Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.)
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning program prepares students for careers that help communities to become more equitable, prosperous, sustainable and resilient. Graduates of the program acquire skills suiting them for employment in public agencies, private firms and non-profit organizations involved in planning and urban development processes at a variety of scales. Beyond the core curriculum, the program offers students opportunities to customize their education by designing a pathway, with their 29 elective credits, to reflect their academic and professional interests within planning, in areas such as: transportation, land use, community development, food systems, environment, or economic development. This degree is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.
Course Requirements
Planning sequence
| USP 540 | History and Theory of Planning | 4 |
| USP 541 | Dynamics of Planning Practice | 3 |
| USP 550 | Participatory Planning | 3 |
Methods sequence
| USP 531 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Planners | 4 |
| USP 533 | Planning Methods I | 4 |
| USP 535 | Planning Methods II | 4 |
| USP 584 | Negotiation in the Public Sector | 4 |
Analytical methods
| USP 515 | Economics: Applications in Urban Studies | 4 |
| USP 525 | Design Analysis in Planning | 2 |
| USP 553 | Legal Processes in Urban Planning | 1 |
Workshops
| USP 558 | Planning Workshop | 9 (3+6) |
| USP 559 | Internship Seminar | 1 |
| | Pathway and Electives | 29 |
Total Credit Hours: 72
Planning Workshop
Planning Workshop is the culminating experience of the MURP program, and required for all students. Students work in teams with clients from around the region on projects that those clients have proposed, and complete all facets of the plan-making process: scoping, research and analysis, community and stakeholder engagement, and plan development. Workshop projects are often implemented by clients to the benefit of their communities.
Field Paper/Project
Students may choose to prepare an original research paper or project in their field of specialization. The research paper or project is meant to demonstrate a student’s ability to integrate and apply material from his or her coursework and is designed in consultation with faculty.
Internship Requirement
MURP students are required to complete 400 hours of planning-related internships during their time in the program. Students with significant professional experience in planning or planning-related fields may obtain a waiver from this requirement, but are nonetheless required to complete
USP 559 Internship Seminar.