photo: campus gates at Washington Square Hall entrance

Master of Urban Planning Degree Requirements

The program leading to the degree of Master of Urban Planning (MUP) consists of 48 semester units of coursework, normally requiring the equivalent of two years full-time graduate student to complete. In addition, students without prior planning experience complete a professional work experience requirement.

Note: Students who entered the program prior to Spring 2008 are subject to the requirements in place when they were admitted to the program. If students have any questions about this, they are encouraged to contact the Graduate Advisor, Asha Weinstein Agrawal.

Course Requirements

Core Seminars and Laboratory/Fieldwork Courses

Students take a series of eight required courses that, collectively, provide a comprehensive background in the theories, methods, and practices underpinning contemporary planning practice. These required classes are:

Core planning seminars: URBP 200, 204A, 204B, 225, 229, and 236
Core laboratory and fieldwork classes: URBP 201 (6 units) and 213

For more information about course descriptions and syllabi, please visit our Urban Planning Courses webpage.

Planning Report or Thesis

Most students enroll in URBP 298A and 298B (or 6 units of URBP 299) during the last two semesters of study. In these classes, students work with a faculty advisor to prepare a major planning report that represents an independent contribution to the field.

Electives

Student select a total of five elective courses in conference with their advisor. At least four of these courses must be taken from the list of courses offered by the department, and students are strongly encouraged to take them all from within a single specialization. The fifth elective may be chosen from graduate and upper division undergraduate courses within the department or elsewhere, with the approval of the Graduate Advisor.

Writing Skills Test (WST) Requirement

The department requires students to take the WST before they begin the MUP program, or during the first semester. Students must submit WST score reports to the urban planning department office during their first semester in the program. Students who fail the WST must take corrective action immediately to prepare to take the test again.

Proof of passage of the WST is a requirement for enrolling in URBP 200, URBP 236, URBP 298A, and URBP 299 and for graduation. (This WST requirement is waived only for students who have completed a bachelors degree or masters degree from a California State University campus.)

The WST is administered at the SJSU campus. For information on registration and test dates, visit the Testing and Evaluation Office website or call (408) 924-5980.

Professional Work Experience Requirement

To graduate, students must have at least 180 hours of professional work experience in urban and regional planning or a closely related field. If the student has completed such work on a paid or voluntary basis within five years of entering the program, then additional professional experience is recommended, but not required. Otherwise, students fulfill the requirement with an internship or professional employment during their time in the program.

When students have completed their work experience, they should download the Certification of Professional Work Experience form and ask their supervisor to complete it. The completed forms should be given to Elisa Harvie, Administrative Coordinator for the department.

Page last updated: January 16, 2008

Did you know

Dept. of Urban & Regional Planning
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0185
408.924.5882
fax: 408.924.5872

urbplan@email.sjsu.edu

Located in Washington Square Hall (WSQ) 216A