Balance of perspective between principal and reality

[Yadusky]

I'm an acquisition and development manager for a medium (top-10) developer/builder in North Carolina with about three years under my belt as such covering everything from market research to rezonings, stormwater designs and home form innovations.
I've come to see the follies in some of the people I admire who delve too deeply into either nerdy detail OR ideological broad-stroking to the point of disregarding the other.

Of course, I live very close to UNC Chapel Hill, but I don't know if they balance principal with detail; of if there is one emphasized above the other.

I'd like to hear from an alumnus or student, if possible! Thank You All.

[Yadusky]

Perhaps I should refine the verbage of my question:

Obviously a lot of planning schools have a design element which, so far as I understand, will not be the dominant theme at UNC by any stretch.
But, is there a reasonable interaction with technical detail inside otherwise theoretical curricula, or is it essentially 100% policy, 0% design?