Master of Urban & Regional Planning (MURP)

Curriculum

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Total Minimum Hours Required: 48 CREDIT hours

Core Requirements: 27 credit hours

Foundational Core Courses: 15 credit hours
URP 6058 Community Development Planning (3)
URP 6100 Planning Theory and History (3)
URP 6115 Planning Policy and Politics (3)
URP 6316 Land Use Planning (3)
URP 6549 Urban and Metropolitan Economic Development Strategies (3)

Analytical Methods Core Courses: 6 credit hours
URP 6201 Quantitative Analysis (3)
URP 6232 Research Methods for Urban and Regional Planning (3)

Planning Practice and Techniques Core Courses: 6 credit hours
URP 5277 GIS for Urban and Regional Planners (3)
URP 6940 Internship in Urban and Regional Planning (3)
All MURP students are required to complete at least 180 hours of work in a planning agency to earn the 3 credit hours stipulated as part of the core requirements, as listed above. This requirement is waived for students with at least 5 years or more of relevant planning experience.

Elective Requirements: 15-21 credit hours (minimum)

The rest of the required coursework allows our students the opportunity to explore one or more fields of urban & regional planning through approved electives within and outside of the School of Public Affairs. Twelve (12) credit hours of electives (4 courses) must be taken from the Urban & Regional Planning or Public Administration programs. In some cases, an appropriate class from another department may be approved. Depending on personal interest, students may choose coursework in the following areas:

• Housing and Community Development
• Environmental and Natural Resources Policy
• Geographic Information Sciences
• Land Use and Comprehensive Planning
• Transportation Planning

Non-Thesis Track

Non-thesis students must complete all of the 27 credit hour core course requirements and 21 elective credit hours.

Thesis Track

URP 6971 Thesis (6)
Students approved to pursue this option must complete all of the 27 credit hour core course requirements, 15 elective credit hours, and a minimum of 6 credit hours of thesis. The thesis must be completed and approved for the credit to be received.

Comprehensive Exam

This is the default option for the MURP major. All MURP students are required to take this examination towards the end of, or during, the last semester of the major coursework. The examination is waived for students who elect, with the approval of the Program Director, to pursue the thesis option.