Urban & Regional Planning

The Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, which is under the sponsorship of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), American Planning Association (APA), and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).

The curriculum includes a 43-credit core that focuses on the history and theory of planning as a field, plan implementation, analytical methods (including Geographic Information Systems [GIS]), and the dynamics of metropolitan development. A two-term planning workshop and an internship experience are also required.

Experiential learning is an integral component of the program. Internships in the region are plentiful and varied, and include opportunities such as working with Metro's state-of-the-art transportation planning model, with a non-profit community development corporation to revitalize neighborhoods, or with a bi-state agency to implement the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Act.

The program offers specializations in five field areas: community development, environment, land use, urban transportation, and community economic development. Remaining credits are taken as electives or as a second specialization.

Students can transfer up to 24 credits of course work taken at another university or at PSU prior to admission, provided that the courses were taken within seven years of completion of the MURP program, that they fit within the student's program of study and have not been used to obtain another degree.

Stay up-to-date with the latest news and information about all things MURP at
http://planning.groups.pdx.edu

Requirements

To be considered for admission as a regular degree student, the applicant must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all undergraduate courses or must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in all graduate credits earned at accredited institutions (at least 12 credits). Applications will not be considered unless they are complete. International students must submit TOEFL scores of 550 or better (taken within two years) if their native language is not English.

Please Note: Applications can be downloaded and completed online. Application instructions and answers to frequently asked admissions questions may be found on our website as well.

www.pdx.edu/usp/admissions.html

If you have any questions about the admissions process, please call the School of Urban Studies and Planning Office at (503) 725-4045 or email susp@pdx.edu.

Financial Aid

Graduate research assistantships are awarded annually to several qualified students. Assistantship awards are reviewed annually and can be renewed for no more than one additional year of full-time study for master-level students. These assistantships cover tuition and pay a monthly stipend. Research assistants divide their time between their studies and various assignments such as assisting faculty in research, classroom instruction, or work in a research institute.

All qualified applicants may be considered for financial aid in the form of student loans. Contact Portland State University's Financial Aid Office at (503) 725-3461.