Urban and Environmental Planning, MUEP
Program Description
Degree Awarded: MUEP Urban and Environmental Planning
The MUEP program prepares students to help solve complex social, economic and environmental issues and create healthier, safer and more vibrant communities. It emphasizes theories of planning, methods of analysis, effective public engagement, planning processes and creative implementation of planning tools, strategies and approaches. The program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. Students who join the program are eligible for certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners after two years of professional practice.
The Master of Urban and Environmental Planning program offers a valuable opportunity to integrate urban and environmental aspects of planning in a rapidly developing metropolitan area. Small classes, one-on-one advising and a common core of courses that translate knowledge into practice provide students opportunities to build technical skills and grow their professional network.
As a part of the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, the program is enriched by school faculty whose research and teaching are grounded in geography, geographic information systems, and meteorology and climatology. Students have access to a wide selection of electives within the school, electives that explore issues such as population and migration, environmental and landscape dynamics, and urban climate systems. The program is also complemented by the participation of faculty from other disciplines within the university and collaboration with leading planning practitioners in the Phoenix area.
Faculty research and teaching interests focus especially on the following broad interdisciplinary themes:
- city building and urban structure
- environmental and resiliency planning
- housing, neighborhoods and community development
- spatial analytics and smart cities
- transportation planning and policy
Degree Requirements
Curriculum Plan Options
- 47 credit hours including the required applied project course (PUP 593)
- 47 credit hours including the required capstone course (PUP 580)
- 47 credit hours and a thesis
Required Core (21 credit hours)
PUP 501 Planning, History and Theory (3)
PUP 520 Planning Practice, Ethics and Processes (3)
PUP 531 Planning and Development Control Law (3)
PUP 544 Urban Land Use Planning (3)
PUP 571 Quantitative Methods for Planners (3)
PUP 579 Qualitative Methods for Planners (3)
PUP 642 Urban and Regional Economic Analysis (3)
Electives (14 or 15 credit hours)
Other Requirements (6 credit hours)
PUP 542 Environmental Planning (3)
PUP 576 GIS Workshop (3)
Culminating Experience (5 or 6 credit hours)
PUP 580 Practicum: Planning Workshop (5) or
PUP 593 Applied Project (5) or
PUP 599 Thesis (6)
Additional Curriculum Information
Students take either 14 credit hours of electives for the thesis option or 15 credit hours of electives for the non-thesis option.
Students take PUP 576 or another methods course approved by the department.
Students take PUP 542 or another environmental planning course approved by the department.
Online students must take PUP 580 as their culminating experience.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement
- resume
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The personal statement should be no longer than 600 words and must address the applicant's:
- interest in planning
- academic or professional background and, if appropriate, preparation for the selected area of specialty (This may include written samples or a portfolio, but they are not required.)
- educational objectives
- career goals, including how a master's degree in urban and environmental planning from the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning will help them achieve those goals
Letters of recommendation are not required for admission into the MUEP program. However, prospective students are encouraged to submit up to three letters of recommendation to strengthen their application or provide necessary context to the application. Recommenders may include professional supervisors, colleagues or academic supervisors (e.g., former professors and instructors) who can speak to the applicant's academic or professional experiences and qualifications to pursue a graduate degree.
Examples of situations in which applicants may consider submitting recommenders include:
- returning students (more than five years after completing undergraduate degree)
- students with a cumulative GPA between 2.50 and 3.00
- students with a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field
- students pursuing a career change from an unrelated field
Flexible Degree Options
Accelerated program options
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years.
It is offered as an accelerated bachelor's and master's degree with:
BS - Geographic Information Science
Website | Locations: TEMPE,ONLNE
BS - Geography (Meteorology-Climatology)
Website | Locations: TEMPE
BSP - Urban Planning
Website | Locations: TEMPE,ONLNE
BS - Geography
Website | Locations: TEMPE,ONLNE
BA - Geography
Website | Locations: TEMPE,ONLNE
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. During their junior year, eligible students will be advised by their academic departments to apply.
Concurrent degree program
Students can choose to create their own concurrent degree combination to match their interests by working with their academic advisor during or after their first semester of study. Some concurrent combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum; students should speak with their academic advisor for more details.
This degree is also offered as a concurrent program with the following:
Public Policy, MPP
Public Administration, MPA
Sustainability Solutions, MSUS
Next Steps to attend ASU
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Career Opportunities
Professionals with expertise in planning theory and practice are in high demand across sectors and industries, including planning consulting firms, local governments and community organizations. Skills in environmental impact assessment, geographical data analysis and community resiliency planning are valuable to businesses and institutions that rely on practical, research-based approaches to solve complex problems.
Alumni of the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning program work as professional planners in a variety of public, private and nonprofit settings. Career examples include:
- city and regional planning aide
- geospatial information technologist
- social services director
- sustainability specialist
- transportation planner
- urban and regional planner
Attend Online
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program description and request more information here.
Program Contact Information
If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.
- SGSUP.gradprograms@asu.edu
- 480/965-7533