School of Planning, Design and Construction

Program Overview

The graduate program leading to a degree of Master in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) is committed to preparing students for professional planning careers in both the private and public sectors and seeks to develop both general planning knowledge and specific skills for practice. The program provides students with an advanced understanding of environment-, economy- and society-related planning issues using scientific, social scientific or humanistic approaches. Current faculty research and teaching expertise covers a wide range of planning subjects including urban design; land use planning; land use law; housing; community, economic and real estate development; natural resources; research methods; international development; transportation; technology; environmental planning; and public policy. The MURP degree is a nationally accredited degree and admits students with a variety of academic backgrounds.  Ideal students are those with strong intellectual ability; good written and verbal communication skills; basic statistical methods; and have demonstrated a proven potential for leadership in the field of urban and regional planning.

A student entering the graduate program in urban and regional planning is expected to concentrate, under faculty guidance, on studies that provide an optimum learning experience in applying the various scientific principles, theories, techniques, and design skills of planning to specific field problems. The graduate student is immersed in significant planning studies and research. The graduate program is designed to provide professional competence. After graduation, the student should be capable of assuming responsibilities on an intermediate level of a professional planning operation. The master's program in Urban and Regional Planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).

Program Components/ Plan Options

Both Thesis and Non-Thesis options are available. Regardless of the option selected most students complete the MURP degree in two years and should be capable of assuming responsibilities on an intermediate level of a profession planning operation. 

Plan A – Thesis Option

Students who choose this option will develop an academic program of study with their Major Professor. The student will then present a Thesis proposal to their Major Professor and Guidance Committee. Graduate Students enrolled in the Plan A option are required to pass an oral examination in defense of the Thesis and coursework.  . A minimum of three A passing evaluation must be given by 2/3 of committee members in order for student to pass.  Students who fail the initial evaluation may be re-evaluated the next semester after recommended changes are made.  The student must meet the minimum enrollment requirement for the University during this additional semester.  Students who fail a second attempt will be dismissed from the program.

Graduate students pursuing the Plan A Thesis option must follow all guidelines defined by the Graduate School. Refer to The Graduate School EDT website for specifics on Plan A Thesis requirements and formatting. Plan A students must complete a minimum of 6 Master’s Thesis Research credits of UP 899. 

Plan B Option

Students who choose this option will develop an academic program of study with the URP Program Director. The student will complete all required course work, including 6 additional credits of an approved elective at or above 400 level. 

Degree Requirements

The Core Program

MURP Degree requires a total of 43 credits and can be achieved in two ways:  Professional Practice Track or a Research Track.  The foundation of the degree is contained in eight core courses (28 credits) required of all students:

1. Urban planning core courses (28 credits):

        UP801Concepts and Issues in Planning and Development

        UP814Applied Research Methods for Planning and Development

        UP823Urban Land Management and the Environment

        UP824Geographic Information Systems and Design Tools for Planning

        UP844Planning Theory and Ethics

        UP854Economics of Planning and Development

        UP865Planning and Development Law

        UP894Planning Practicum 

2.  In addition to the core courses, all students take 9 credits of Approved Electives (UP/PDC courses at or above 400 level).

Additional Requirements for Plan A Thesis - the Research Intensive Track:

Students are expected to write a Master’s Thesis.  This is a two-step process whereby the student must enroll in UP 889 Master’s Research for 2 credits with their major faculty advisor who will chair their research before they can enroll in 4 credits of UP899 Master’s Thesis Research.  A maximum of 6 credits can be taken in UP889 and UP899.  

Additional Requirements for Plan B - the professional practice track:

Students choose six (6) additional credits from the list of approved electives (UP/PDC courses at or above 400 level).  If a student wishes to take electives not already approved by the program, they must get approval from the Program Director or their major research professor.

Suggested Course Sequencing

Professional Practice Track

Research Intensive Track

*  UP 889 is a pre-requisite for UP899.  UP899 requires approval from Major Research Professor.  

A total of 6 credits are required between UP889 andUP899.

Fast Track 4+1 Option

The purpose of the 4+1 program is to offer motivated exceptional undergraduate students the opportunity to achieve their career goals in a more efficient "fast-track" program at Michigan State University, completing BSURP and MURP in 5 years compared to the traditional 6 years.

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning (BSURP) may apply for the fast track MURP degree to graduate with both a BSURP and MURP degree.  The students would then be dual enrolled in the MURP during the senior year of the BSURP degree.  

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer no more than 13 approved semester credits of course work equal to the 400 or 800 level, excluding research and thesis credits. To do so, access the “Transfer Credit Administrative Forms” online at the Office of the Registrar Online Forms Menu.  Official transcripts are required to transfer credits from an outside institution.  Transferred credits must have been earned at a 3.0 or above to be included.

Required Academic Program of Study

All students are required to complete and submit a formal plan called GradPlan. For Plan A students and Plan B Report students, this is a two-step process.  First a committee request must be submitted and approved prior to submission of the course plan.  It is strongly suggested and in the students best interest to develop their program of study as early as possible.  It is expected that the course plan be submitted by the end of the first year of study.  Once approved, any changes to the committee or course plan should be submitted via GradPlan revision.

Master’s Research Guidance Committee

The Program Director acts as the preliminary advisor for all incoming graduate students.  Professional Track students will stay with the Program Director as their advisor.  Research Track students will switch to their Research Advisor once they have identified a major professor with appropriate research interests.

Research Track students should select a new faculty member to serve as their Major Professor in addition to forming a Guidance Committee. The committee will act as consultants, advisors and evaluators for the student’s program and research. They’ll approve the academic program of study, the Thesis proposal and oral defense. The Guidance Committee for Plan A students should consist of the Major Professor (URP faculty member), one committee member within URP in addition to one committee member outside the school.

If a student’s Major Professor leaves the University or is unable to continue advising the graduate student, the student must search for a new Major Professor. If another faculty member in URP accepts the student, the student may continue their existing program of study. However, if a new Major Professor cannot be found, the student will be advised to complete their degree under the supervision of an URP faculty member assigned by the Program Director.

Degree Calendar & Progress Checklist

Prior to attending the first semester of classes

• Activate your NetID and MSU E-mail account. MSU E-mail will be the official mode of communication. Students are advised against forwarding their MSU E-mail to other outside accounts. MSU uses e-mail for a variety of official communications related to employment, student, and safety concerns. For instance, notices regarding a tuition bill are sent to a student's MSU e-mail account. It is important to activate your NetID because your MSU account is the only e-mail account to which official notices are sent. Students use their PID and PAN for activation.
• Attend the required SPDC new graduate orientation. Students are encouraged to participate in orientation activities offered by the Graduate School (and for international students, by the Office of International Students and Scholars).
• Contact the assigned Major Professor when you arrive on campus to discuss Degree requirements, plan your courses (especially those for the first semester), and to discuss other student-related concerns.
• Register for classes.  Master’s students must be registered for a minimum of 9 credits per semester (6 if hired as a Graduate Assistant) to be considered "full time". International students must register for a minimum of 9 hours to fulfill Visa requirements.

Professional Practice (Plan B) Track Requirements and Timeline

All students are encouraged to discuss Professional Practice and Research Track options with the Program Director. The Research Intensive track will require additional diligence in order to  complete necessary milestones in an efficient manner.

First Semester

• Contact the Program Director when you arrive on campus to discuss degree requirements, plan your courses for spring, and to discuss other student-related concerns.  You should discuss preliminary ideas for pursuing the Plan A thesis or Plan B coursework option.  
• If pursuing Plan A thesis, select your Major Professor/Faculty Chair.

Second Semester

• Meet with Major Professor or Program Director and finalize your graduate committee and submit via GradPlan
• Complete first year RCR requirements including CITI modules and discussion training.  Part of this requirement will be completed during UP 814.
• Complete course plan within GradPlan and submit for approvals
• Complete an annual review alongside your Major Professor

Third Semester

• Complete Year 2 refresher RCR training

Fourth Semester

• Apply for graduation . You must apply for graduation even if you do not plan to attend the ceremony. This will circulate the appropriate paperwork to the Graduate Secretary that is needed to approve and confer your degree.
• Pay all final fees and complete surveys required by the Graduate School.
• Prepare for commencements; see guidelines and checklist provided by the University.

Research Intensive (Plan A Thesis) Track Requirements and Milestones

This is a recommended timeline for students who plan to complete a thesis (Plan A) in the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning program at the School of Planning, Design and Construction. What follows is a description of the stages of the research proposal development process and specific dates by which it is recommended that students complete each stage. Although these are only recommendations, and students who do not keep pace with the timeline described below may still successfully complete a thesis, it is highly recommended that students strive to complete each stage in a timely fashion.

First Semester

During this time period you should make a concerted effort to reach out to faculty in the URP program to identify their research interests and discuss ideas for thesis research projects. If you are having difficulty identifying a research topic, you may consider asking professors what research questions they would like to answer and how they plan to go about doing so. During this time period you may also have preliminary discussions with faculty regarding their willingness to serve as your major professor, although they may prefer to defer this decision until your research proposal is more fully developed. Nonetheless, this is a good time to gauge professors’ interest in serving as your major professor. 

Each professor takes a different approach to advising, so it is highly recommended that at this stage you discuss with faculty their expectations regarding student thesis research, the types of research projects and topics they are willing to supervise, the type of guidance they provide to advisees, and expectations regarding authorship and co-authorship. 

Typically, students work on developing this literature review in UP 823 (Urban Land Management and the Environment).  Identifying a gap in the literature can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the urban planning literature. As you select a research question and identify the gap in the literature that it aims to fill, you should seek feedback from professors. 

Research can make a contribution to the literature in a variety of ways, so as you read about your topic it may be helpful to look for specific ways to address gaps in the literature. Some examples include:

• Replicating prior research (i.e., testing an accepted hypothesis from the literature)
• Replicating prior research in a new context: (i.e., testing whether theories/methods designed for one context could be applied to a new context)
• Employing a new or better method to test a hypothesis from the literature
• Attempting to resolve or provide further evidence on one side of a controversy
• Testing an untested hypothesis from the literature
• Identifying a topic has been overlooked and conducting a systematic study
• Designing research to illuminate or evaluate unquestioned assumptions in the literature

Second Semester

January-February: 

You should aim to finalize a literature review that successfully identifies the gap in the literature that your research will address as well as the primary research question you plan to answer. Once you have completed your literature review, you should seek detailed feedback from faculty.  Your coursework in UP 814 (Applied Research Methods for Planning and Development) will build progressively on the foundation you developed during your first semester. Although some students do choose to change directions at some point in the Spring semester, this can sometimes delay the development of your research proposal, so it is recommended that you finalize your research question by the end of January. At this stage, you should have had multiple conversations with faculty regarding your research project, and you may have even identified a major professor or your entire thesis committee. 

March: 

By the end of March you should plan to have a draft of your research proposal. This will be submitted for review in UP 814. This research proposal should describe the title of the research project; a literature reviewing (highlighting the gap your research will address); the central and related research questions you will answer; a description of the site selection, data source, and data collection process; a description of the measurement of key phenomena to be studied; an explanation of the analytical method to be used and how it will help to answer the research question; and a summary of the potential impact and relevance of the proposed study. Once your draft proposal is completed, it is a good time to reach out to faculty to identify a major professor that will agree to supervise your research. 

April: 

By the end of April you should complete a final draft of your research proposal for UP 814. Schedule a meeting with the Major Professor to discuss committee composition.  Contact potential committee members to present your research proposal and ask if they are willing to serve on your committee.  

Finalize your academic program of study and circulate for approval. Once you have signatures from your Major Professor and Guidance Committee the Program should be submitted to the Graduate Secretary for review and sent to the Dean of the College for approval. The original form will be placed in your permanent academic file.

By end of Second Semester:

• Meet with Major Professor or Program Director and finalize your graduate committee and submit via GradPlan
• Complete first year RCR requirements including CITI modules and discussion training.  Part of this requirement will be completed during UP 814.
• Complete course plan within GradPlan and submit for approvals
• Complete an annual review alongside your Major Professor

Summer:

Plan to conduct field research, if necessary.

Third Semester

• Register for UP 889 (Master’s Research).
• Work with your Major Professor to secure approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB), as appropriate to your research by submitting the application form found at Human Research Protection Program website.
• Prepare a written draft proposal of your Plan A Thesis and discuss with your Major Professor then secure his or her approval prior to submitting it to your Guidance Committee.
• Revise your proposal based on the feedback from your Major Professor and schedule a meeting with your Guidance Committee to discuss your proposal. Provide each member of your Guidance Committee with a copy of your proposal at least two weeks prior to the committee meeting.
• Schedule and hold a meeting with your Guidance Committee to discuss and approve your proposal and review progress on your academic program.
• Complete Year 2 refresher RCR training

Fourth Semester

• Register for UP 899 (Master’s Research). 
• Apply for graduation. You must apply for graduation even if you do not plan to attend the ceremony.
• Pay all final fees and complete surveys required by the Graduate School.
• Prepare for commencements; see guidelines and checklist provided by the University.

Write your thesis under the guidance of your Major Professor.  All students must follow all guidelines defined by the Graduate School. Refer to The Graduate School EDT website for specifics on Plan A thesis requirements and formatting.

Prepare for thesis defense.  Graduate students enrolled in the Plan A option are required to pass an oral examination in defense of the Thesis and coursework. The student will schedule the defense with approval from the thesis committee.  Details must be given to the graduate secretary at least 14 days in advance of the presentation.  A minimum of three regular faculty members must be present at the Thesis defense.  A passing evaluation must be given by 2/3 of committee members for student to pass. Students who fail the initial evaluation may be re-evaluated the next semester after recommended changes are made. The student must meet the minimum enrollment requirement for the University during this additional semester. Students who fail a second attempt will be dismissed from the program.

Completion of Thesis: 

• Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 1 credit for the semester in which you plan to defend your thesis.
• Complete all required forms in the Thesis formatting guide found at The Graduate School website.
• Submit a draft of your thesis to your Major Professor and Guidance Committee at least two weeks before your defense.
• Schedule a time with your Major Professor and Guidance Committee for defending or presenting your work. This will be an open session to which students and faculty in the School of Planning, Design and Construction may attend.
• Once student has confirmed a date and time that will work for their Major Professor and Guidance Committee they should contact the Graduate Secretary to reserve a conference room. At this time the student will also provide the title of their Thesis so the appropriate announcements may be sent out to SPDC faculty and students.
• Provide your Major Professor and each member of your Guidance Committee a copy of your Thesis at least two weeks prior to the defense or presentation.
• Orally defend Thesis.
• Modify Thesis as instructed by your Guidance Committee.
• Prepare an abstract of your Thesis to be filled with “Dissertation/Thesis Abstracts;”
• Read and comply with the MSU’s Thesis/Dissertation electronic submissions to ensure that you have met all requirements and submitted all forms necessary, paperwork can be found at Theses and Dissertation Submissions.
• Submit a copy of your Thesis to the Graduate School via the process described at Theses and Dissertation Submissions. 
• Distribute copies of the Thesis to your Major Professor, and Guidance Committee. Individual committee members may request an alternative format, such as softbound, unbound, or digital.

Academic Performance

College of Social Science guidelines state that the accumulation of grades below 2.0 in more than two semester courses of 3 or more credits each removes the student from candidacy for the degree. It is imperative that a student contact the Program Director if a grade less than 2.0 is earned for a course.

In addition, the MSU Academic Programs Catalog states “Michigan State University is committed to high academic standards and expects all graduate students to excel in their particular majors. A 3.0 cumulative grade point average for all courses counting toward the master’s degree is the minimum University standard.” The College of Social Science and the Urban and Regional Planning major adhere to the University’s minimum standard. A student in danger of falling below the overall GPA of 3.0 may be removed from degree candidacy.

Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Code of Conduct

The Urban and Regional Planning program all students to adhere to the Code of Responsibility as covered in the MSU Spartan Life Student Handbook, and the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.  In particular,

• We shall protect and enhance the integrity of our profession.
• We shall describe and comment on the work and views of others in a fair and professional manner.
• We shall share the results of experience and research that contribute to the body of planning knowledge.
• We shall examine the applicability of planning theories, methods, research and practice and standards to the facts and analysis of each particular situation and shall not accept the applicability of a customary solution without first establishing its appropriateness to the situation.
• We shall increase the opportunities for members of underrepresented groups to become professional planners and help them advance in the profession.
• We shall systematically and critically analyze ethical issues in the practice of planning. 

Faculty available to act as a Major Professor:

For Plan A thesis students

Dr. Noah Durst, Urban & Regional Planning - Assistant Professor

durstnoa@msu.edu

Dr. Peilei Fan, Urban & Regional Planning – Associate Professor

fanpeile@msu.edu

Dr. Zeenat Kotval-Karamchandani, Urban & Regional Planning – Assistant Professor

kotvalze@msu.edu 

Dr. Zenia Kotval, Urban & Regional Planning – Professor, FAICP

kotval@msu.edu

Dr. Trish Machemer, Urban & Regional Planning – Associate Professor 

machemer@msu.edu

Dr. Laura Reese, Urban & Regional Planning - Professor

reesela@msu.edu

Dr. Mark Wilson, Urban & Regional Planning – Professor

wilsonmm@msu.edu 

Faculty who may act as Major Professor:

After consultation with the Program Director and waiver approval

Wayne Beyea, Urban & Regional Planning – Senior Academic Specialist, JD. AICP

beyea@msu.edu

Dr. Rex LaMore, Urban & Regional Planning -  Senior Academic Specialist

lamore@msu.edu

Dr. Victoria Morckel, Urban & Regional Planning – Teaching Specialist

morckelv@msu.edu