MUP - The Program

The curriculum of any vital and dynamic program will change from time to time. The description which follows below applies to students entering the program in Fall 2021, and may differ for students entering in other semesters.

All enrolled graduate students should have in their possession an original copy of the curriculum they must satisfy based upon their date of matriculation. Copies of each student's required curriculum are sent to all students before they enter the program, are distributed again during graduate student orientation, and an official copy is placed in each student's file in the department. 

• The curriculum varies depending upon the students’ entry into the program. Students usually enter the MUP program in the fall semester, although entry in the spring semester is an option.
• The program encourages full-time study; however, students may pursue their degree part-time.
• Students may apply to waive a required course based on prior coursework.

As you look at our program, you will notice that some courses are labeled “practicum” which has the same meaning as “studio”.

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Analytics:
  • URP 569, GIS Applications (offered in spring)
• Design skills and design literacy
  • URP 517 Graphic Communications (typically offered in fall)
  • URP 565 Urban Design Understanding Form (typically offered in Fall)
• Group process
  • URP 577 Planning Techniques in Action (typically offered in Spring)
  • URP 509 Qualitative Methods (typically offered in Spring)
  • URP 508, Race, Class and Gender (typically offered in fall) 
  • Planning and Development Law (typically offered in spring)

Note: Dual MArch/MUP students should take the URP 569 (GIS) competency. It is assumed that they receive design competency through their architectural education.

Dual March/MUP students will take URP 582 as the planning practicum requirement. 

• URP 501 Evolution of Urban Structure (Fall semester)
• URP 510 Planning Concepts and Controversies (Spring)
• URP 512 Research Methods for Planners (Fall)
• URP 538 Economic Concepts (Spring)
• URP 573 Land Use and Physical Planning (Fall)
• URP 581 Sustainable Communities Studio
• URP 582 Sustainable Communities Studio
• URP 691, Colloquium (1 credit) (Fall) 

• Choose one of the following
  • Project Option: URP 697 Master’s Project Preparation, 3 credits.   Taken in last semester of study.  
  • Thesis Option:  URP 698 Master’s Thesis Preparation, 3 credits AND
  • URP 699, Master’s Thesis, 3 credits.  Taken in sequence in last 2 semesters of study, subject to committee approval, 6 credits total.  

Students who start but fail to complete a thesis (earning a grade of “U” or “L” in the thesis preparation course) can switch to the project option.  In this case, they are not allowed to use the Thesis Preparation course towards the MUP degree. 

If students anticipate that they want to choose a thesis, it is their responsibility to contact the department before the completion of the second semester. The master’s thesis is an academic product prepared under the direction of a faculty committee with a minimum of two department faculty members, one of whom is designated the chair and the other the reader. Additional academic or professionally qualified persons may also serve as readers.

The thesis is a scholarly work conforming to academic conventions and yielding a finished product typically including a clear research question, review of literature, hypotheses, and appropriate research design/methodology, implementation of the research design, findings, and conclusions. The format of the thesis product is an electronic version of a formal document consistent with stipulations of the UB Graduate School. Theses may also take the form of an applied product emphasizing data collection, analysis, and interpretation, perhaps involving plan preparation or policy analysis.

The thesis option carries 6 course credits. Students must take 3 credits of URP 698 Master’s Thesis Preparation in their next-to-last semester, with the remaining 3 credits in their final semester as URP 699 Master’s Thesis. Students completing a thesis will be scheduled for a final oral public presentation of their work toward the end of their final semester. The scheduling of the thesis presentation/defense should be arranged by the student and his/her thesis committee.

Students do not automatically qualify to pursue a thesis as their culminating option. Students must prepare a formal thesis proposal and must gain agreement from a two-person faculty committee willing to supervise the work. If students are unable to form a thesis committee, they shall follow the professional project option as their culminating exercise.

The thesis proposal must be completed in detail and submitted to the department before the start of the student’s third semester of study.   Students cannot be registered until this form is submitted. 

Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in academic good standing. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for successful completion of the MUP degree.

• Students may choose from graduate courses offered within the department.
• They may also apply for up to 3 credits of URP 545 (Internship) and up to 3 credits of URP 599 (Independent Study). No more than 3 credits of internship and 3 credits of independent study may be applied to the MUP.     
• As part of their academic program, students may complete one Internship course.  It is expected that the internship be an unpaid experience.  Students are responsible for finding an appropriate site for their internship and must recruit a faculty advisor to oversee the internship.   Students must submit an internship proposal form to the department chair for approval.
• You are allowed to take up to 6 credits outside the department.  Be sure the course content is relevant to planning. If you are unsure, ask for written permission from the department chair.