Program Overview

Introduction to the B.S./B.A. in Urban Ecology + MCMP Program

The B.S./B.A. in Urban Ecology + MCMP is a "4+1" program that allows eligible students to complete both a Bachelor's in Urban Ecology and a Master's of City & Metropolitan Planning (MCMP) in five years. This program combines the strengths of both degrees, preparing students to think ecologically in guiding the growth and development of cities and regions.

Program Description

The B.S./B.A. in Urban Ecology involves the study of the relationships between humans and nature in urban environments, emphasizing the interrelationships among social, environmental, and economic systems. The Master of City & Metropolitan Planning focuses on the key competencies of technical literacy, ethical inquiry, inclusive community engagement, ecological thinking, and physical planning and design.

Admission Criteria

To be admitted to the 4+1 program, students must first meet current University of Utah undergraduate admission standards, be accepted into the B.S./B.A. Urban Ecology major, and be in good standing within the major. Students must apply for admission during the spring semester of their junior year, having completed at least 75 undergraduate credit hours. Applicants must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.4 and demonstrated excellent performance in at least six of the B.S./B.A. Urban Ecology required core courses.

Program Requirements

Students admitted into the 4+1 program will work with an academic advisor to plan out their program of study for the 4th and 5th years. The program requires:

• Completion of the B.S./B.A. Urban Ecology degree requirements, including three MCMP core courses (at the 5000-level) that count as B.S./B.A. Urban Ecology electives
• An additional 30 graduate-level credit hours in the 5th year, satisfying the remaining MCMP core requirements, plus six credit hours of 6000-level electives

Degree Requirements

Upon completion of the program, students receive two degrees:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Ecology
• Master of City & Metropolitan Planning Degree

General Education and Elective Requirements

The program requires 62 credit hours of general education and elective courses, including:

• Design Foundations Requirements (9 credit hours)
  • CMP 2010 – Design Ecologies (3 credits)
  • ARCH 2630 – Design Foundation Workshop (3 credits)
  • DES 2630 – Design Contexts (3 credits)

Urban Ecology Major Requirements

The program requires 33 credit hours of Urban Ecology major courses, including:

• CMP 3100 – Planning Theory and Practice (3 credits)
• CMP 3200 – Ecology of Human Settlements (3 credits)
• CMP 3270 – Visual and Oral Communication (3 credits)
• CMP 3400 – Economy of Cities (3 credits)
• CMP 4010 – Field Studies in Urban Ecology I (3 credits)
• CMP 4020 – Field Studies in Urban Ecology II (3 credits)
• CMP 4260 – Land, Law & Culture (3 credits)
• CMP 4280 – Ecological Planning Workshop (3 credits)
• CMP 4450 – GIS for Urban Ecologists (3 credits)
• CMP 4600 – The Just City (3 credits)
• CMP 4954 – Urban Ecology in Action (3 credits)

Urban Ecology Electives

The program requires 9 credit hours of Urban Ecology electives, chosen from the approved list of Urban Ecology Electives at the 3000 level and above.

MCMP Core Courses

The program requires 33 credit hours of MCMP core courses, including:

• CMP 5610 – Urban Ecology (3 credits)
• CMP 5160 – Plan Making (3 credits)
• CMP 5010 – Community & Regional Analysis (3 credits)
• CMP 6100 – Urban & Planning Theory (3 credits)
• CMP 6260 – Land Use Law (3 credits)
• CMP 6322 – City & Metropolitan Economics (3 credits)
• CMP 6430 – Community Engagement in Planning (3 credits)
• CMP 6455 – Advanced GIS Applications (3 credits)
• CMP 6280 – Graduate Workshop (3 credits)
• CMP 6970 – Professional Project I (3 credits)
• CMP 6971 – Professional Project II (3 credits)

MCMP Electives

The program requires 6 credit hours of MCMP electives, chosen from 6000-level CMP courses.

Total Credit Hours

The total credit hours required for the program is 152 credit hours.