19 Best Urban Planning Master’s Programs – 2024
April 25, 2024
If you’re interested in advancing your career in urban planning, then a master’s degree can be a great next step. To note, it is still absolutely possible to establish a career in urban planning with only an undergraduate degree in urban planning-related studies. However, having a master’s in urban planning does have the power to boost your earning potential in the workplace and help you access leadership roles. It can be difficult to decide and sift through which programs are right for you, especially if you’re deciding between an in-person and online program. Luckily, we’ve compiled two lists on the best urban planning master’s programs below:
Best 10 In-person Urban Planning Master’s Programs
1) University of Southern California
Sitting in Los Angeles, California, the University of Southern California offers a Master of Urban Planning through the Sol Price School of Public Policy. The MUP consists of 48 credits and encourages engaged work experience through internships and studio exposure. Concentrations at USC’s Master of Urban Planning program include: arts & culture, design of the built environment, economic development, environmental planning & analysis, house & real estate development, and mobility & transportation planning. There is a distinct focus on social justice and data innovation. Lastly, on the outcomes front, 93% of graduates from USC’s Master of Urban Planning are employed within a year of graduation.
2) University of Albany, State University of New York
The University of Albany in Albany, New York offers a Master of Regional Planning under their Department of Geography and Planning. The Master of Regional Planning program is interdisciplinary, offering specializations in environmental & land use planning, community planning, and transportation planning. With an emphasis on creativity, public involvement and sustainability, the 48-credit program encourages hands-on involvement through their Albany Visualization and Informatics Lab. Students will gain innovative skills to tackle commercial and public projects like New York State hazard mitigation planning.
3) University of Pennsylvania
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, UPENN’s Weitzman School of Design offers a Master of City Planning. Students in the Master of City Planning program are required to complete an internship in or outside of the Philadelphia area. The MCP curriculum allows for students to specialize in: (1) Housing, Community & Economic Development, (2) Land Use-Environmental Planning (3) Public Private Development (4) Smart Cities (5) Sustainable Transportation and Infrastructure Planning and (6) Urban Design. Students can also pursue dual degrees within the Weitzman School of Design or with other Penn schools. Lastly, 75% of students are employed within a year of graduation.
Best Urban Planning Master’s Programs (Continued)
4) Harvard University
Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts has a Master in Urban Planning program at their Graduate School of Design. The flexibility in Harvard’s MUP program gives students the option to take classes at the neighboring Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Joint degrees are possible with the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, the Harvard Kennedy School, and the Law School. Concentrations include: Environment, Climate & Health; Housing, Community & Economic Development; International & Comparative Planning; Real Estate & Urban Development; Transportation & Infrastructure; Urban Analytics; Urban Design.
5) Hunter College, City University of New York
Located in New York City, Hunter College offers a Master of Urban Planning under their Department of Urban Policy & Planning. The MUP program focuses on theory, hands-on skills development, planning specializations, and studio collaboration. Students enrolled in Hunter College’s Master of Urban Planning program are required to complete an internship and planning studio. There is also the creative flexibility for students to design their own curriculum with their advisor. 87% of students who graduate become employed within a year.
6) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, situated in Champaign, Illinois, has one of the nation’s oldest urban planning departments. The Department of Urban & Regional Planning offers a Master of Urban Planning at the College of Fine & Applied Arts. Students have the option to complete joint degrees in Master of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Recreation, Sport and Tourism, and Juris Doctor. Concentrations include Land Use & Environmental Planning, Transportation Planning, Community Development for Social Justice, Local & Regional Economic Development, and Transnational Planning Stream.
Best Urban Planning Master’s Programs (Continued)
7) Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Rutgers, located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, offers a Master of City and Regional Planning. The program is given through the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, where students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to graduate. The Master of City and Regional Planning has the following concentrations available: Community Development & Housing, Design & Development/Redevelopment, Environmental Planning, International Development, Transportation Policy & Planning, and Urban Informatics. Students are also expected to complete the professional report requirement, which is a short written memorandum on a planning topic.
8) Cornell University
Sitting in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning offers a Master of Regional Planning. Cornell’s Master of Regional Planning program strongly emphasizes students to actively participate in workshops and research projects. Students can choose their concentrations in Designing the City, Economic Development Planning: Communities and Regions, Land Use and Environmental Planning, or International Studies in Planning. Among the graduation requirements, students are expected to complete internships and an Exit Project Paper, and there is the option to study abroad. All of Cornell’s Master of Regional Planning graduates become employed within one year of graduation.
9) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge offers a Master in City Planning through their School of Architecture & Planning. Instead of choosing a concentration, students at MIT’s Master in City Planning program tailor their own specializations with an advisor. Internships and fieldwork are encouraged. Additionally, students are required to complete a workshop or studio in the second or third semester. There’s also the option to pursue a dual degree with a Master of Architecture or a Master of Science in Transportation. Within a year of graduation, 100% of MIT’s MCP students are successful in finding employment.
Best Urban Planning Master’s Programs (Continued)
10) University of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago offers a Master in Urban Planning & Policy through their College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. The MUPP program has specializations in Economic Development, Community Development, Spatial Planning, Urban Transportation, and Environmental Planning & Policy. Students enrolled in this urban planning master’s program are required to complete a portfolio and an internship before graduation. For those interested in an interdisciplinary education, there is the option to do a dual degree in Public Health. The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs also offers a Master of City Design and a Doctorate in Urban Planning & Policy.
Best 10 Online Urban Planning Master’s Programs
1) University of Florida
University of Florida’s College of Design, Construction and Planning offers an online Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning. The online program is 52 credits in length. Additionally, it gives students specialized course options if they want to choose a certain area of focus like sustainability. Students enrolled in University of Florida’s online urban planning program can take courses such as Planning Research and Design or Land Use Planning Law. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree relevant to urban planning.
2) University of Southern California
The University of Southern California offers an online Executive Master of Urban Planning, a program ideal for urban planning professionals. This is a full-time program that lasts for 16 months and its curriculum is 24 units. Although this is an online program, students work with faculty and colleagues on urban planning projects throughout Los Angeles and beyond. The Executive Master of Urban Planning focuses on fostering the careers of urban planning leaders. Students will attain the skills required in this field, like understanding complex urban planning legal processes and analyzing advanced data.
3) University of Washington
University of Washington’s online Master of Infrastructure Planning and Management program is ideal for students interested in leading infrastructure systems. The two-year program consists of 45 credits and can be earned on part-time enrollment, and students can complete the program on their own schedule. The diverse courses offered at UW can cover GIS, natural environment or infrastructure systems thinking. Students enrolled in this online Master of Infrastructure Planning and Management program are most often working professionals.
Best Urban Planning Master’s Programs (Continued)
4) Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University offers an online Master’s in Environmental Planning and Management through the Whiting School of Engineering. As a part-time program, this online urban planning master’s program consists of ten courses. Half of the courses are related to a specialization, and the other half are electives. Students become prepared to understand complex land regulations, environmental laws, real estate rules, housing laws, and more. Lastly, five years is the maximum amount of given time in which students are allowed to complete the program.
5) The University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers a part-time, online Sustainable Smart Cities Master’s program. This online urban planning master’s degree focuses on affordable housing, green real estate infrastructure, transport and mobility, renewable energy systems and urban development. Students at UAB’s online urban planning program study how the application of major technologies in smart cities are designed and developed. There is a two-year window of completion.
6) University of Maryland Global Campus
University of Maryland Global Campus has an online Master’s in Environmental Management program with a STEM-focused curriculum. This online urban planning master’s program is suited for urban planning professionals interested in progressing as leaders in sustainable urban planning. With a five-year window of completion, the Master’s in Environmental Management consists of 36 units and gives students schedule flexibility.
Best Urban Planning Master’s Programs (Continued)
7) Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University offers an online Master of Professional Studies in Community and Economic Development. This online urban planning master’s program is a 30-credit course ideal for working professionals who wish to grow their community-building skills. With a curriculum that emphasizes theory and practice, the program covers intersectional topics like economic development planning and perspectives on development, democracy, and decision-making.
8) University of Connecticut
The University of Connecticut offers an interdisciplinary online Master of Energy and Environmental Management program. This 30-credit online urban planning master’s program provides courses in environmental law, planning and management, and geographic information systems. Further, out of the 30 credits, 27 credits are coursework and 3 credits are internship experience. Students benefit from an asynchronous course schedule, so there is 24/7 access to all coursework.
9) University of Denver
University of Denver offers an online Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management program, with a concentration in Environmental Management. The program also has an asynchronous schedule and consists of 12 urban planning courses, which are all accessible through Canvas. Students will learn how to lead business and finance strategy, direct compliance efforts and understand regulations, and use management and reporting systems.
Choosing the best urban planning master’s program
The realities of urban planning cover an expansive array of environments and regulations, but community remains at its true core. From preserving public spaces to assessing urban or rural places, urban planning requires an adept understanding of complex subjects like public policy or environmental sustainability. So depending on your specializations or prospective ambitions, it’s important to choose the urban planning master’s program that’s right for you.
Urban Planning Master’s Program – Additional Resources
In conclusion, we hope you have enjoyed this article on the best urban planning master’s online and in-person programs. Additionally, you may wish to explore the following articles:
