Founded in 1965, the school of urban planning at the University of Tehran is the first academic institution in this field established in Iran. This institution in its initial form offered a post-graduate course. Later and again for the first time in the country, the University of Tehran offered its doctoral program in urban planning and studies in 1991. With pressing needs for qualified urban planners in governmental and non-governmental organizations and municipalities, the bachelor of urban planning program was introduced in 1999. This program prepares the ground for introducing qualified graduates to post-graduate courses both in practice and academia.