Program: Urban Planning MUP - University at Buffalo - Modern Campus Catalog™

Apr 09, 2025

WORKING 2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

The two-year Master of Urban Planning equips students with interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and experience to become professional planners. The curriculum includes two studios, electives, and a project or thesis. Emphasizing urban sustainability and social justice, the program covers land use, environmental planning, housing, transportation, urban design, historic preservation, economic development, health and food systems, and global development. The program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. Our alumni work in government agencies, nonprofits and private firms worldwide.

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:

1: GIS

URP 569SEM - GIS Applications Credits: 3

2: Design

URP 515SEM - Design for Real Estate Development Credits: 3
or
ARC 631SEM - Design for Real Estate Development Credits: 3
URP 517LEC - Graphic Communc Urbn Plng Credits: 3
URP 565LEC - Urban Design: Understanding Urban Form Credits: 3

3: Group Process

URP 508SEM - Race, Class, Gender and the City Credits: 3
URP 577LEC - Plng Techniques in Action Credits: 3
URP 509LEC - Qualit Methods for Plng Credits: 3

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

SED Statement

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