The graduate program leading to a degree of Master in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) is committed to preparing students for professional planning careers in both the private and public sectors and seeks to develop both general planning knowledge and specific skills for practice. The program provides students with an advanced understanding of environment-, economy- and society-related planning issues using scientific, social scientific or humanistic approaches. Current faculty research and teaching expertise covers a wide range of planning subjects including urban design; land use planning; land use law; housing; community, economic and real estate development; natural resources; research methods; international development; transportation; technology; environmental planning; and public policy. The MURP degree is a nationally accredited degree and admits students with a variety of academic backgrounds. Ideal students are those with strong intellectual ability; good written and verbal communication skills; basic statistical methods and have demonstrated a proven potential for leadership in the field of urban and regional planning.
A student entering the graduate program in urban and regional planning is expected to concentrate, under faculty guidance, on studies that provide an optimum learning experience in applying the various scientific principles, theories, techniques, and design skills of planning to specific field problems. The graduate student is immersed in significant planning studies and research. The graduate program is designed to provide professional competence. After graduation, the student should be capable of assuming responsibilities on an intermediate level of a professional planning operation. The master's program in Urban and Regional Planning has been accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
To be admitted to the master’s degree program, the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution; a cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0; a grade-point average below 3.0 may be supplemented with a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 1000 in verbal and quantitative, and an analytical writing score of 3.5. Students who are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must submit scores.
Requirements for the Master in Urban and Regional Planning Degree in Urban and Regional Planning
The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis). The student must complete at least 43 credits and meet the requirements specified below:
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| Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B |
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| 1. |
Urban planning core courses (25 credits): |
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UP |
801 |
Planning History and Theory |
3 |
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UP |
814 |
Methods for Investigation of Urban Systems |
3 |
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UP |
823 |
Planning Process and Development Review |
3 |
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UP |
824 |
Geographic Information Systems for Planning |
3 |
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UP |
854 |
Economics of Planning and Development |
3 |
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UP |
855 |
Environmental Planning and Climate Change |
3 |
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UP |
865 |
Planning and Development Law and Ethics |
3 |
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UP |
894 |
Planning Practicum |
4 |
| 2. |
Electives: In addition to the core courses, all students complete 12 credits of electives from UP courses at the 400-level and above. |
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| Additional Requirements for Plan A: |
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| 1. |
Students will complete the following two courses in a two-step process by enrolling in 2 credits of UP 889 Master’s Research with their major faculty advisor who will chair their research before they can enroll in 4 credits of UP 899 Master’s Thesis Research or additional elective course work usually in their second year. A maximum of 6 credits combined can be taken in UP 889 and UP 899. |
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| Additional Requirements for Plan B: |
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| 1. |
Six additional credits in two courses approved by the student's academic advisor. |
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Pass a final evaluation. |
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Academic Standards
Academic standards for graduation require that each student maintain an average of 3.00, or better, in all course work, including study undertaken in collateral courses; however, the accumulation of grades below 3.0 in more than two courses of 3 or more credits each removes the student from the degree program.
Transfer Credits
A maximum of 13 transfer credits at the 400 or 800-level may be accepted toward the Master in Urban and Regional Planning degree.
Time Limit
The time limit for completing the degree is six years from the first semester of enrollment in the program.