MS Urban and Regional Planning

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Wisconsin Madison

Program Overview

The MS in Urban and Regional Planning at University of Wisconsin–Madison is a two-year professional degree designed for students preparing to work in government, nonprofit and community organizations, and the private sector, with a curriculum that combines planning theory, analytical methods, applied practice, and individualized specialization. Students complete 46 credits, including core planning coursework, an individualized area of concentration, electives, a planning-related internship, and a final professional project or thesis.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their planning foundation through courses such as URB R PL 741 Introduction to Planning, URB R PL 721 Methods of Planning Analysis, and URB R PL 781 Planning Thought and Practice. These courses develop understanding of planning theory and processes while building quantitative and qualitative research, data analysis, communication, professional ethics, and collaborative problem-solving skills.

Year 2: The second year allows students to deepen their chosen area of concentration through specialized and elective coursework while applying planning knowledge to professional problems. Courses can include URB R PL 622 Applications of GIS in Planning, URB R PL 611 Urban Design: Theory and Practice, URB R PL 843 Land Use Policy and Planning, URB R PL 844 Housing and Public Policy, or URB R PL 839 Transportation and Land Use Planning, depending on the student's interests.

Professional Experience: Alongside coursework, students complete a planning-related internship and a final professional project or thesis, giving the degree a strong applied component. The program's handbook identifies coursework, internship, and competency through a professional project or thesis as the three components of the degree.

Focus areas: Land use planning, economic planning, natural resources and environmental planning, community development planning, international development planning, GIS and urban design, transportation and housing, sustainable development, regional planning, and public health planning.

Learning outcomes: Planning analysis and research, quantitative and qualitative methods, data analysis, community engagement, plan-making and implementation, visual and written communication, collaborative problem-solving, professional ethics, and the ability to work with diverse communities and stakeholders.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The MS in Urban and Regional Planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB), with accreditation currently extending through December 31, 2029.

Reputation (employability rankings): Program-specific employability ranking: not stated on the official UW–Madison program sources reviewed. The department does state that the MS URPL has a long and distinguished tradition, with City Planning courses offered at UW–Madison as early as 1911 and the department officially established in 1962.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The MS in Urban and Regional Planning at UW–Madison gives students substantial practical exposure through professional planning internships, a final professional project, and applied courses in GIS, site planning, urban design, transportation, housing, and community development. Students can build technical planning skills through geospatial methods and spatial analysis while working with real planning problems and professional organizations, supported by UW–Madison’s extensive geospatial data and research resources.

Professional Practice Internship: The program requires a professional practice internship, typically completed between the first and second years; the department describes it as approximately eight weeks of full-time professional work, giving students direct experience with planning agencies and professional-level projects.
Final Professional Project: Students complete a professional project that allows them to apply planning knowledge and research skills to a substantial planning problem, connecting academic work with professional practice.
GIS & Spatial Analysis: Students can develop geospatial skills through Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Planning, GIS and Spatial Analysis, GIS Applications, Introduction to Geocomputing, and related geospatial-methods courses. Coursework includes obtaining and analyzing spatial data, communicating geospatial analyses, and conducting site-selection and land-suitability analysis.
Planning Applications: Applied coursework includes Site Planning, Urban Design: Theory & Practice, Transportation & Land Use Planning, Land Use Policy & Planning, Housing & Public Policy, and Planning for Resilience to Natural Hazards, allowing students to explore planning problems across different scales and policy areas.
Community Field Research: Students can take Community Planning Field Course and Community Field Research Methods, providing opportunities to investigate planning and community-development issues through field-oriented work.
Geospatial Data: UW–Madison Libraries provides GeoData@Wisconsin, an online geoportal offering access to Wisconsin geospatial data, imagery, and scanned maps that can support planning research and spatial analysis.
Geospatial Research: The university’s Geospatial Data Science Lab (GeoDSLab) conducts research involving urban form, mobility, traffic dynamics, and sustainable urban and transport planning, providing a relevant research environment for students interested in advanced geospatial and urban-analysis work.
Library Resources: UW–Madison Libraries provides extensive research facilities and services across campus, including collections and resources relevant to geography, GIS, urban planning, and landscape architecture.
Facilities & Resources: Students can access UW–Madison’s libraries, geospatial databases, research laboratories, and planning-related academic resources to support their coursework, professional projects, and research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The MS Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin–Madison prepares graduates to address complex challenges involving communities, cities, transportation, housing, land use, economic development, and environmental planning. Graduates can apply their planning, research, spatial analysis, and policy skills across public agencies, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector planning roles.

Typical career roles: Urban Planner, Regional Planner, Transportation Planner, Community Development Planner.

Career development and professional opportunities:

Career services: UW–Madison provides career development resources through SuccessWorks, including career advising, employer connections, internship and job-search support, and professional development opportunities.
Planning practice: The program's applied orientation gives students opportunities to develop practical planning capabilities that can be transferred to government agencies, consulting practices, nonprofit organizations, and community-based planning work.
Employment outcomes: Not stated: UW–Madison's official program sources do not publish a current program-specific employment rate or graduate salary figure for the MS Urban and Regional Planning, so no unsupported percentage or salary figure is provided.
University–industry connections: Students can benefit from UW–Madison's connections with public agencies, community organizations, and professional planning networks through applied research, internships, and planning projects.
Professional accreditation: The program's professional planning education provides a foundation for careers in the planning profession and supports students pursuing professional credentials such as AICP certification, which can provide long-term professional value after meeting the relevant education, experience, and examination requirements.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can progress into planning positions involving land use and development, transportation, housing and community development, environmental planning, economic development, and regional planning, depending on their specialization and professional experience.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MS, graduates can continue into doctoral-level study in urban planning, regional planning, geography, public policy, or related fields, particularly if they wish to pursue advanced research, university teaching, or specialized policy research. Students can also build professional credentials and pursue continuing education in areas such as planning, transportation, GIS, environmental planning, or public policy.