The Curriculum for the Master of Urban Planning Program is divided into a set of core courses required of all students, and courses that deepen student knowledge and skills in specializations in planning. The core courses respond to our values and the requirements of the Planning Accreditation Board of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning and the American Planning Association. The specializations respond to our strategic plan and the interests and strengths of the faculty in the Department.

Core Curriculum
Theory/history/ethics are interwoven throughout the curriculum; in addition, there is a selective requirement fulfilled by one of several courses offered in history and theory/history/ethics.

Methods requirements include courses in statistics, planning methods, an advanced methods course, graphics communication, and a practical research course to assist students in developing thesis/professional projects.

Substantive knowledge requirements include courses that survey the practice of planning, urban form, comprehensive planning and regulation, and planning law.

Synthesis skills requirements are fulfilled by a first year studio with its associated studio preparation course, an advanced studio and a thesis or professional project under the supervision of a faculty committee.

Core Courses

First Year

• 479 The Urban Form
• 500 Survey of Urban Planning
• 501 Comprehensive Planning and Implementation
• 503 Communication and Analysis
• 506 Planning Studio Prep
• 507 General Urban Planning Laboratory
• 510 Theories and Methodologies of Planning
• 520 Quantitative Methods in Urban Design and Planning
• 580 Legal and Administrative Framework

Second Year

• 512 Research Seminar
• 700 Master's Thesis or Professional Project

Restricted Electives (Selectives)

• Advanced Methods
• Urban Development/Economics
• History/Theory/Ethics of Planning
• Studio, Year 2: A laboratory-type course involving a team effort in problem solving in UrbDP. May be in area of specialization.

Specializations
Certificate Programs in Urban Design and in Historic Preservation: Students can take advantage of these two ongoing College-wide programs which offer well-defined in-depth knowledge and skills in these areas.

Real Estate: A new program offered through the Department that capitalizes on new faculty and the growing research of the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies.

Land Use and Infrastructure: An in-house specialization that incorporates current thinking on the essential connections between land use and infrastructure planning.

Environmental Planning: A new in-house specialization which takes advantage of the Interdisciplinary Urban Ecology Program and our courses in Natural Hazards Mitigation.

For further information on the MUP click here.
For MUP application information click here.