Master of Urban Planning + Design

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Georgia

Program Overview

The Master of Urban Planning + Design (MUPD) at the University of Georgia is a two-year, studio-based graduate program focused on the physical planning and design of the built environment, combining rigorous planning education with hands-on, interdisciplinary and real-world projects. It suits students from a wide range of undergraduate backgrounds who want to work with communities, civic leaders, public agencies and design teams while developing the skills needed for professional planning practice or future doctoral study.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish core planning and design knowledge through courses such as EDES 4270/6270 Environmental Design Uses of Geographic Information Systems, EDES 4540/6540 Ideas of Community and Place, and EDES(PLAN) 4650/6650 City Planning. The first-year curriculum also introduces professional foundations through PLAN 6124 Ethics, Justice, and Professional Practice, PLAN 6200 Urban Planning Law, and PLAN 6210 Graphic Representation in Planning and Design, alongside the first Urban Planning and Design Studio I.

Year 2: Students advance their ability to integrate planning, design and research through PLAN 6540 Urban Planning and Design Studio II and PLAN 6560 Urban Planning and Design Studio III, while PLAN 6950 Research Strategies develops structured approaches to planning research. Students complete the degree through either PLAN 7300 Master's Thesis or PLAN 7200 Environmental Planning and Design Practicum, allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge through advanced research or professional experiential work.

Focus Areas:

Physical planning and design of the built environment, urban and regional planning, community and place, environmental planning, GIS, planning law, ethics and justice, graphic representation, urban design, interdisciplinary planning, and real-world local, regional and international projects.

Learning Outcomes:

Planning and design analysis, GIS-based environmental design, graphic representation, community engagement, ethical and professional practice, urban planning law, research strategies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to synthesize planning and design knowledge through a thesis or practicum.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) accredited, with the program focused on professional preparation for careers in public planning agencies, private planning firms and nonprofit organizations.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Official program-specific QS or Guardian employability ranking: not stated. UGA's official program information emphasizes its PAB accreditation, professional engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning and involvement in local, regional and international projects rather than publishing a program-specific employability ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Urban Planning + Design (MUPD) at the University of Georgia combines planning and design education with hands-on opportunities that connect students to real communities and urban environments. Students can develop practical skills through studio-based work, applied research, community engagement, GIS and spatial analysis, while UGA's planning and design resources provide a strong environment for interdisciplinary projects and professional preparation.

Practical opportunities include:

Planning and design studios: Students work on applied planning and urban-design problems, allowing them to translate planning concepts into site-specific proposals and design solutions.
GIS and spatial analysis: Coursework and planning research use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data to analyze urban conditions, land use, transportation and community characteristics.
Community-based projects: The program connects planning education with real-world community and regional issues, giving students opportunities to apply planning and design methods to actual places and stakeholders.
Applied research: Students can engage with UGA's planning and design research environment through faculty-led research addressing urban development, community planning, transportation, environmental issues and design.
Interdisciplinary learning: The program brings together planning and design perspectives, enabling students to approach urban problems through both spatial design and policy/planning strategies.
College of Environment + Design resources: Students have access to the College's design studios, technology resources and specialized facilities supporting digital production, visualization, mapping and design development.
Library and research resources: UGA students have access to the University of Georgia Libraries, including research databases, digital collections, geographic and spatial resources, and materials supporting planning and design research.
Professional engagement: The program's applied orientation provides opportunities to connect academic work with planning practice, public agencies, communities and professional organizations, strengthening students' preparation for planning and urban-design careers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Urban Planning + Design (MUPD) at the University of Georgia prepares graduates for professional planning and design careers in public agencies, private planning firms, and nonprofit organizations, with particular emphasis on the physical planning and design of the built environment. The program’s combination of planning studios, professional engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experiential learning gives graduates practical preparation for addressing local, regional, and international urban challenges.

Typical career roles: Urban Planner, City Planner, Regional Planner, Urban Designer.

Career progression and opportunities include:

Employment support: UGA provides MUPD students with access to graduate assistantships, including university-wide and College of Environment + Design departmental positions; the program also notes that many summer internships offer stipends, providing a route to gain professional experience while studying.
Professional opportunities: The program specifically prepares graduates for public planning agencies, private firms with city and regional planning departments, and nonprofit agencies.
Employment statistics: UGA's official MUPD Public Information document reports program-level employment and graduation outcomes, including a 100% employment rate and 100% graduation rate in its published outcomes data.
Salary figures: Not stated in the official UGA MUPD sources reviewed; therefore, a program-specific graduate salary figure is not provided.
Professional accreditation: The MUPD is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). This provides long-term professional value because PAB accreditation is the established accreditation framework for professional planning education and supports preparation for professional planning practice.
Professional certification: UGA's published MUPD outcomes also include an AICP pass rate, providing an additional indicator of preparation for the American Institute of Certified Planners professional credential.
Industry and community connections: Students work through local, regional, and international projects and engage in professional settings connected with planning and design. UGA also identifies opportunities in city and county planning departments, Georgia's twelve regional commissions, and private-sector firms through its MPA/MUPD pathway.
Interdisciplinary progression: The MUPD can be combined with UGA's Master of Public Administration (MPA) in a three-year dual degree, developing complementary expertise in planning, management, budgeting, and policy analysis.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MUPD, students can continue into advanced study through UGA's Ph.D. pathway in Environmental Design and Planning-related research, while the university also provides structured dual-degree options such as MPA + MUPD and JD + MUPD for students seeking additional specialization in public administration or law.