mit phd urban studies and planning

Landscape + Urbanism at MIT

Master in City Planning (MCP)

Admissions to the mcp program, advising (mcp), degree requirements (mcp), thesis (mcp), field work and internships (mcp), master of science in urban studies and planning (sm), master of science in transportation (mst), master of science in real estate development (msred), dual and simultaneous degrees, certificates, planning accreditation board criterion 1d / public information.

Group photo from the 2022 DUSP student fall retreat. Photographer and drone operator: Yingu Pan

The Department of Urban Studies and Planning offers degrees in a Master in City Planning and Master of Science in Urban Studies and Planning and supports dual degrees with virtually any other department at MIT. On this page you will find additional information about your options as a masters degree student at DUSP.

DUSP provides graduate professional education for individuals who will assume planning roles in public, private, and nonprofit agencies, firms, and international institutions, in the United States and abroad. The Master in City Planning (MCP) is a professional degree in the field of planning and seeks to provide MCP students with the skills and specialized knowledge needed to fill traditional and emerging planning roles. The two-year MCP program emphasizes the mastery of the tools necessary for effective practice, and is therefore distinct from liberal arts programs in urban affairs. An intensive course of study stresses skills for policy analysis and institutional intervention.

MCP graduates work in a broad array of roles, from traditional city planning to economic, social, and environmental planning. In addition to its basic core requirements, the program offers four areas of specialization: city design and development; environmental policy and planning; housing, community, and economic development; international development; urban science; and mobility. MCP students, in their application to the department, select one of these areas of specialization.

Admission to the MCP Program is highly competitive. Approximately 55-60 new students enroll each year from an applicant pool of about 400+. Of these, 30 percent are international students, approximately 50 percent are women, and about 20 percent of domestic students are from underrepresented minority groups. Most applicants have strong academic records coupled with some field experience. Also considered are promising applicants who are changing fields. 

For more information, please visit the Admissions page.

The relationship between advisee and academic advisor shapes academic decisions and develop career options for advisees. Advisors are responsible for: assisting their advisees select subjects and approve registration each term; collaboratively review degree requirements; availability for consultation, review, and approval of appropriate changes to advisee registration status; assessing advisees ability and performance in class and at MIT, offering appraisals, recommendations, or performance evaluations when appropriate. 

In addition, student support resources may be found here . Detailed best practices for MIT graduate advisors may be found here. 

A collection of subjects and requirements to be taken during the students two years in the MCP program constitute a core experience viewed as central to the professional program and consisting of an integrated set of subjects and modules designed to introduce planning practices, methods, contemporary challenges, and the economic and social institutions within which planners work. 

The core subjects and requirements include the following:

First Semester (Fall)

• 11.200 Gateway
• 11.205 Introduction to Spatial Analysis
• 11.220 Quantitative Reasoning
• 11.222 Introduction to Critical Qualitative Methods
• 11.328 Introduction to Urban Design

Second Semester (Spring)

• 11.202 Planning Economics
• 11.203 Microeconomics

Additional Requirements

• A practicum course-- complete one of several designated courses that provide the opportunity to synthesize planning solutions within the constraints of client-based project
• A thesis clinic and signed thesis proposal completed in the third term of study

Through lectures, case studies, and hands-on experience, students become familiar with theories of planning and their application in professional practice. Students are encouraged to take one of the Department's many workshop and studio subjects that engage planning issues in real-world settings. Entering students with significant knowledge in Microeconomics, Data Management and Spatial Analysis, Design, Qualitative Research and/or Quantitative Reasoning may test out of these requirements.

During the course of four semesters, students typically take about 14 subjects from a selection of about 90 graduate subjects offered by the Department and additional courses offered elsewhere at MIT, Harvard and other area universities. Independent Activities Period (IAP) in January offers the opportunity to take additional short subjects or workshops or to conduct thesis research. Students must complete a total of 126 units of coursework and 24 units of thesis to graduate with a Master in City Planning degree.

The MCP program is designed to be completed in four semesters, but students can finish in three semesters if all requirements are met.

The fourth semester is devoted to completing a thesis and rounding out course work leading to graduation. A thesis in the MCP program may take one of several forms: an independent scholarly research project guided by an advisor and readers; a directed thesis contributing to a larger research effort directed by a faculty member; or a professionally oriented thesis developed in the context of a studio or practicum course. In all cases the thesis must be a piece of original, creative work conceived and developed by the student.

Students in the MCP program are encouraged to integrate field work and internships with academic course work. The Department provides a variety of individual and group field placements involving varying degrees of faculty participation and supervision, as well as a number of seminars in which students have an opportunity to discuss their field experience.

Under special circumstances, admission may be granted to a limited number candidates seeking a one-year Master of Science (SM) degree. The SM is a non-professional degree intended for professionals with a number of years of distinguished practice in city planning or related fields who: have a clear idea of the courses they want to take at MIT, the thesis they want to write and the DUSP faculty member with whom they wish to work. That faculty member must be prepared to advise the candidate when at MIT and to submit a letter of recommendation so indicating as part of the candidate's application. This process means that prior to submitting an application, the candidate must contact the appropriate DUSP faculty member and work out such a relationship. To successfully obtain the SM students must have satisfactorily completed a program of study of at least 66 subject units, including a submitted thesis proposal, signed by a thesis advisor at the end of the fall semester, and a completed thesis at the end of the spring semester. The SM degree does not require the candidate to take the core courses, which are mandatory for the MCP degree.

Please note, there is no departmental funding available to support the SM program a this time.

The Master of Science in Transportation (M.S.T.) degree program emphasizes the complexity of transportation, lying at the intersection of technology, operations, planning, management, and policy-making. The program is interdepartmental, drawing on coursework, faculty, and research staff from across MIT. During the two-year program, students work closely with a research advisor to select an individually-designed area of focus within the realm of transportation. Requirements include coursework across different aspects of transportation, as well as specialized work in the designated area of choice.

Learn more via the MIT Mobility Initiative website

Drawing on resources from the MIT School of Architecture and Urban Planning, the MIT School of Engineering, the Department of Economics, and the MIT Sloan School of Management, the Master of Science in Real Estate Development (MSRED) offers a specialized education beyond the scope of a traditional MBA. Our multidisciplinary master’s program incorporates every topic that impacts the real estate industry and is built on three intellectual pillars: Finance and Economics; Design and Development; Sustainability and Technology.

Learn more via the MIT Center for Real Estate website

Students may pursue dual degrees in other departments at MIT, provided they are accepted for admission and complete degree requirements in each department.

Some common dual degrees completed by planning students are with architecture, real estate development, and transportation ( MArcH , SMArchS , MSRED , MST ). In addition to taking courses in other departments at MIT, students may cross-register at Harvard and other area universities, thereby allowing a wide range of course opportunities.

Students wishing to pursue a dual degree are encouraged to apply to both programs simultaneously. If admitted to both programs, you will have the most flexibility for program cadence and you will be able to plan your studies with the knowledge if you are in a dual program.

If you have additional questions about applying and completing a dual degree, please contact  [email protected] .  

Some students in the MCP program choose to complete additional requirements for professional certificates associated with program groups. Students wishing to pursue any certificate must declare and formally submit their intention to do so at least one semester before graduation. Currently students may choose to complete a:

• Any student in DUSP who meet the requirements will be eligible to receive an Environmental Planning Certificate when they graduate. The requirements are completion of (1) 11.601 (the graduate Introduction to Environmental Policy and Planning; (2) an environmental management practicum such as 11.360 or 11.362; and (3) six subjects, at least one from each of five listed sub-areas: Science, Health and Political Decision-making; Land Use, Growth Management and Restoration; Ecology and Landscape; Facility Siting, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development; and Methods of Environmental Planning and Analysis.
• This certificate is intended to provide graduates seeking jobs in the environmental planning field a competitive edge by acknowledging the specialized competence and skills they have acquired. 
• Apply for the Environmental Planning Certificate.
• The Department of Architecture and the Department of Urban Studies and Planning offer a joint graduate program in urban design, and recognize the completion of this program by awarding a Certificate in Urban Design. 
• To earn the Certificate in Urban Design students must first be admitted and enrolled in the MArch, SMArchS, MCP, or MS degree programs and complete at least one subject in each of six curriculum areas. At least one subject must be at an advanced level. The Urban Design Seminar, covering key issues and trends in city design, is a required subject for all certificate students, providing a common experience and base of knowledge.
• Students pursuing the Certificate in Urban Design will be expected to complete a thesis on a topic substantially related to urban design, and at least one member of their thesis committee must be a member of the City Design and Development faculty. Students’ thesis proposals must also be approved by the Certificate committee.
• Apply for the Urban Design Certificate.
• Overall, how would you rate the quality of your academic experience at MIT?: 83% responded "good", "very good", or "excellent";
• Overall, how would you rate the quality of teaching by faculty?: 74% responded "good", "very good", or "excellent";
• Overall, how would you rate the overall program quality?: 85% responded "good", "very good", or "excellent."
• In State Residents, per full-time academic year:    $ 59,750
• Out of State Residents, per full-time academic year    $ 59,750
• Percentage of students who began studies in fall 2022 and continued into fall 2023:    100%
• Percentage of students graduating within 4 years, entering class of 2019:    98%
• Number of degrees awarded for the 2022 - 2023 Academic Year:    44
• Percentage of master’s graduates taking the AICP exam within 3 years who pass, graduating class of 2019:   100%
• Percentage of all   graduates obtaining professional planning, planning-related, or other positions within 12 months of graduation, graduating class of 2022:    86-97%

We welcome any feedback you have about the DUSP masters programs. 

• Questions, concerns, and/or complaints regarding registration, enrollment, leaves, exams and/or other student requirements should be addressed to the Academics team.
• Questions, concerns, and/or complaints regarding regarding the masters programs' student process should be addressed to the MCP Committee co-Chairs ( see DUSP Governance )

Suggestions or feedback?

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Urban studies and planning

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Prof. Carlo Ratti and the WeBuildGroup have developed a proposal to help rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, reports Anna Cooban for CNN. Ratti explained that the blueprint was designed to “produce a safer bridge by widening the channels through which ships can pass, among other measures.” The design will help prevent “the risk of a tragedy such as the one of March 26 happening again,” Ratti explains. 

David Zipper, a senior fellow at the MIT Mobility Lab, writes for Bloomberg about how the findings of William Whyte, an urbanist observer and writer, on what attracts people to urban spaces could be used to help draw people back to downtown areas after the Covid-19 pandemic. “Whyte’s insights suggest a need to build comfortable, pleasant places that invite people to linger, perhaps eating a meal or buying a new shirt while they’re there,” writes Zipper. “And his research serves as a reminder that good public spaces strengthen human relationships, offering an antidote to the loneliness epidemic said to afflict a growing number of Americans.”

Financial Times

Financial Times reporters Andrew Hill and Emma Jacobs spotlight how Prof. Carlo Ratti and his colleagues have found that “people are traveling less far from their homes, consistent with more remote working.” The findings demonstrate a more flexible approach to commuting. “That’s good news [for cities], because the problem is not a problem of capacity, it’s a problem of peaks,” Ratti explains.

New York Times

New York Times reporter Stephen Wallis spotlights Prof. Carlo Ratti’s proposal for the world’s first “farmscraper” in Shenzhen, China, a 51-story building that would be wrapped in a vertical hydroponic farm and could produce enough food annually to feed 40,000 people. “At this critical moment, what we architects do matters more than ever,” Ratti emphasizes. “Every kilowatt-hour of solar power, every unit of zero-carbon housing and every calorie of sustainably sourced vegetables will be multiplied across history.”

BioBot - a public health research, data and analytics firm co-founded by Mariana Matus PhD '18 and Newsha Ghaeli PhD '17 - is using wastewater testing to provide insights into growing infection rates and diseases across the country, reports Soledad O’Brien for WCVB-TV.

The Boston Globe

Prof. Kent Larson speaks with Boston Globe reporter Scott Kirsner about City Science, a research group at the MIT Media Lab that studies urban development. Larson says “home manufacturers typically run into two problems: ‘negative stereotypes’ about prefabricated housing and unpredictable demand, which makes it difficult to keep a factory operating steadily,” writes Kirsner. 

Writing for The Boston Globe , Prof. Carlo Ratti addresses New York’s congestion pricing plan – an attempt to prevent traffic build up and improve public transportation – and ways Boston can develop a similar and more effective policy. “With congestion pricing, the city and state can combat the climate emergency, the cost of living crisis, and improve quality of life,” says Ratti. “If they don’t take action now, something even worse will come to pass: Boston will find itself outdone by New York.”

Writing for Bloomberg, Prof. Carlo Ratti and Arianna Salazar-Miranda SM '16, PhD '23 explore the possibility and potential of developing 15-minute cities in America. “If implemented correctly, the 15-minute city can be an agent of freedom: freedom from traffic jams, freedom to live in a healthy environment and freedom to be outside,” they write. “It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but our research shows that almost every community in America could benefit from a few more well-placed amenities.”

Writing for Financial Times , Prof. Carlo Ratti examines recent attempts to shorten journeys between major cities, such as a hyperloop system that would transport passengers via giant vacuum tubes from London to Paris in about 20 minutes. “Customers clearly prefer a smooth experience to maximum speed,” writes Ratti. “They might also be choosing the Eurostar for having a carbon footprint that is about 95 per cent less than that of aircraft. While the hyperloop might have emitted less per journey than a plane, and perhaps even a high-speed train, its construction would have had a huge environmental cost.”

Commonwealth Beacon

Lecturer James Aloisi  and several students from his urban planning and policy course write for Commonwealth Beacon about their proposals for creating a better public transportation connection between Kendall Square and Logan Airport. “It should not be acceptable that, in greater Boston in the 21st Century, a traveler cannot easily and conveniently connect by transit from one of the nation’s most important innovation and academic centers to the international airport, a mere three miles away,” writes Aloisi. “We can do better, and we must do better if we want to do more than just pretend that we live in a livable, sustainable region.”

Marketplace

David Zipper, a senior fellow at the MIT Mobility Initiative, speaks with Kai Ryssdal of Marketplace about how cars in the U.S. are getting heavier and larger, and the environmental and safety costs associated with larger vehicles. “For decades, people who buy enormous, very heavy cars have been creating societal costs that they aren’t paying for. That’s what’s called a market failure,” said Zipper. “So if you want the market for automobiles to succeed, we need to make sure that when people are shopping for their next car, they are considering the societal costs of their purchase.”

Writing for The New York Times , Prof. Carlo Ratti and Harvard Prof. Edward L. Glaeser make the case that “the Bay Area needs a lot more housing, and we may need privately built cities to get there.” Ratti and Glaeser note, “building in the Bay Area will enable America to continue its history of allowing people to relocate to more productive places.”

La Biennale di Venezia’s Board of Directors has named Prof. Carlo Ratti as the curator for the 19 th International Architecture Exhibition, reports DesignBoom . “Recognized as one of the leading scholars in urban planning, Ratti has co-authored more than 750 publications,” notes DesignBoom , adding that his, “involvement in curatorial projects spans various countries and prestigious platforms.”

Prof. Carlo Ratti has been named curator of the 2025 International Architecture Exhibition, the Biennale Architettura, reports Maria-Cristina Florian for ArchDaily . “We architects like to think we are smart, but real intelligence is everywhere,” says Ratti. “The disembodied ingenuity of evolution, the growing power of computers, and the collective wisdom of the crowd. To face a burning world, architecture must harness all the intelligence around us. I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to curate the Biennale Architettura 2025.” 

The Washington Post

Prof. Albert Saiz speaks with Washington Post reporter Andrew Van Dam about the influence of geographical regions in politics. “High-amenity areas are more desirable and tend to attract the highly skilled,” says Saiz. “These metros tend to have harder land constraints to start with, which begets more expensive housing prices which, in turn, activate more NIMBY activism to protect that wealth.”

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DUSP – Discover Urban Studies and Planning

80% of Americans and 50% of people worldwide live in urban areas. Almost all population growth in the next 50 years will take place in cities—mostly in the developing world.  Have you ever wondered how cities work, and what their impact is on the people who live in them and the surrounding landscape? In the Department of Urban Studies & Planning, we investigate the dynamics of cities in both the developed and developing world. Using technology and applied social science we work to understand and design solutions to real-world urban problems, such as poverty and environmental degradation. Our goal is to train students to be creative, nimble problem-solvers who can work anywhere in the world on the problems facing cities in the 21st century.

The Program

This program provides a four-day whirlwind tour of Greater Boston, from the inside out. Our goal is to give students a sense of how one of America’s historic cities has developed and is responding to the sustainability challenge of the 21st century. Together with faculty and students, we invite you to learn the ideas behind urban development – and then explore them in action in your new home of Boston.

What We’ll Do

The FPOP will include a mix of classroom presentations, interactive activities, and tours of the City around us.  Among the specific issues we’ll consider are:

• How do people get around in cities, and how do urban transit systems work?
• How is urban green space designed, and how does green space affect urban life?
• What are cities doing to become more environmentally sustainable?
• How can cities preserve diversity and promote affordability?
• How can computers, modeling, and simulation help us understand and respond to new urban challenges?
• How vulnerable are coastal cities to climate change, and what are they doing to adapt to sea-level rise, storms, and other consequences?

We’re looking forward to meeting you soon and learning your ideas about cities, neighborhoods, and design.

DUSP Specifics

• Dates:  Tuesday, August 20 – Saturday, August 25, 2024
• Available spaces:  12
• Cost:  No charge

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Doctoral Degrees

A doctoral degree requires the satisfactory completion of an approved program of advanced study and original research of high quality..

Please note that the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (ScD) degrees are awarded interchangeably by all departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science, except in the fields of biology, cognitive science, neuroscience, medical engineering, and medical physics. This means that, excepting the departments outlined above, the coursework and expectations to earn a Doctor of Philosophy and for a Doctor of Science degree from these schools are generally the same. Doctoral students may choose which degree they wish to complete.

Applicants interested in graduate education should apply to the department or graduate program conducting research in the area of interest. Some departments require a doctoral candidate to take a “minor” program outside of the student’s principal field of study; if you wish to apply to one of these departments, please consider additional fields you may like to pursue.

Below is a list of programs and departments that offer doctoral-level degrees.

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Prizes & Honors 2024

Each year at commencement, the Harvard Graduate School of Design confers awards on graduating students who demonstrate exceptional scholarly achievement, leadership, and service. Congratulations to the student award recipients, and to all 2024 graduates for your tremendous accomplishments.

Prize-Winning Thesis Projects

Keur fàttaliku — the house of recollection.

Mariama M.M. Kah (MArch II ’ 24)

Yeonho Lee (MArch II ’ 24)

How to (Un)build a House? A Reinvention of Wood Framing

Clara Mu He (MArch I ’ 24)

Learning from Quartzsite, AZ: Emerging Nomadic Spatial Practices in America

• Mojtaba Nabavi (MAUD ’24)

Reforesting Fort Ord

• Slide Kelly (MLA I AP, MDes ’24)

INSURGENT GEOLOGY: Mineral Matters in the Arctic

Melanie Louterbach (MLA I ’24)

Seeding Grounds: Working Beyond Arcadia in The Pyrocene

by Stewart Crane Sarris (MLA I ’24)

School Awards

Gerald m. mccue medal.

The Gerald M. McCue Medal is awarded each year to the student graduating from one of the school’s post-professional degree programs who has achieved the highest overall academic record.

• Haewon Ma (MDes ’24, Narratives Domain)

Digital Design Prize

The Digital Design Prize is presented by the Graduate School of Design to the students who have demonstrated the most imaginative and creative use of computer graphics in relation to the design professions.

• Chun Tak Chung (MArch I AP ’24)

Peter Rice Prize

The Peter Rice Prize honors students of exceptional promise in the school’s architecture and advanced degree programs who have proven their competence and innovation in advancing architecture and structural engineering.

• Clara Mu He (MArch I ’24)

  Plimpton-Poorvu Design Prize

The Plimpton-Poorvu Design Prize recognizes the top team or individual for a viable real estate project completed as part of the GSD curriculum that best demonstrates feasibility in design, construction, economics, and in fulfillment of market and user needs.

• 1st Prize: Ziyang Dong (MArch I ’25)
• 1st Prize: Jasmine Ibrahim (MRE ’24)
• 1st Prize:   Jian Li Oh (MUD ’24)
• 1st Prize: Benjamin John Parker (MAUD ’24)
• 2nd Prize: Chandler Caserta (MArch I ’25)
• 2nd Prize: Austin N Sun (MArch I, MLA AP ’24)
• 2nd Prize:   Kei Takanami  (MArch I ’25)
• 2nd Prize: Amber Zeng (MArch I ’25)
• 2nd Prize: Catherine Shuying Chen  (MArch I ’25)
• 2nd Prize: Aaron Smithson (MArch I, UP  ’25)
• 2nd Prize: Maggie May Weese (MUP, MPH ’24)
• Honorable Mention: Jaime Espinoza (MRE ’24)
• Honorable Mention:   Chris James (MRE ’24)
• Honorable Mention: Miguel Lantigua Inoa  (MArch II, MLA AP ’24)

Clifford Wong Prize in Housing Design

The Clifford Wong Prize in Housing Design aims to help re-establish the essential role of architects in society to provide not only the fundamental needs of human shelter but to meet the challenge of designing creative solutions for improving living environments. The prize is awarded for the multi-family housing design that incorporates the most interesting ideas and/or innovations that may lead to socially oriented, improved living conditions.

• Magdalen Elizabeth Musante (MArch I ’24)

Best Paper on Housing

• Jorge Enrique Mutis  (MAUD ’24)

Irving Innovation Fellowship

The Irving Innovation Fellowship offers a graduating student the opportunity to extend their research and discovery beyond their time as a student and work with a group of mentors and colleagues to contribute to the school’s pedagogy and dialogue on an annually changing topic.

• Melanie Louterbach (MLA I ’24)

Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship

• Kimberlee Diane Córdova (MDes ’24, Narratives Domain)

Druker Traveling Fellowship

Established in 1986, the Druker Traveling Fellowship is open to all students at the GSD who demonstrate excellence in the design of urban environments. It offers students the opportunity to travel in the United States or abroad to pursue study that advances understanding of urban design.

• Curry Julius Hackett (MAUD ’24)

Architecture Awards

American institute of architects medal.

The American Institute of Architects Medal is awarded to a professional degree student in the Master in Architecture graduating class who has achieved the highest level of excellence in overall scholarship throughout the course of their studies.

• Sungyeon Kristine Chung (MArch I ’24)

Alpha Rho Chi Medal

The Alpha Rho Chi Medal is awarded to the graduating student who has achieved the best general record of leadership and service to the department and who gives promise of professional merit through their character.

• Oluwatosin Odugbemi (MArch I ’24)

James Templeton Kelley Prize

The James Templeton Kelley Prize recognizes the best final design project submitted by a graduating student in the architecture degree programs.

• MArch I: Clara Mu He  (MArch I ’24)
• MArch II: Mariama M.M. Kah (MArch II ’24)
• MArch II: Yeonho Lee  (MArch II ’24)

Julia Amory Appleton Traveling Fellowship in Architecture

The Julia Amory Appleton Traveling Fellowship is given to a student in the Department of Architecture on the basis of academic achievement as well as the worthiness of the project to be undertaken.

Kevin V. Kieran Prize

The Kevin V. Kieran Prize recognizes the highest level of academic achievement among students graduating from the post-professional Master in Architecture program.

• Thomas Day (MArch II ’24)

Dept. of Architecture Faculty Design Award

The Department of Architecture Faculty Design Award was established by the faculty of the Department of Architecture with the aim of recognizing significant achievement within a body of design work completed by a student at the GSD. This award is given to graduating students from each of the department’s two program.

• Siyu Zhu (MArch I ’24)
• Ihwa Choi (MArch II ’24)

Dept. of Architecture Certificate of Academic Excellence

The Department of Architecture Certificate of Academic Excellence is awarded by the faculty of the Department of Architecture to a graduate of the professional degree program in architecture (MArch I) in recognition of their academic achievement throughout their course of study in the program.

• Nana Komoriya (MArch I ’24)

Landscape Architecture Awards

Thesis prize in landscape architecture.

The Landscape Architecture Thesis Prize is given to the graduating student who has prepared the best independent thesis during the past academic year.

• Melanie Louterbach  (MLA I ’24)
• Stewart Crane Sarris (MLA I ’24)

American Society of Landscape Architects Certificates

Nominated by the faculty in the GSD’s Department of Landscape Architecture, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) awards a certificate of Honor and a Certificate of Merit to students enrolled in the Master in Landscape Architecture program who have “demonstrated a high degree of academic scholarship and of accomplishment in skills related to the art and technology of landscape architecture.”

• Leila Sophia Breen (MLA I ’24), Certificate of Merit
• Julia Leah Hedges (MLA I ’24), Certificate of Merit
• Kai Alycia Walcott (MLA I ’24), Certificate of Merit
• Brian Kohan (MLA I AP ’24), Certificate of Honor
• Xinran Ma ( MLA I  ’24), Certificate of Honor
• Zeinab Maghdouri Khubnama (MLA I AP ’24), Certificate of Honor

Norman T. Newton Prize

The Norman T. Newton Prize is given to a graduating landscape architecture student whose work best exemplifies achievement in design expression as realized in any medium.

• Christopher Lucas Dobbin (MLA I AP ’24)

Peter Walker & Partners Fellowship for Landscape Architecture

The Peter Walker and Partners Fellowship for Landscape Architecture is awarded to support travel and study for a graduating GSD student to advance their understanding of the body of scholarship and practices related to landscape design.

• Gracie Rae Meek (MLA I AP ’24)
• Daniella Renee Slowik (MLA II ’24)

Jacob Weidenman Prize

The Jacob Weidenmann Prize is awarded to the student of the most distinguished design achievement graduating from the Department of Landscape Architecture.

• Nakakamol Chueathue (MLA II  ’24)

Charles Eliot Traveling Fellowship in Landscape Architecture

The Charles Eliot Traveling Fellowship is awarded annually as the highest honor by the Department of Landscape Architecture to one of its graduates.

Urban Planning and Design Awards

Academic excellence in urban planning.

The Award for Academic Excellence in Urban Planning and Urban Design honors graduating students from each of the programs who have achieved the highest academic record.

• Daniel Montoya (MUP ’24)
• Michael Christopher Whelan (MUP ’24)

Academic Excellence in Urban Design

• Benjamin John Parker  (MAUD ’24)

Award for Outstanding Leadership in Urban Planning and Urban Design

The Award for Outstanding Leadership in Urban Planning and Urban Design honors graduating students from each of the programs who have demonstrated outstanding leadership during their time at the Graduate School of Design.

• Olufemi Olamijulo (MUP ’24)
• Pia Kochar  (MUP ’24)

Thesis Prize in Urban Planning & Design

The Planning and Design Thesis Prize is given to the graduating students in each of the programs who have prepared the best independent theses during the past academic year.

Award for Excellence in Project-Based Urban Planning

The Award for Excellence in Project-Based Urban Planning is given to students who have demonstrated exceptional ability in urban planning projects including research and design studios throughout their course of study.

• Nur Shlapobersky (MUP ’24)

Award for Excellence in Urban Design

The Award for Excellence in Urban Design is given to students who have demonstrated exceptional design ability throughout their course of study in the Urban Design program.

• Yimeng Ding (MAUD ’24)

American Planning Association Outstanding Student Award

The American Planning Association Outstanding Student Award recognizes outstanding attainment in the study of planning by students graduating from accredited planning programs. The recipient of the award is chosen by a jury of planning faculty at each school.

• Briana Villaverde Uriarte (MUP ’24)

Design Studies Awards

Dimitris pikionis award.

The Dimitris Pikionis Award recognizes a student for outstanding academic performance in the Master in Design Studies degree program.

• Rosita Palladino (MDes ’24, Ecologies Domain)

Design Studies Domain Awards

• Treyden Chiaravalloti (MDes ’24, Mediums Domain)
• Huirong Ye (MDes ’24, Narratives Domain)
• Gabriel Jean-Paul Soomar (MArch II, MDes ’24, Publics Domain)

Design Engineering Awards

Overall academic performance award.

The Overall Academic Performance Award recognizes a graduating MDE student for outstanding academic performance in the Master in Design Engineering degree program.

• Binita Gupta (MDE ’24)

Leadership and Community Prize

The Leadership and Community Prize recognizes one or more graduating students who have displayed outstanding leadership and community building within the Design Engineering cohort and who have represented MDE values to the larger world.

• Ghalya Alsanea (MDE ’24)
• Priyanka Pillai (MDE ’24)

Outstanding Design Engineering Project

• Julius Stein (MDE ’24)

Alumni Award

The Alumni Award recognizes and celebrates the diversity, range, and impact of outstanding GSD alumni leaders within their communities and across their areas of practice. It underscores the essential role GSD graduates play in leading change around the world.  Founded and led by the GSD Alumni Council, 2024 marks the fourth year of this initiative.

• Ron Ostberg, who received his Master in Architecture (MArch) from the GSD in 1968

Ron Ostberg receives this award for exceptional service to the GSD community, outstanding ambassadorship to the school through the broader university and Harvard Alumni Association, and for playing a critical role in forming the Alumni Council as we know it today.

• Gretchen Schneider Rabinkin, who received her Master in Architecture (MArch) from the GSD in 1997

As Executive Director, Gretchen Schneider Rabinkin oversees operations and management of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, one of the largest, oldest, and most active chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

• Harry G. Robinson, III, who received his Master in City Planning in Urban Design from the GSD in 1973

Harry G. Robinson is a former professor of architecture and Dean Emeritus of the School of Architecture and Design at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

• Calvin Tsao, who received his Master in Architecture from the GSD in 1979

Calvin Tsao is a recognized and leading voice in contemporary architecture whose work draws from a lively engagement with a variety of art forms.

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Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Application Deadline: January 15 annually

Enrollment Deposit and Intent to Enroll Deadline: April 15 annually

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A top program for urban and regional planning graduate programs by Planetizen , our Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.) degree prepares students to become leaders who plan for and engage with communities for the greater good. Graduates apply their knowledge and technical skills in a wide variety of settings, from private business to social impact non-profit organizations to public sector agencies at all levels.

Applied Planning Skills

Community and Economic Development

Global and Comparative Planning

Housing and Equitable Development

Land Use and Environmental Planning

Physical Planning and Design

Social Justice and Urban Development

Sustainability, Resilience, Adaptation and Climate Change

Transportation Planning

Focus Areas

The Master of Urban Regional Planning program’s flexible curriculum provides students the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics in the field of urban and regional planning or gain depth in a specific area. These areas include Applied Planning Skills; Community and Economic Development; Global and Comparative Planning; Housing and Equitable Development; Land Use and Environmental Planning; Physical Planning and Design; Social Justice and Urban Development; Sustainability, Resilience, Adaptation, and Climate Change; and Transportation Planning.

/ Student Work: Exit Projects

Most students participate in a Capstone project in the final semester of the program. Students can also undertake an individual professional project or thesis as an alternative exit project . Many of these plans, developed by students for real clients, have won awards from the National American Planning Association and the Michigan Association of Planning.

See more Projects

/ Paying for your Degree

Making decisions about the next step in your educational journey is a time full of opportunity and potential; however, it may also be accompanied by concerns regarding paying for your degree. There are numerous financial resources to help you manage tuition and living expenses.

/ Sample Schedule

A series of core courses serves to give the student a broad-based knowledge of planning. These classes deal with urban and regional planning analysis, history and theory, professional practice, and the social, economic, political, legal, and physical aspects of planning.

/ Accredited Degree

The M.U.R.P. degree, which is formally accredited through the Planning Accreditation Board , takes a broad view of the scope of urban and regional planning. The core courses provide a foundation for all areas of planning, and electives at both Taubman and other highly-ranked UM graduate programs provide flexibility to shape your studies to your interests.

Taubman College Career and Professional Development offers a variety of programs, services and resources to assist students and alumni in exploring careers, securing positions and continuing skill development and management.

For additional information on career opportunities, visit our career and professional development page.

/ STEM Designated Degree Program

The Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree is an approved field of study within the U.S. government’s official STEM fields list. When a student earns a degree in a field on the STEM fields list, they may be eligible for the 24-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension. OPT is defined as practical work experience in your field of study after completion of a degree. With a STEM degree, a student’s “regular” OPT of 12 months may be extended for an additional 24 months. For further details regarding STEM extensions contact the International Center.

Taubman College Pathways

The Taubman College Pathways program seeks to create avenues to diversify the Taubman College community and the fields of architecture and urban planning. Geared toward those exploring graduate education, the program provides an opportunity for career exploration and learning more about Taubman College’s academic offerings in an intimate setting. Our goal is to expand the diversity of our College and disciplines in as many ways as possible, including but not limited to socioeconomic status, educational experiences, race/ethnicity, etc.

/ Why Urban Planning in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan is a phenomenal place to study urban planning. A city with progressive urban planning efforts, Ann Arbor has been called the sixth borough, the 21st arrondissement, the second Loop, and the seventh Zone. Explore this website to discover why Ann Arbor is the #6 best city to live in America (niche.com)!

/ Concurrent Undergraduate/Graduate Studies (CUGS)

A CUGS student graduates with a Master in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree in one additional year after the combined year.

Up to 15 credits of graduate-level courses may be counted toward both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees. Students interested in CUGS should consult their undergraduate advisors and the Taubman College Urban and Regional Planning Program in their sophomore year. To be eligible for the CUGS option, a student must have a 3.7 GPA or greater and have completed at least 105 credits before dual enrollment begins. Students earning dual bachelor’s degrees are NOT eligible for CUGS.

The applicant must first submit a written request for entering CUGS to the appropriate advisor in LSA Newnan, LSA Honors, or the Residential College. If the applicant’s request is granted, the student is provided a letter expressing this approval. Applicants must submit the Rackham application, the application fee, and a letter of approval from the appropriate advisor serving as a proxy of the Dean of LSA by October 15th of their junior year. International applicants are also required to submit financial resource information. Applications for CUGS are evaluated by looking at a student’s breadth of the undergraduate program, commitment to the field, degree of motivation, academic ability, and GPA, among other factors ordinarily used by graduate admissions committees.

More detailed information on the application procedure can be obtained from the following:

• Taubman College CUGS Application Guide  (PDF 165KB)
• Concurrent Undergraduate/Graduate Studies (CUGS) Election Form  (PDF 477KB)
• Rackham Graduate School

/ Frequently Asked Questions

Are there opportunities for hybrid, virtual, or part time courses.

Courses are offered fully in-person. The MURP Program is a full time program and does not offer part-time options.

Is it required or expected of me to reach out to the Faculty before I apply?

No, but you are welcome to reach out to any faculty member that you want to connect with.

I do not have an undergraduate degree in urban planning, will my application be considered for this program?

Yes, we accept students from various backgrounds of study and work experience.

My English proficiency score doesn’t meet the minimum requirement, can I still apply?

Yes, you can still apply. However, Taubman College doesn’t provide conditional admission. We encourage you to retake the test until you receive the minimum score.

Will I be considered for assistantships when I apply for admission?

Taubman College assistantships are available for students to apply after one semester enrolled. Please review the Paying for Your Degree webpage for additional funding resources.

When will I receive my admission decision?

Applicants will be notified of their admission decision by late-February or early March. If you are admitted, you will see that you have been recommended for admission via the online Wolverine Access web application status portal. Decision  letters are sent via email. Any merit scholarship award decisions made by the Program Chair will be noted in the letter of admission.

When do I need to enter my decision?

April 15th. Students choosing to accept admission to the Master of Science must pay a $500 enrollment deposit. Payment may be completed online by e-check through Wolverine Access , credit card, or in the form of a check or money order (in US dollars) made payable to University of Michigan. This deposit reserves your space in the program. The $500 payment will be credited to your student account and applied toward your tuition.

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