Masters of Urban Planning and Development
Cleveland State University's Master of Urban Planning and Development (MUPD) program educates current and future urban planning and development professionals and equips them with the knowledge and skills to effect positive change for diverse and dynamic metropolitan regions and communities within a global context. We prepare students to analyze and address past, present, and future urban conditions and planning and development issues and provide them the opportunity to develop technical expertise in areas of practice. Through our curriculum, engaged activities, and faculty research, we generate innovative ideas that foster livable, equitable, vibrant, and sustainable futures, particularly for legacy cities.
The MUPD program offers a broad educational experience to meet the needs of students and the planning profession. The program accommodates both full- and part-time students, with most required courses offered after 4:00pm. We offer in-house student support services, including student advising, to facilitate student achievement. Our students have opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, primarily through the CSU-APA student organization. The Master of Urban Planning and Development program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.
Students may use their electives to pursue a generalist program or opt to complete one of the following specializations: economic development, environmental sustainability, geographic information systems, historic preservation, housing and neighborhood development, real estate development and finance,
Urban Building
Phone: 216.687.3884
urbanprograms@csuohio.edu
Program Requirements
- UST 585 - GIS Principles
- UST 636 - Public Budgeting and Finance
- UST 605 - Regional Theory and Analysis
- UST 607 - Planning History & Theory
- UST 671 - Urban Colloquium
- UST 608 - Planning for the Built Environment
- UST 503 - Graphics for Urban Professionals
- UST 613 - Land Use Planning & Sustainable Development
- UST 609 - Planning Law
- UST 579 - Civic Engagement
- UST 611 - Planning Studio
Economic Development
- UST 524 - Distressed People, Distressed Places
- UST 622 - Economic Development Policy
- UST 626 - Workforce Development
- UST 629 - Economic Development Finance
Environmental Sustainability
Minimum of 3 courses. Either UST 553 or UST 653 is required.
- UST 553 - Environmental & Sustainability Planning
- UST 653 - Environmental Planning II
- UST 540 - Environment and Human Affairs
- UST 542 - Environmental Finance and Capital Budgeting
- UST 652 - Environmental Policy and Administration
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- UST 585 - GIS Principles
- UST 586 - GIS Methods
- UST 587 - GIS Applications
Historic Preservation
4 courses - 3 are required (UST 576, UST 578 and UST 580) plus one elective.
- UST 576 - Historic Preservation
- UST 578 - Contemporary Issues in Historic Preservation
- UST 580 - Conservation Techniques for Historic Preservation
- UST 610 - Development Process/Market Analysis
- UST 660 - Neighborhood Planning
- UST 693 - Special Topics
- UST 698 - Exit Project
- HIS 504 - U.S. Urban History
Housing and Neighborhood Development
Select 3 courses.
- UST 563 - Housing Analysis
- UST 610 - Development Process/Market Analysis
- UST 623 - Urban Development Finance
- UST 660 - Neighborhood Planning
- UST 662 - Urban Housing Policy
Real Estate Development and Finance
- UST 610 - Development Process/Market Analysis
- FIN 610 - Real Estate Finance
- FIN 612 - Real Estate Investment
- UST 623 - Urban Development Finance
Additional Electives
Elective credits are designed to enhance current skills, fill gaps in substantive areas, or to develop additional concentration. Students may take additional courses in economic development, environmental and sustainability planning, historic preservation, housing, neighborhood planning, real estate, geographic information systems, negotiation and conflict management, urban diversity, research design, human settlements, policy development, and others. Students should work closely with the graduate advisor and MUPD faculty to select their electives and design a program of study that best suits their needs and interests.
- UST 504 - Fundamentals of Applied Reasoning
- UST 510 - Proposal Writing
- UST 512 - Managing Urban Diversity
- UST 572 - Negotiation and Conflict Management
- UST 574 - Washington Seminar
- UST 576 - Historic Preservation
- UST 577 - Regional Issues and Planning
- UST 578 - Contemporary Issues in Historic Preservation
- UST 602 - Research Design and Program Evaluation
- UST 606 - Evolution of Human Settlements
- UST 616 - Systems and Processes of Policy Development
- UST 690 - Urban Internship
- UST 693 - Special Topics
- UST 696 - Individual Research
- UST 697 - Readings In Urban Problems
- UST 698 - Exit Project
- UST 699 - Master's Thesis
Did You Know?
The median annual wage for urban and regional planners was $73,050 in May 2018.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Outcomes
- Graduate urban planning education offers students the opportunity to pursue careers in city or regional planning, housing and neighborhood development, real estate finance and development, economic development, environmental planning, historic preservation, and geographic information systems (GIS). Courses train new planners and upgrade the skills of existing planners, with an emphasis on contemporary planning theories, skills, and methods.
- MUPD graduates work in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Many graduates pursue careers with: city and county economic development agencies, city and county planning agencies, community development organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, nonprofit advocacy organizations, philanthropic foundations, private sector planning, development, and design firms, public or non-profit housing agencies, public park systems, real estate development firms, school districts, state and federal government agencies, university research centers, and watershed organizations.
- These are some of the local companies/organizations that are hiring CSU grads: The Bolton Group, City of Cleveland, City of Mentor, Team NEO, Madison Commercial Real Estate Services, RMS Investment Group, and Forest City Enterprises.
