Urban Planning (MUP)

The procedures for admission to the MUP program are as follows:

  1. Submit a completed online graduate application to the University of Louisville, Graduate School. Program candidates may be admitted for fall, spring or summer semesters.
  2. Official transcripts verifying the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution must be submitted to the Graduate School.
  3. A written personal statement is required. The statement should indicate why the applicant wishes to pursue the MUP degree.
  4. Two letters of recommendation are required. Normally, at least one letter should be from someone who can comment on the applicant's academic performance.
  5. GRE scores are recommended, but are not required.
  6. All applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit official TOEFL scores of 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test. English proficiency can also be met by submitting official IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam or official Duolingo overall score of 105.  Students holding a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States may be exempt from this requirement.

An application form can be obtained at the program website. All required application materials must first be submitted to the Graduate School, including the application for admission. Those materials will then be forwarded to the MUP Program for review by the Admissions Committee.

The program will notify the applicant of the Committee's decision.

Program Requirements 

Master of Urban Planning Degree Program

Urban Planning Core Courses18
PLAN 601
Planning Theory and History
PLAN 603
Urban Economics
PLAN 604
Applied Research Methods
PLAN 605
Land Use & Planning Law
PLAN 618
Urban Demography and GIS
PLAN 636
Site Planning
Internship3
PLAN 606
Internship & Professional Practice
Capstone6
PLAN 650
Capstone Studio
Concentration Area (see tab for coursework)9
Other Electives6
Minimum Total Hours42

Juris Doctor/Master of Urban Planning Dual Degree Program

The Brandeis School of Law will allow students in the dual degree program to apply nine (9) credit hours of approved courses in urban planning as electives toward the JD degree. The Brandeis School of Law will accept each of these urban planning courses on a pass/fail basis, provided that the student earn at least a B (3.0) in the course. The following MUP courses are approved to be counted as electives toward the JD degree:

PLAN 601Planning Theory and History3
PLAN 501Urban Environmental Quality3
PLAN 607Land Use Planning3
PLAN 612Mediation and Dispute Resolution3
PLAN 620Environmental Policy3
PLAN 609Public Budgeting and Finance3
PLAN 611Human Resources Management3
PLAN 613Foundations of Public Administration3
PLAN 608Geographic Information Systems3
PLAN 621Urban Infrastructure3
PLAN 624Urban Transportation Planning3
PLAN 617Housing and Community Development3
PLAN 625Historic Preservation and Sustainable Practice3
PLAN 631Real Estate Principles3
PLAN 633Real Estate Development3

Any other MUP course approved by the Associate Dean of Student Life at the Brandeis School of Law, upon individual petition by a dual-degree student.

The urban planning program will allow students in the dual degree program to apply nine (9) credit hours of approved courses in law as electives toward the MUP degree. The urban planning program will accept each of these law courses on a pass/fail basis, provided that the student earn at least a C (2.0) in the course. The following JD courses are approved to be counted as electives toward the MUP degree:

  • LAW 862 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
  • LAW 841 Energy Law
  • LAW 931 Environmental Law
  • LAW 820 Constitutional Law II 
  • LAW 807 PROPERTY II 
  • LAW 902 Real Estate Transactions
  • LAW 839 Water Resources Law and Policy
  • Any other JD course approved by the Director of the MUP Program in the School of Urban and Public Affairs, upon individual petition by a dual degree student.

In addition to the above cross-application of urban planning credits toward the JD degree and of law credits toward the MUP degree, students in the dual degree program shall be required to take UPA 678/PADM 688 Land Use and Planning Law, a three (3) credit hour interdisciplinary course cross-listed in both law and urban planning. Land Use and Planning Law (PADM 688) shall count as a three (3) credit hour graded elective toward the JD degree, and likewise shall count as a three (3) credit hour graded elective toward the MUP degree. To receive MUP credit, the student must earn at least a B (3.0) in the course.

Concentration Requirements

The courses available for each concentration are as follows. Elective and advanced coursework includes nine (9) credits in an area of concentration (with three (3) credits being one required class for the concentration, e.g., PLAN 607 Land Use Planning).

Other courses not listed below may be substituted with the permission of the Program Director.

Administration of Planning and Organizations

Academic Plan Code(s): URPLMUPAPO

PLAN 609Public Budgeting and Finance 13
Select two courses from the following:6
PADM 612
Grantsmanship and Fundraising
PLAN 610
Public Management
PLAN 611
Human Resources Management
PLAN 612
Mediation and Dispute Resolution
PLAN 613
Foundations of Public Administration
Minimum Total Hours9
1

 Course required for concentration

Housing and Community Development

Academic Plan Code(s): URPLMUPHCD

PLAN 617Housing and Community Development 13
Select two courses from the following:6
PLAN 614
Real Estate Market Analysis
PLAN 621
Urban Infrastructure
PLAN 622
Urban Design
PLAN 625
Historic Preservation and Sustainable Practice
PLAN 626
Economic Development
PLAN 631
Real Estate Principles
PLAN 633
Real Estate Development
PLAN 635
Comparative Urban Development
PLAN 637
Netherlands: Policy and Planning
PLAN 651
Urban Design Studio
PLAN 652
Neighborhood Planning Studio
Minimum Total Hours9
1

Course required for concentration

Land Use and Environmental Planning

Academic Plan Code(s): URPLMUPLUE

PLAN 607Land Use Planning 13
Select two courses from the following:6
PLAN 501
Urban Environmental Quality
PLAN 608
Geographic Information Systems
or GEOG 558
 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
PLAN 612
Mediation and Dispute Resolution
PLAN 620
Environmental Policy
PLAN 621
Urban Infrastructure
PLAN 622
Urban Design
PLAN 623
Environmental Policy and Natural Hazards
PLAN 624
Urban Transportation Planning
PLAN 635
Comparative Urban Development
PLAN 651
Urban Design Studio
PLAN 652
Neighborhood Planning Studio
PLAN 680
Special Topics in Urban Planning
Minimum Total Hours9
1

Course required for concentration

Spatial Analysis for Planning

Academic Plan Code(s): URPLMUPSAP

PLAN 619Urban Geographic Information Systems Applications 13
Select two courses from the following:6
PLAN 614
Real Estate Market Analysis
PLAN 615
Spatial Statistics
PLAN 616
Analytical Urban Geography
PLAN 618
Urban Demography and GIS
PLAN 621
Urban Infrastructure
PLAN 624
Urban Transportation Planning
PLAN 628
Economic Conditions and Forecasting
Minimum Total Hours9
1

Course required for concentration

The Master of Urban Planning program prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure.  If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree.

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website:  https://louisville.edu/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: http://louisville.edu/online/About-Us (please scroll down near the bottom of the page and click on the licensing disclosures tab).