Master of Urban Planning

Program Overview

Students in the MUP program include both recent college graduates and experienced professionals pursuing an advanced degree. Many of our students are employed full or part-time in related fields. Previous work experience is not a requirement for admissions and the curriculum facilitates practical training for students who have little professional experience. Graduates of the MUP program are prepared to pursue a wide range of jobs across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

The typical program length is two years for full time students and four years for part time students. On average, 86% of recent graduates obtained fulltime employment in a planning position within 12 months of graduation.

Most MUP courses that are delivered in a traditional classroom setting are offered during the evening. Some courses meet during late afternoon timeslots or on weekends. A handful of MUP courses are a hybrid format (reduced meeting times with an online component) and others are offered entirely online. The flexibility in coursework serves the needs of both our in-service and pre-service students.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Urban and Regional Planning jobs are projected to grow at 11% from 2018-2028, which is much faster than average. MUP graduates are prepared to work in a wide variety of fields, including land use and environmental planning, housing and community development, real estate development, parks and recreation planning, economic development, urban design, historic preservation, transportation planning, regional planning, and geospatial analysis.

Curriculum

The MUP degree requires a minimum of 42 credit hours for completion, including 21 credit hours (7 classes) of core courses that includes an internship/practicum, 6 hours of capstone studio, and 15 credit hours (5 classes) of electives. The MUP is a professional terminal degree program intended to train current and future planning practitioners. Students will have the opportunity to develop proficiency in the following areas: land use and environmental planning, urban design, historic preservation, real estate development, economic development planning, and geographic information systems.

For detailed information on the courses required and available for the Masters of Urban Planning, consult the UofL Graduate Catalog.

The Planning Capstone Studio is the culminating experience in the Masters of Urban Planning program. Capstone projects are developed by the students and faculty in the course, in cooperation with community members, Louisville Metro representatives, and other stakeholders. The Capstone is an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge they've gained in their prior coursework to a practical problem within the Louisville area. To see Planning Capstone Studio projects from prior years, click here.

The Neighborhood Planning Studio course is offered to Master of Urban Planning and other interested students on a regular basis. Under direction of the faculty instructor, students prepare a general or specific plan for a Louisville neighborhood, typically in coordination with neighborhood association members or other relevant officials. The Neighborhood Planning Studio allows enrolled students a first-hand look at a particular aspect of the planning process. The 2016 Neighborhood Plan -- created for the Clifton neighborhood -- won the "Outstanding Student Project" award from the Kentucky chapter of the American Planning Association. To see Neighborhood Planning Studio projects from prior years, click here.

Concentrations

In addition to the core courses listed above, students may choose to focus their coursework within one of the two concentration areas. Choosing to complete a concentration is optional and includes 15 elective hours for the concentration. The available concentrations are *Community Development* and *Sustainability*. Please check the MUP Student Guide for more information for each concentration.

For full information on the courses required for each of the concentrations, see the UofL Graduate Catalog.

Practicum/Internship

The MUP degree requires an internship or practicum in addition to coursework. Because the MUP is a professional degree, the degree holder is expected to understand the theories of planning, possess the technical skills needed for professional planning practice, and demonstrate the ability to put theory and practice together in the internship/practicum course, PLAN 606. The internship/practicum should be completed during the second fall term of enrollment.

Both the internship and practicum require a miminum of 200 hours of professional practice and a paper that applies theory and best practices to the student’s professional experience. For pre-service students, internships are available in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. The program director will assist the student in identifying appropriate internship opportunities. It is the responsibility of the student to then apply for and secure the position.

The practicum is designed for the in-service student. All students currently working in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors will have an opportunity to complete a special project within their organization to satisfy this requirement.

Students preparing for the internship or practicum should meet with the MUP Program Director one full semester prior to enrolling in PLAN 606 Internship/Professional Practice. For more information, refer to the MUP Internship/Practicum Handbook.

Admissions

The MUP program has a rolling admissions policy; the admission decision is made as soon as the application package is complete. Students may begin in any semester, but beginning the program in the fall semester ensures the program can be completed on schedule.

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. There is no preferred bachelor’s degree. MUP students come from a diverse educational background including the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. A completed application form, a transcript of all undergraduate and graduate course work, a statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation are required. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are recommended, but are not required. Applicants whose native language is not English and who do not hold a degree from a university where the language of instruction is English must submit the results from an English proficiency exam. The minimum acceptable scores are 105 for Duolingo English, 80 for TOEFL, and 6.5 for IELTS.

Tuition/Financial Aid

Current tuition rates for University of Louisville students are here.

Tuition for Kentucky residents for academic year 2022-2023 is $7,872 per semester for full-time (9 or more credit hours) or $875 per credit hour. Tuition for out-of-state residents is $15,070 per semester for full-time or $1,675 per credit hour.

The Department of Urban & Public Affairs offers limited, partial tuition scholarships funding for incoming MUP students based on merit and for persons from historically underrepresented groups. Students wanting to be considered for scholarship funding should plan to submit a completed application packet by January 31. All applications are considered for funding. Students are encouraged to speak to their merit, need, and/or status as a member of a historically underrepresented group in their personal statement.

The University also offers financial support for graduate students. Interested students should check the Graduate School Financial Support website regularly for financial aid opportunities.

MUP Program Faculty

The core MUP faculty cover a range of disciplinary concentrations, and serve as the governing body for official MUP business and initiatives. Note that other UPA faculty also teach courses within which MUP students are likely to enroll.

C. Tony Arnold, Professor of Law
Lisa Bjorkman, Associate Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Danie DeCaro, Associate Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Patrick Exmeyer, Assistant Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
John I. Gilderbloom, Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Frank Goetzke, Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Lauren Heberle, Professor of Sociology
David Imbroscio, Professor of Political Science and Urban and Public Affairs
Steve Koven, Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Jeeson Oh, Assistant Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Aaron Rollins, Associate Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Matthew H. Ruther, Associate Professor of Urban and Public Affairs
Margath Walker, Professor of Geography
Sumei Zhang, Professor of Urban and Public Affairs

Contact

Sumei (May) Zhang, Ph.D., AICP, Program Director
Phone: (502) 852-7915
Email: sumei.zhang@louisville.edu

Public Information