Master of Urban Planning (MUP)
Save the world, be a planner. The Master of Urban Planning is an accredited, professional degree oriented towards excellence for planning practice. A master's degree is the normal academic qualification for planning and planning-related positions. Our graduates excel in careers in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Why urban planning at KU?
The urban planning program is an accredited, two-year master’s degree program within the School of Public Affairs & Administration. We have a long history of training planners for successful, rewarding careers. Our combination of dedicated and knowledgeable professors and instructors, engaged and talented students, and real-world planning opportunities available in and around Lawrence, Kansas City, and Topeka make us confident you will have an empowering experience as a student at KU.
Urban planning will prepare you to strengthen communities and inspire hope for the future as you learn how to identify and solve problems related to people and nature living next to one another. A degree in urban planning will put you on track to make the world a better place with career opportunities in sustainability, transportation, housing, community building, environmental conservation, governance, non-profits, advocacy, and more.
Our program
- Requires completion of 42 credit hours, typically taken over two academic years of full-time study. Part-time study is possible.
- Focuses on in-person learning, pursuit of paid internships, real-world projects, and compassion for self and others.
- Offers subject matter that reflects the state-of-the-art of policy planning and analysis, planning education, and planning practice.
- Provides a curriculum that responds to the emerging needs of society and the planning profession.
- Gives students applied skills needed for entry-level professional positions, as well as the fundamentals of theory and methods that will enable them to move up to higher positions or pursue advanced study.
- Assists students in developing personal qualities essential to be an effective professional planner, such as creativity, judgment, integrity, initiative, and the ability to work amicably and effectively with others.
- Gives students a general understanding of urban planning and deeper application within professional areas of housing and development, sustainable land use, transportation, and multidisciplinary planning. Learn more about the MUP curriculum in the Academic Catalog or learn more about the careers, skills, and projects students gain through each of the program's topic areas below:
Careers:
- Neighborhood revitalization.
- Affordable housing development.
- Local economic development.
- Private sector by real estate developers and real estate lenders.
- Non-profit sector by community development corporations.
- Public sector by housing authorities and state housing finance agencies, plus many other organizations and firms.
Key Skills:
- Policy analysis of federal, state, and local housing programs.
- Market analysis and project feasibility studies.
- Strategic use of resources for effective housing solutions.
- Understanding of social equity and justice in urban development.
- Collaboration with diverse stakeholders across sectors.
Typical Projects:
- Designing and evaluating affordable housing developments.
- Leading neighborhood improvement initiatives.
- Conducting housing needs assessments and community engagement.
- Developing mixed-use or transit-oriented developments.
- Advising on funding and policy mechanisms for housing programs.
Careers:
- City and county planning departments (land use, zoning, long-range planning).
- Environmental and resource management agencies (air/water quality, conservation).
- Regional, state, or federal agencies.
- Private consulting firms.
- Real estate development companies.
Key Skills:
- Land use planning that integrates environmental, economic, and social priorities.
- Policy development for sustainable growth and resource management.
- Systems thinking to understand and plan for interactions between human and natural systems.
- Community engagement and balancing competing land use needs.
- Visioning and scenario planning for future land use.
Typical Projects:
- Creating comprehensive or regional land use plans.
- Advising on zoning and development regulations.
- Designing green infrastructure or climate-resilient communities.
- Conducting land suitability or environmental impact assessments.
- Developing sustainability metrics and growth management strategies.
Careers:
- Public agencies at city, regional, state, or federal levels (e.g., departments of transportation, MPOs).
- Private consulting firms specializing in mobility, transit, or infrastructure.
- Nonprofits and research institutes focused on transportation equity or innovation.
Key Skills:
- Data analysis for travel behavior, traffic patterns, and accessibility.
- Technology and GIS applications in transportation systems.
- Transportation policy and finance.
- Design and planning of multimodal systems (transit, biking, walking, driving).
- Interdisciplinary coordination across infrastructure, environment, and social policy.
Typical Projects:
- Designing transit networks or mobility hubs.
- Conducting traffic impact or transportation equity studies.
- Planning bike/pedestrian infrastructure and complete streets.
- Modeling transportation scenarios for land use plans.
- Supporting transportation funding strategies or grant proposals.
Careers:
- Urban and regional planning agencies with integrated teams.
- Cross-sector consulting firms (land use, transportation, housing, environment).
- Nonprofit organizations addressing community development, equity, or sustainability.
- Research institutions and think tanks focused on policy and planning solutions.
- Private sector firms involved in large-scale development or resilience planning.
- Intergovernmental organizations and foundations supporting urban innovation.
Key Skills:
- Systems thinking to integrate diverse planning disciplines and stakeholder needs.
- Collaborative leadership across professional domains and community groups.
- Policy analysis that accounts for interrelated social, economic, and environmental factors.
- Data integration and scenario planning using GIS, modeling, and visualization tools.
- Strategic communication to align planners, decision-makers, and the public.
Typical Projects:
- Developing comprehensive or integrated regional plans that address land use, housing, transportation, and climate.
- Leading resilience and adaptation planning efforts for climate-impacted communities.
- Conducting equity assessments that cut across transportation, housing, and health.
- Coordinating interagency planning initiatives with overlapping jurisdictions and priorities.
- Designing public engagement processes that unite technical and community perspectives.
Accelerated degree programs
The urban planning program offers accelerated master's degrees between planning and other University departments. These accelerated master's programs allow well-qualified students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years, rather than the six years it would take to earn each degree separately.
Dual degree programs
The urban planning program offers dual degrees between planning and other University departments. Each of these dual degree programs allows a student to earn two KU degrees while reducing the number of hours required to complete each of those degrees.
Graduation Rates and Employment Information
Learn more about this program
Get more info on admission, deadlines, tuition and financial aid, career paths, curriculum, and more when you fill out the form below. We’ll be in touch to answer any questions and help you get started.
Questions about the MUP?
Program and admission information
Cari Ann Kreienhop, Graduate Programming Manager
cak@ku.edu
785-864-3665
Internship & professional development
Cari Ann Kreienhop, Graduate Programming Manager
cak@ku.edu
785-864-3665
Issues submitting application
KU Graduate Studies
graduateadm@ku.edu
785-864-3140