Program Overview

Master of Urban and Regional Planning / Public Policy

The M.U.R.P./M.P.P. Dual Degree is a student-initiated dual degree in the programs of Public Policy and Urban and Regional Planning. Students interested in urban policy and in state and local policy in subjects such as economic development, transportation, regional development, and housing are well-suited for this program. The dual degree also trains students interested in community-based approaches to social change; in implementation of plans and policy at the local level; and in leadership of nonprofit organizations working to improve communities.

Course of Study

Students admitted to the combined program are required to complete the first year courses in one school during the first year and to complete the first year courses at the other school in the second year. Students may begin at either school. During the third year of the program, students are permitted to elect courses in either school and are generally not restricted in their choices beyond fulfilling the required course work.

Degree Requirements

The M.U.R.P./M.P.P. degree is an 80-credit-hour program that can be completed within three years. The M.P.P. and the M.U.R.P. each require 48 credits; 16 credits may be double-counted, according to the guidelines. Students must meet the specific requirements of both degrees.

Urban and Regional Planning

• 48 approved credit hours
• All core program courses
• A minimum of 30 hours must be in graduate-level urban planning courses
• No more than 8 hours may be counted from among individual study-type courses

Public Policy

• 23 credit hours required for first-year courses
• 10 credit hours of required electives
• Summer internship
• Participation in the Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE)
• 15 credit hours of electives
• Students must complete 80 combined credit hours

Coordinated Requirements

The statistics, other methods courses, and economics in public policy meet the requirements for economics in urban and regional planning and at least part of the requirement for quantitative methods for urban and regional planning. Public policy students are often waived out of the municipal budgeting course in urban and regional planning if they have taken a series of courses in public policy that cover similar material. A student who prefers to fulfill a requirement in urban and regional planning through other courses should consult with the faculty member for that urban and regional planning course or the program chair.

Admission Requirements

Students must file separate applications to and be admitted by both schools. An application fee must accompany each application. Students will work with the academic advisors in both schools to determine which program is best to start with the first year.