Joint Degree in Urban Planning and Law

The dual MUP/JD program recognizes the values of interdisciplinary study and encourages students having an interest in both law and urban planning to pursue these degrees simultaneously. The urban planner who understands legal principles and processes has an advantage in effectuating good planning. Likewise, the real estate, land use, or environmental lawyer who understands the principles and tools of planning has an advantage in representing his or her clients on real property issues. There is a growing set of career pathways involving the integration of planning and law in creative and sophisticated ways.

Students who participate in the dual MUP/JD program may reduce the aggregate credit hour requirement by 21 hours and earn the MUP and JD degrees in approximately four calendar years. Note that individual students may find it necessary to complete some of their coursework during the summer in order to finish both programs in four calendar years.

Curriculum

Students may begin the dual MUP/JD program in either the Master of Urban Planning program or the Brandeis School of Law. In the first year of study, the participating student will follow the full-time academic schedule of the program in which the student enrolls first. In the second year, the student will complete the first-year coursework in the other program.

After completion of first-year curricula in both programs, the student may combine law and urban planning courses during his or her third and fourth years. Careful curriculum planning is required. Some courses in each school are sequenced or have pre-requisites and must be taken in a specific order.

The student must complete all the graduation requirements of each school to be awarded the degree from that school, including upper level required courses in both schools, the Planning Internship and Capstone Studio requirements in urban planning, and the public service requirement in the Brandeis School of Law.

MUP Courses Counting for the JD

The Brandeis School of Law will allow students in the dual MUP/JD program to apply nine credit hours of approved urban planning courses as electives toward the JD degree. Each of these courses will be accepted on a pass/fail basis, provided that the student earn a grade of B or better in the course. The following MUP courses are approved to be counted as electives toward the JD degree:

Additional JD courses may be approved upon petition to the MUP Program Director in the Department of Urban and Public Affairs.

JD Courses Counting for the MUP

The MUP program will allow students in the dual MUP/JD program to apply nine credit hours of approved law courses as electives toward the MUP degree. Each of these courses will be accepted on a pass/fail basis, provided that the student earn a grade of C or better in the course. The following JD courses are approved to be counted as electives toward the MUP degree:

Additional MUP courses may be approved upon petition to the Associate Dean of Student Life at the Brandeis School of Law.

Admissions

A student who wishes to pursue both degrees must submit a separate application and must be admitted to both the Master of Urban Planning program and the Brandeis School of Law. Applicants should be aware that separate admissions tests may be required, and that separate admissions criteria will be applied. A student who is already enrolled in the first year of one program may apply to the other program and, if admitted to that program, begin the first year of the second program in the following academic year.

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 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

Tony Arnold, J.D., Boehl Chair in Property and Land Use
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
Phone: (502) 852-6388
Email: tony.arnold@louisville.edu