Master of Urban Planning and Master of Arts in Geography
Program Overview
This dual degree program combines the Master of Urban Planning and Master of Arts in Geography, equipping students with expertise in urban planning, sustainability, and geographic analysis. Graduates are prepared for careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, addressing challenges in housing, land use, transportation, and responsible development. The program includes coursework, a thesis defense, and a proposal defense, ensuring students develop the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the field.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Master of Urban Planning and Master of Arts in Geography is a dual degree program. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the professional field of urban planning. This program prepares students to contribute to the health, welfare, and sustainability of communities, by addressing a broad spectrum of planning challenges, including housing, land use, transportation, and responsible development. The Master of Urban Planning is an accredited, professional degree that prepares students for careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. It is a recognized qualification for planning and planning-related positions. The Master of Arts in Geography program focuses on developing a concentration in preparation for a career or further study. It encompasses courses in diverse areas of the discipline, including Human and Cultural Studies, Economic Geography, Health and Diaspora, Environmental Policy, and Borders and Border Conflicts.
Assessment:
The assessment for the M.U.P. portion of the program includes coursework and a thesis defense. Students must complete 36 credit hours of coursework, including core courses and electives. The M.A. in Geography portion requires a minimum of 22 credit hours, including a Master’s Thesis and a proposal defense.
- The proposal defense must be presented to the thesis committee when the faculty advisor and the student agree that enough progress has been made. The committee must be in compliance with the Master’s Oral Exam Committee Composition policy. The chair of the committee must come from the Department of Geography and Atmospheric Science. At least one committee member must come from the Department of Urban Planning.
- The thesis defense also requires a minimum of 3 committee members and must be in compliance with the Master’s Student Oral Exam Committee Composition policy. The chair of the committee must come from the Department of Geography and Atmospheric Science. At least one committee member must come from the Department of Urban Planning. A majority of the committee members must approve the defense with an assessment of “satisfactory”, “unsatisfactory”, or “honors”. Students that fail the defense on their first attempt may repeat the defense at the recommendation of the degree program one more time. A minimum of 90 days must pass before the defense may be redone.
Careers:
Graduates from this program are prepared for a variety of careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Some potential career paths include:
- Public sector: Local, state, national, and international governments and agencies.
- Private sector: Consulting firms and development companies.
- Non-profits: Housing authorities and other non-profit organizations.
Other:
The dual degree program requires separate applications to each program (M.A. in Geography and Master of Urban Planning). Students without prior training in Geography are welcome, but are required to remedy deficiencies in their basic knowledge of geography. Courses taken to address these deficiencies do not count toward graduate degrees.
