Master of Urban Planning

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The Master of Urban Planning (MUP) is a professional degree program within the College of Arts and Sciences that provides students with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of urban and regional planning. It enables students to be competitive for technical positions and build skills to move into administrative positions. The Master of Urban Planning plays an integral role in the University's urban/metropolitan mission through practical application. The MUP Program was re-accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) in 2016 and is recognized by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).

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, 79% 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. Information on program outcomes that is required for accreditation can be accessed here.

Curriculum

The MUP degree requires a minimum of 42 credit hours for completion, 21 credit hours of core courses that includes an internship/practicum, 6 hours of capstone, and 15 elective hours. 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. MUP courses required of all students consist of the following:

Concentrations

In addition to the core courses listed above, students may choose to focus their coursework within one of the three concentrations listed below. Choosing to complete a concentration is optional and includes a minimum of nine credit hours. Below is a list of selected elective courses that meet the requirements of the different concentrations -- courses in boldface are required for the concentration. Other courses besides those listed below may be counted towards completing a concentration at the discretion of the Program Director. See the MUP Student Guide for additional information.

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 student advisor 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 Advisor or 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 complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 79 on the Internet-based test.

Tuition/Financial Aid

Current tuition rates for University of Louisville students are here .

Tuition for Kentucky residents for academic year 2020-2021 is $7,530 per semester for full-time (9 or more credit hours) or $837 per credit hour. Tuition for out-of-state residents is $14,587 per semester for full-time or $1,621 per credit hour.

The Department of Urban and Public Affairs has limited scholarship funding for MUP students. The amount of the funding varies from year to year, but is typically about $1,000 per semester. Scholarship awards are highly competitive. Scholarship decisions are made in the late spring for the upcoming fall semester. Students wanting to apply for the scholarship should plan to have a complete application packet by April 1 and should contact the program director for more information.

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

Contact

David M. Simpson, Ph.D., AICP, Program Director
Phone: (502) 852-8019
Email: david.simpson@louisville.edu