 |
| First Day of Class: | Tues., June 30, 2026 |
| Last Day of Class: | Fri., July 31, 2026 |
| Departure for the U.S. (or personal travel): |
Sat., August 1, 2026 |
Flight Information
- You will be responsible for purchasing your own airplane tickets, and your program coordinator will provide guidelines and resources during the pre-departure process to help you find an appropriate flight.
- Do not purchase plane tickets until the program is confirmed. All approved applicants will be notified by e-mail when the program has reached minimum enrollment.
Global Seminar Fees
All fees subject to change. See https://summersession.ucsd.edu/tuition/tuition.html for current tuition and campus-based fees.
| UCSD | Other UC | Non-UC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Cost: (includes $500 administrative fee) |
$TBD | $TBD | $TBD |
| Estimated Tuition and Campus-Based Fees: |
$TBD | $TBD | $TBD |
| Total: (not including airfare or personal expenses) |
$TBD | $TBD | $TBD |
Budget Sheet
- Coming Soon
Funding Options
See the funding options page to learn how financial aid and scholarships can help you pay for this program.
Amsterdam
Extensive walking tours of public spaces, multi-modal transportation network, canal system, and award-winning architectural design projects including social housing and sustainable design:
- Guided boat tour
- Sustainable Amsterdam Walking Tour
- STIPO Amsterdam Office
- Resistance Museum
- Rijksmuseum
- Het Schip Museum
Rotterdam
Home to some of the 21st century’s most architecturally important creations designed by world-renowned contemporary architects like Rem Koolhaus and Sir Norman Foster. As a seaport, the harbors and shipping channels have defined it’s postwar rapid growth and brought with it one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Europe. Rotterdam is also known as a world leader in sustainable design.
- Round trip transportation
- Tours of architectural and planning sites with a focus on design/sustainability
- Visit to Floating Farm
Utrecht
- Round trip train tranportation
- Utrecht University's Green Office
- Tour mobility hub/bike garage at Utrecht Centraal Station
Excursions are subject to change without prior notice. No refunds are possible.
Housing
- TBA
Included Meals
- Welcome and farewell meals
Classroom and Computer Access
- Classroom location TBA
- Students must bring their own laptop
- Wireless access may be intermittent due to local conditions; No refunds or price adjustments are possible
Transportation
- Pick up from the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) during arrival window
- Transportation provided on all group excursions
- A ticket for return transportation to the airport on the departure date is included
Phones
- Students must have a working cell phone for emergency contact purposes while abroad
- Cell phone is not included in the program fee
Insurance, Health, and Safety
- Comprehensive international travel and health insurance package
- An in-depth orientation will be given on the morning after arrival, including health and safety procedures
- Program partner staff will be available by telephone after hours
- All students must register for UC travel insurance. This is free coverage, but registration is required prior to departure
- You are responsible for reading and undertanding the CDC COVID-19 Travel Recommendations
