Urban and Regional Planning MURP

The Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program at the University of Colorado Denver offers a hands-on learning experience that uses Colorado as a classroom, incorporates experiential education in the curriculum, and engages students with real-world issues and community stakeholders.

The program is built on the belief that successful city-building requires expertise, breadth, interdisciplinary understanding, and creativity. Our program looks beyond traditional professional silos and instead centers on issues at the forefront of planning practice. Our three Initiatives - Healthy Communities, Urban Revitalization, and Regional Sustainability - form the basis of our research, instruction, and community outreach.

Students in the MURP program are encouraged to follow their passion and develop expertise in the areas that matter most to them. Thus, we offer a unique, self-directed curriculum that allows students to understand the breadth of the planning field while gaining the technical expertise demanded by the profession. Our list of program faculty includes some of the most respected researchers and educators in the planning field, as well as top local planning practitioners, all of whom bring a wealth of experience to the classroom. All of our faculty make teaching a top priority.

Our presence in a College of Architecture and Planning ensures that our approach to planning education has a strong connection to design, and our location in the heart of downtown Denver offers students endless opportunities for experiential learning and interaction with the community.

Curriculum

Program Requirements

Completing the MURP degree requires 54 semester hours, comprised of 36 semester hours of required “core” courses and 18 semester hours of elective courses. (Six of the 36 required semester hours represent a self-directed Capstone project or thesis.) Most full-time students complete the program in two years, while other students complete the program at a slower or part-time pace.

New students begin the program of study in the fall semester. Full-time students typically take approximately 12 semester hours per semester; taking more than 15 per semester is generally ill-advised. With the exception of the studio and capstone courses, most core courses are offered only one semester per year so it is important to pay attention to the scheduling to ensure your desired graduation date.

Program Requirements

The total number of semester hours required to earn the Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree is 54. To reach the 54 total semester hours needed, students must earn 36 credits by completing and passing the required core courses. Students must earn an additional 18 credits by completing elective courses of their choice. Students must also meet final course grade minimums and cumulative GPA requirements. Please note: The 54 total semester hours needed may be reduced for students who meet the requirements for advanced standing or who have transfer credits, please refer to the MURP Student Handbook for guidelines.

Potential Specializations

We encourage students to view their planning education through a fresh perspective aimed at a planning goal or agenda, rather than a “job description.” However, we also recognize that some students may want their MURP degree to focus on a traditional specialization, such as Transportation Planning or Economic Development. To ensure all our students have the educational experience they are seeking, we provide exceptional coverage across many traditional specialization topics.

Advising

Patty McKissock serves as the MURP Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator on the College staff. She is the keeper of MURP student records and the person to ask about academic policies and which forms need to be filled out for different things. Patty can help you with registering for classes and graduation requirements. If your question or issue has to do with anything administrative relating to the MURP program, the College of Architecture and Planning, or the University of Colorado Denver, start with contacting Patty at patricia.mckissock@ucdenver.edu or 303-315-2535.

In addition to Patty, the Planning faculty are also an important advising resource for MURP students. The Planning faculty can help you with information about specific course content, career advice, and any other issues relating to the MURP curriculum, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, or urban and regional planning in general. At the start of the fall semester, you will select an initial faculty advisor from among the seven full-time Planning faculty and will be required to have an introductory meeting with that faculty member during the first two weeks of the fall semester. After that, we have an “open door” policy on advising, which means you may stick with that initial faculty advisor, choose a different faculty member to be your advisor, or have multiple faculty advisors. You may choose your faculty advisors based on their expertise in a particular area of interest (see list below) or based on whatever criteria are important to you. You are welcome to change faculty advisors at any point or seek advice from multiple faculty members. You may work with your faculty advisor as much or as little as you need.

We recommend you use a MURP Program Planning Form available on the college website to keep track of the courses you’ve taken and that you plan to take while you’re a MURP student. Planning forms are also available to help guide dual degree students. Dual degree students should have an advisor in each relevant department or college. Electronic Degree Auditing is available for all MURP students. This online system allows you to check which degree requirements you have personally satisfied and which ones remain. Instructions for accessing the degree audit are available in the Electronic Degree Auditing Info document available on the college website.

The following list offers suggestions for which faculty members to consult with regarding different areas of interest or expertise:

Carrie Makarewicz: Community development, sustainable economic development strategies, transport equity, regional planning, urban school reform, real estate development
Manish Shirgaokar: Transportation planning, transportation equity, travel behavior, GIS and spatial analysis,
Jeremy Németh: Placemaking and urban design, urban politics, land use planning, land use conflict, politics of public space, environmental justice, thesis and research
Andrew Rumbach: Disasters and climate change, environmental risk, urban resilience, international planning, small town and rural development
Ken Schroeppel: Urban development and revitalization, urban form, planning methods, planning history of Denver, professional engagement and networking, careers in planning
Jennifer Steffel Johnson: Affordable housing, social justice, diverse communities, mixed-income housing, community development, internships and mentorships
Austin Troy: Land use policy, environmental planning, urban green infrastructure, GIS, spatial analysis, regional sustainability

Independent Study

Independent Study is a student self-directed learning experience with faculty oversight, guidance, and evaluation. The purpose of Independent Study is to provide a mechanism for students to pursue projects that do not fit within the framework of regular course offerings. Independent study offers students an important opportunity to engage in research or creative activity in an area of inquiry not offered through regular courses, or in greater depth than offered in regular courses. An Independent Study course should not duplicate courses that are traditionally offered at the university; rather, it is intended to be a truly independent exploration of a topic or a project of a special nature. Students must secure a faculty advisor for their Independent Study course. The faculty member’s expertise and availability should be appropriate for the topic of study and the student’s learning objectives.

Students who undertake Independent Study are expected to be self-motivated and largely self-directed. Faculty members reserve the right to decline to be an Independent Study advisor. Only full-time Department of Urban and Regional Planning faculty members may officially serve as a MURP Independent Study advisor. Adjunct faculty members and faculty in other departments may serve as co-advisors, but the instructor of record (i.e., grader) must be a full-time MURP faculty member. Students are encouraged to consult with other faculty and/or professionals as part of their Independent Study, but the faculty Independent Study advisor is responsible for evaluating the project and providing the majority of advising. MURP students wishing to undertake an Independent Study must have a grade point average of 3.0 or greater in the MURP program. Students can apply a maximum of one three-credit Independent Study course towards their MURP degree. (However, under special circumstances, and with departmental approval, students may be able to take two Independent Study courses.)

A MURP Independent Study project should have a focus within the field of Urban and Regional Planning, although it may be of an interdisciplinary nature. The Independent Study deliverables should be sufficient to evaluate the student’s level of learning and mastery of the chosen topic. Independent Study will be graded with a letter grade and is subject to MURP, CAP, and CU Denver grading and academic policies. The project specifics are to be provided by the student in the Independent Study Proposal and approved by the student’s Independent Study faculty advisor.

Students should expect to devote a minimum of nine hours per week during the fall or spring semester, and 18 hours per week during the summer semester, for a three-credit Independent Study course. Students are expected to meet periodically with their Independent Study faculty advisor throughout the semester, and the student and advisor should agree on project milestones and a meeting schedule.

A document with complete Independent study guidelines, including enrollment process, is available upon request from the Chair or Associate Chair.

Self-Directed Curriculum

Students have the ability to craft a MURP degree suited to their career goals and personal interests. Students may choose any combination of elective courses, whether oriented towards one of the three Program Initiatives (Healthy Communities, Urban Revitalization or Regional Sustainability), a traditional specialization such as “Transportation Planning” or “Community Development,” or a generalist survey of the planning field. A total of 18 semester hours (six three-credit courses) of electives are needed for the MURP degree.

The MURP Student Handbook on the MURP website offers suggestions for matching elective courses to potential specializations to help students decide which electives to take. Ultimately, students may choose whichever combination of elective courses they desire.

Of course, the most helpful resource for assisting students in choosing their self-directed path through the MURP program is the planning faculty. Students should not hesitate to reach out to any faculty member for advice about which electives to take or any topic relating to the MURP program or careers in planning.

Core Courses

The MURP Program curriculum includes 10 required “core” courses totaling 36 semester hours. These courses provide students with a comprehensive survey of the planning field and the foundational knowledge, skills, and values important to the profession. The core courses have been carefully designed to fully comply with the Planning Accreditation Board’s required educational outcomes. The list below shows the core courses and the program year in which the course is suggested to be taken.

YEAR 1 - FALL
URPL 5000 - Planning History and Theory
URPL 5010 - Planning Methods
URPL 5020 - Planning Law and Institutions (note, this course can also be taken in the second year; students should discuss what is the best time to take it with their advisor)
URPL 5030 - The Planning Profession
12 semester hours
YEAR 1-SPRING
URPL 5040 - Urban Sustainability
URPL 5050 - Urban Development
URPL 5060 - Planning Workshop
12 semester hours
YEAR 2
URPL 6000 - Planning Project Studio (may be taken in Summer or Fall)
Student’s choice of ONE of the following 6-credit courses:
URPL 6900 - Planning Capstone
- OR-
URPL 6920 - Planning Thesis A
and
URPL 6925 - Planning Thesis B
12 semester hours

Elective Courses

Beyond the core curriculum, MURP students follow a self-directed educational path. Students may choose any combination from our broad offering of elective courses, whether aligned with one of our three Initiatives, a traditional or unique specialization, or a generalist survey of the planning field. We offer MURP students a broad selection of elective courses within the program. In addition, numerous other elective courses applicable for MURP credit are available through our allied programs within the college (Architecture, Urban Design, Historic Preservation, and Landscape Architecture) and through cross-listed courses offered by other CU Denver programs, such as Public Affairs, Geography, and Business.

Internships

Internships are an important way the MURP program helps students achieve hands-on, experiential learning. The difference between an internship and a part-time job is that an internship is specifically intended to be a learning experience. While getting academic credit for an internship is not required, it is highly recommended. Students earn three elective credits for enrolling in URPL 6805 but, more importantly, the coursework will enable students to maximize the personal and professional development their internship affords. More detailed information on internships is available in the MURP Student Handbook.

Planning Workshop/Project Studio

Planning Workshop (URPL 5060) and Planning Project Studio (URPL 6000) are the two studio core courses. These courses are a key part of the hands-on, real-world focus of the MURP program.

Planning Workshop is the introductory studio for MURP students. It provides students an opportunity to address actual planning problems, issues, and processes; apply previously acquired knowledge and skills; and develop new knowledge and practical skills in an applied context.

Students will develop basic competence in accessing existing information, generating new information, and performing planning analysis and synthesis. Students will also learn to enhance their graphic, written, and oral communication capabilities. Through the Planning Workshop experience, students will develop an understanding of the relationship between planning theory and practice, as well as gain the ability to formulate compelling planning arguments in applied settings.

Students will also receive introductory instruction in Geographic Information Systems (ESRI ArcGIS) and Trimble SketchUp, which complement the introductory instruction in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) students receive in The Planning Profession course. The integration and use of all of these common planning technology applications is a critical component of the Planning Workshop experience.

Planning Project Studio is the MURP program’s advanced studio course. This studio requires students to work together as a “planning consultant team” to complete a single planning project or study from beginning to end for a real-world client. It is expected that students enrolled in Planning Project Studio will have already gained the fundamental planning knowledge, skills, and values from their experience in Planning Workshop and other MURP courses. Consequently, the emphasis in Planning Project Studio is on putting everything together into a complete real-world planning project.

The studio will emulate the typical planning consultant/client experience, including: refining the project scope and schedule with the client; establishing guiding principles and expected outcomes; conducting case studies and existing plans background research; gathering and analyzing existing conditions data; formulating alternative plan concepts; assessing alternative concepts through specific criteria; identifying and refining the preferred alternative; and preparing and presenting the final plan deliverables to the client. Emphasis is also placed on professionalism, project management, team-building and collaboration, client management, public involvement, and other aspects of the real-world planning consultant realm.

Each Planning Project Studio course section will focus on a project generally associated with one of the MURP program’s three initiatives (Healthy Communities, Urban Revitalization, and Regional Sustainability). Typically three to five sections of Planning Project Studio are offered each academic year, thereby ensuring that students will have a chance to enroll in a Planning Project Studio section that is aligned with an initiative of interest to them. However, as each studio section is limited in size, there is no guarantee students will be able to enroll in their preferred section. A balloting process will be used when necessary.

In addition to the Fall semester Studios, we generally offer Summer studios that involve travel, including overseas studios and a domestic studio in Colorado.

Planning Capstone/Planning Thesis

The culminating component of the MURP curriculum is the Planning Capstone/Planning Thesis requirement, which challenges students to utilize to the fullest extent the planning knowledge, skills, and values gained during their MURP program experience. Students must choose which option to select-Planning Capstone or Planning Thesis-based on their career goals, personal interests and aptitudes, and the advice of their faculty advisor.

Planning Capstone is a six-credit, project-oriented, one-semester course that results in a substantial deliverable upon completion. The Capstone option is best suited for students who wish to pursue a career as a professional planner after graduation. Within the Planning Capstone option are two alternatives: Independent Project and Small-Group Project.

If a student chooses the Planning Capstone > Independent Project path, he or she will work individually to complete a significant planning project or study for a real-world client. If a student chooses the Planning Capstone > Small-Group Project path, he or she must team up with one or two other students-forming a project team of no more than three people to complete a significant planning project or study for a real-world client. However, each student must be individually responsible for a clearly defined component of the project as each student will be graded independently for his or her work.

During the semester before enrolling in Planning Capstone, students will be required to: (a.) determine if they will be working independently or as part of a small group, (b.) identify their Capstone client and project topic, and (c.) begin preparing a detailed project prospectus (work plan, schedule, methodology, and deliverables). Also during the semester before Capstone, students must attend a mandatory Capstone Orientation to receive instruction and guidance on project planning and management. Students must have a completed and approved project prospectus by the second week of their Capstone semester. Students may identify their own Planning Capstone client and project topic or they may select from a list of Capstone clients/projects that have been pre-arranged and approved by the MURP faculty.

During the Planning Capstone semester, students complete their project work while maintaining regular contact with their Capstone faculty advisor and client to ensure sufficient progress and work quality, as well as periodically meeting with other Capstone students to discuss common issues and challenges, share experiences, and receive continued instruction and guidance from the Capstone faculty on project management and methodologies. The Planning Capstone semester concludes with the submission of all deliverables and a formal presentation to the client and Capstone faculty.

For more information about the Planning Capstone option, please visit the Capstone webpage on the college website.

Planning Thesis comprises a pair of three-credit courses (A and B) taken over two semesters that together constitute a six-credit effort. The thesis option is most appropriate for outstanding MURP students who are considering pursuing a Ph.D. or a research-oriented career after graduation. More information about the thesis option can be found in the MURP Student Handbook.