Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

Our program

• Focuses on full-time, in-person master’s degree students, pursuit of paid internships, real-world projects, and compassion for self and others. Part-time study is possible.
• Offers subject matter that reflects the state-of-the-art of policy planning and analysis, planning education, and planning practice.
• Provides a curriculum flexible enough to respond 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.

Specializations

• Our program allows students to not only gain a general understanding of urban planning but also to specialize in:
  • Housing and development planning.
  • Sustainable land use planning.
  • Transportation planning.
• You can specialize in a specific area of interest or choose a broader focus.
• Our curriculum results in graduates who are versatile and sought after by employers.

Housing and development planning

• Within the broad profession of planning, many planners choose to work in the area of housing and community development.
• They pursue careers in neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing development, and local economic development.
• They are employed in the private sector by real estate developers and real estate lenders, in the non-profit sector by community development corporations, and in the public sector by housing authorities and state housing finance agencies, plus many other organizations and firms.  
• The housing and development specialization prepares planners to contribute to the profession in this area with an array of courses that address the theories and policies that drive the many housing and community development programs administered at the federal, state, and local levels.  
• The courses also address the methods of market analysis and project feasibility pursued in the field.  
• Courses address what works and does not work in the field so as the better utilize scarce resources to achieve success.
• Students are prepared on how to achieve greater social justice in our cities and neighborhoods.

Sustainable land use planning

• Planners look out for the long term consequences of current decisions and sustainable land use planners do this by focusing on how we make use of land and other natural resources.
• Humans, other animals, and plants cannot help but occupy space and there is only so much to go around.
• Sustainable land use planning seeks to make the best use of that space balancing the competing values of equity, ecology, economy, and quality of life for today and tomorrow.
• Sustainable land use planners study human and natural systems to provide guidance and recommend policies and designs to decision makers for the long-term viability of communities.
• Common careers for sustainable land use planners include working for cities and counties creating visions for the future and managing day-to-day development based on long range plans.
• Those same sorts of skills are sought by consulting firms who hire planners to then work with public sector planners, developers, or property owners.  
• Sustainable land use planners also work for regional, state, or federal level agencies and governments often in the areas of air or water quality. In addition, they can work in the real estate development field.  
• Sustainable land use planning is a flexible specialization as it forms the foundation for transportation, housing, and development.

Transportation planning

• Transportation is an integral element of urban life.
• Transportation networks facilitate the movement of people and goods, while also having a considerable impact on urban form and the creation of socioeconomic spaces.
• Transportation occurs at the intersection of planning and politics, and resulting decisions can have resounding impacts throughout a city and region. Issues faced by transportation planners are increasingly complex and interdisciplinary, which require a diverse skillset to address.  
• Students in this concentration will develop skills in data analysis, technology, policy development, and design as it relates to transportation planning.
• The transportation planning focus area prepares students for professional work in transportation related entities at local, regional and national levels, and in private firms which are engaged in transportation planning.