This advanced course critically examines the historical and theoretical foundations of urban planning, exploring key ideas, models, and debates that shape the discipline. Drawing selectively from planning theory and history, it engages students in fundamental questions of planning practice, governance, and urban transformation across diverse economic, social, and geopolitical contexts. Through comparative analysis, students will critically assess planning traditions in both Western industrialized nations and rapidly urbanizing regions like China. The course also emphasizes the role of research methodologies in urban studies, fostering visionary and imaginative approaches to contemporary spatial planning challenges.