Urban and Environmental Planning, MUEP
Want to make an impact? The master's degree in urban and environmental planning prepares you to enter the workforce, impact your community and become a leader in the planning profession. Through small classes and real-world projects, this two-year professional degree program equips you to solve complex issues in diverse communities.
Program Description
Degree Awarded: Urban and Environmental Planning, MUEP
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 unique 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, GIS, 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
At a Glance: program details
- Location: Tempe campus
- Second Language Requirement: No
Degree Requirements
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 Planning Methods I (3)
PUP 579 Planning Methods II (3)
PUP 642 Urban and Regional Economic Analysis (3)
Electives (14 or 15 credit hours)
Other Requirement (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 14 credit hours of electives for the thesis option and take 15 credit hours of electives for nonthesis.
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.
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
- three letters of recommendation
- 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 academic and professional background and, if appropriate, preparation for the selected area of specialty which may include written samples or a portfolio, though these are not required.
Letters of recommendation must be from three people who can attest to the applicant's academic and professional achievements.
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:
BSP - Urban Planning
Do you want to shape how our cities, states and communities operate; how people navigate the globe; and how cities are planned for success? Learn about future-changing strategies like alternative transportation, housing diversity and urban revitalization. When entering the job market, you'll have access to the support of a rich professional network.
Website | Locations: TEMPE,ONLNE
BA - Geography
Dive into the phenomena, features and inhabitants of planet Earth. Learn about humanistic and cultural traditions while absorbing the physical aspects of the world, especially climate and landscape dynamics.
Website | Locations: TEMPE,ONLNE
BS - Geography
Develop your understanding of climate, landforms and biogeography. Learn about the world around you, from the sky to the bottom of the ocean, and how humans impact landscapes across various geographic regions.
Website | Locations: TEMPE,ONLNE
BS - Geography (Meteorology-Climatology)
Do you know, from a technical perspective, why storms, monsoons and haboobs build on the horizon? When you better understand climate change, you are prepared for an impactful career as a meteorologist or climatologist.
Website | Locations: TEMPE
BS - Geographic Information Science
Learn skills to better understand the concept of location as it relates to current issues facing our global society, and be ready to help solve some of the most pressing challenges facing our world.
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
Learn to understand complex public problems and develop and implement innovative policy solutions. Through coursework and real-world projects in this highly ranked program (No. 19 Public Policy Analysis by U.S. News & World Report, 2022), you can gain the analytic skills required for addressing society's most challenging problems.
Public Administration, MPA
Turn your desire for public service into a rewarding career. This highly ranked MPA program (No. 4 Public Management and Leadership, No. 12 Public Affairs programs by U.S. News & World Report, 2022) prepares you to be a results-driven leader serving the public good.
Sustainability Solutions, MSUS
Do you want to develop and implement solutions to critical sustainability problems, to make a lasting difference? Learn more about sustainability, gain practical experience, and be positioned to stand out in today's competitive job market in the growing career field of sustainability, where you can help create a sustainable future.
Next Steps to attend ASU
Learn about our programs
Apply to a program
Visit our campus
Global Opportunities
Global Experience
With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (ranging from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students wishing to gain global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu
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