Master of Urban Planning requirements
Students in the Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.) program must complete a minimum of 48 credits in the required and elective courses and must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0.
Capstone requirements (7 to 12 credits)
Each student is required to complete two capstone courses: a studio/workshop and a final paper, which may be either UP 7999: Master's Essay (three credits) or UP 8999: Masters Thesis (eight credits).
Students are strongly encouraged to choose the essay and to select a research question pertinent to their area of concentration.
Master's essay guidelines
The department has prepared guidelines to help students start and complete their master's essay. The master's essay provides evidence of the student's ability to independently produce, organize, and complete a substantial piece of professional work for academic credit. As a professional product, the essay should demonstrate the capacity to address a real-world issue or problem relevant to planners.
For available courses, see urban studies and planning course descriptions.
Plan of work
Every student is required to complete a plan of work outlining his or her proposed course of study. Students work with their advisor, generally during their second semester of study, to select the appropriate classes for their area of concentration and capstone requirement. The plan of work may be amended. The advisor, the chair and the college must approve the original plan, as well as any amendments. Students who have completed twelve semester hours will not be allowed to register for additional credits unless their plan of work has been approved.
See the M.U.P. curriculum for a plan of work template. The templates indicate required classes, both general and for each area of concentration, as well as the elective courses for each of the concentrations. If you are not sure which elective courses you want to take, complete as much of the form as you can and contact your advisor to arrange an appointment.