Program: Urban Planning MUP - University at Buffalo

Mar 31, 2025

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

The two-year Master of Urban Planning degree provides students with the knowledge, skills and experience to become a professional planner. The MUP program is built around a core curriculum, general electives, a planning studio, a departmental colloquium, and a culminating professional project or thesis. Our program is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. Graduates of our program find diverse job opportunities in government agencies, international agencies, development authorities, nonprofit organizations, community groups, land development firms and consulting companies.

Required Core (28 credits)

URP 501SEM - Evolution of Urban Structure Credits: 3
URP 510LEC - Plng Concepts & Controver Credits: 3
URP 512LLB - Research Methods in Plng Credits: 3
URP 538SEM - Economic Concepts and Contexts for Planning Credits: 3
URP 573SEM - Environmental Land Use and Physical Planning Credits: 3
URP 581LLB - Planning Practicum Credits: 6
URP 582LLB - Planning Practicum 2 Credits: 6
URP 691DIS - Colloquium in Urban Planning Credits: 1

Professional Competency (6 credits)

Select 2 professional competency courses, each from a different category, listed below:

Electives (12-15 credits)

Students must take:

At least 2 Group A electives.
Remainder of electives can include any combination of competency courses, group A elective courses, and group B elective courses.
Alternatively, students can fulfill the elective requirements with an advanced certificate in Affordable Housing.
Students can take up to 6 credits outside of the department with permission from the chair.

Group A Electives (6 Credits)

Economic Development Planning

URP 522SEM - Economic Development Planning Credits: 3
URP 525SEM - Financing Development Projects 1 Credits: 3

Environmental and Land Use Planning

URP 568SEM - Environmental Planning and Policy Credits: 3
URP 578SEM - Environmental Planning Methods for Sustainability Credits: 3

Transportation and Planning

Community Food Systems and Health

URP 605SEM - Built Environment and Health Credits: 3
URP 604SEM - Food Systems Planning Credits: 3

Housing, Neighborhood Planning and Community Development

URP 542LEC - Central City Revitalizatn Credits: 3
URP 606SEM - Housing and Community Development Credits: 3
URP 541LEC - Nonprofit Management Credits: 3
URP 520SEM - Affordable Housing in Policy Practice Credits: 3

Urban Design and Physical Planning

URP 565LEC - Urban Design: Understanding Urban Form Credits: 3
URP 566LEC - Urban Design: Built Environment Case Studies Credits: 3

Global and International Planning

URP 563SEM - Cities and Globalization Credits: 3
END 557SEM - Creative Problem Solving for Global Environments Credits: 3

Group B Electives

Site Planning and Real Estate

URP 503LEC - Strategies of Property Management Credits: 3
URP 525SEM - Financing Development Projects 1 Credits: 3
URP 515SEM - Design for Real Estate Development Credits: 3 *if not taken in section Category 2: Design
END 500SEM - Processes of Real Estate Development Credits: 3
URP 526SEM - Site Planning & Design Credits: 3

Transportation

URP 562LEC - Transp Land Use & Urb Frm Credits: 3
CIE 500LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3

Planning Process

Historic Preservation

URP 528LEC - Foundations of Historic Preservation Credits: 3
URP 529LEC - Documentation and Field Methods in Historic Preservation Credits: 3

Environmental

URP 558SEM - Design for Inclusive Environments Credits: 3
URP 511SEM - Urban Planning Information Systems and Analysis Credits: 3
URP 505LEC - Urban Planng & Env Change Credits: 3
URP 523SEM - Special Topics Credits: 3

Global/International

URP 576SEM - Comp Intrntl Dvlpmnt Plng Credits: 3

Internship/Independent Study

Students can apply for up to 3 credits of intership and up to 3 credits of independent study.

URP 545TUT - Internship Credits: 1 - 6
URP 599TUT - Independent Study Credits: 1 - 8
END 599TUT - Environmental Design Independent Study Credits: 1 - 4

Culminating Experience (3-6 credits)

Master’s Thesis Track

URP 698TUT - Masters Thesis Prepartn Credits: 3
URP 699TUT - Masters Thesis Credits: 1 - 6

Master’s Project Track

URP 697TUT - Masters Project Credits: 3

Total Credit Hours: 52

3.0 Degree GPA required

Instruction Method

In Person (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Full Time
Part Time

Credits Required

52 Hours

Time-To-Degree

2 Years

Application Fee

$75

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.

Urban Planning MUP