
Welcome!
Puerto Rico is a United States Territory that serves as a fascinating laboratory to study global development, international planning, sustainability and resilience in the era of climate change. As an archipelago that was once part of the Spanish colonial empire, it offers an unmatched lens to examine the interaction and, at times, clash between U.S. and Latin American culture, politics, economics and social organization. Its location in the Caribbean, which makes it highly susceptible to hurricanes and other natural disasters, also allows students to learn about post-disaster recovery, grassroots organization, state-level responses, and climate adaptation, among other subjects.
The Puerto Rico Planning Studio Study Abroad Program is a 6-credit service-based, experiential learning opportunity that takes place during the Spring semester. It combines in-class learning with student-led projects for Puerto Rican clients. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), coursework involves regular class meetings in Atlanta during the semester with travel to Puerto Rico over Spring Break. In sum, the Program is a great opportunity to learn and experience life in Puerto Rico while also contributing through real-world projects to its recovery and development.
This Program is open to all students and provides elective credits toward various different Minors, including Global Development and Sustainable Cities. It also serves as a Capstone option for the Master’s in City and Regional Planning, and the Master’s of Science in Global Development.
Explore the following pages to learn more about Program:


