Admissions to PhD in Planning, Design and Construction
April 14, 2022
This document outlines the requirements and details for admission to PhD in Planning, Design and Construction program.
If you are applying as an undergraduate, admission to MSU will ensure you a spot at SPDC. For graduate students, the School handles admissions. Also available is limited enrollment for transfer students.
For more information about how to become a part of SPDC as a freshman, transfer or graduate student, please visit the MSU Office of Admissions.
To speak with an advisor prior to your application, please call SPDC's Student Services at 517-432-3393 or email an advisor directly.
Learn more about requirements and courses for this degree.
Enrollment in the Construction Management undergraduate major is limited. Factors used in consideration for admission to the upper-level courses include:
Learn more about requirements and courses for this degree.
The Office of Admissions and Scholarships handles admission applications for undergraduate students. Please visit Office of Admissions and Scholarships for more information.
The number of students admitted to the major in interior design is limited. To be considered for admission, a student must have:
In addition, transfer students must have previous design work evaluated by the department prior to placements in required courses.
Selective admissions are made at the end of spring semester for Michigan State University and transfer students from those students who have met the criteria referenced above and who have completed Interior Design 240. The final selection of students to be admitted to the major is based on the cumulative grade–point average of all courses taken and a grade–point average calculated for selected courses and portfolio review by faculty members.
Total | 15 |
First Year Courses | Credits |
IDES 140 Design for Living | 3 |
IDES 142 Design Theory Studio | 3 |
IDES 150 Interior Design Drafting | 3 |
IDES 152 Interior Environments | 3 |
IDES 240 Computer-Aided Design for Designers | 3 |
Total | 20 |
Second Year Courses | Credits |
IDES 250 3D Modeling and Visualization | 3 |
IDES 252 Interior Design Synthesis I | 4 |
IDES 340 Interior Design Specifications and Workroom Practices | 3 |
IDES 343 Interior Design Presentation and Media | 3 |
IDES 344 History of Interior Design: Ancient through Rocco | 3 |
IDES 354 History of Interior Design: Neo-Classical through Modern | 3 |
IDES 383 Introduction to Professional Practice | 1 |
Third Year Courses | Credits |
Total | 14 |
IDES 342 Interior Design: Human Dimensions | 3 |
IDES 350 Interior Design Lighting and Environmental Systems | 3 |
IDES 352 Interior Design Synthesis II | 4 |
IDES 440 Contemporary Design Issues | 2 |
IDES 451 Interior Design Professional Practice | 2 |
Fourth Year Courses | Credits |
Total | 8 |
IDES 441 Interior Design Open Office Systems | 1 |
IDES 442 Interior Design Programming | 3 |
IDES 452 Interior Design Synthesis III | 4 |
General Ed (University Requirements | Credits | Other Major Requirements | Credits |
IAH 20 (Arts & Humanities) Choice of "A" courses (201-210) | 4 | HA (History of Art Options) | 6-9, each |
IAH 2 Choice of "B" courses (211+) | 4 | ||
ISS 2 (Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences) Social Science | 4 | General Electives (as necessary to complete required credits) | - |
ISS 3 Social Science | 4 | Total Credits | 24 |
ISB (Biological and Physical Sciences) Biological Science | 3 | List of General Electives for ID | |
ISP Physical Science | 3 | IDES 454 Revit for Designers | 3 |
IS Lab | 2 | IDES 456 Historic Preservation & Sustainability | 3 |
WRA (Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures) Tier 1 Writing | 4 | IDES 458 Green Building & Housing | 3 |
MTH 1825 Intermediate Algebra (according to placement)* | 3 | PDC 491 Special Topics: Introduction to Crime and Built Environment | 3 |
MTH 103 College Algebra | 3 | ID Study Abroad | 6-8 |
Total Credits (*37 required for students with credit in MTH 1825) | 34 |
TOTAL BACHELOR DEGREE CREDITS |
120 (*123 required for students with credit in MTH 1825) |
Learn more about requirements and courses for this degree.
To be admitted to the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program, the following must completed: 1) Complete 28 credits, 2) Submit a completed Landscape Architecture application package by the deadline specified by the School, and 3) Achieve a grade of 2.00 or higher in the following Landscape Architecture core courses:
Students should also complete the following course(s): MTH 116 College Algebra and Trigonometry (5 cr); (The completion of MTH 103 College Algebra (3 cr) and MTH 114 Trigonometry (3 cr) OR MTH 103 College Algebra (3 cr) and STT 200 Statistical Methods (3 cr) may also be used to satisfy the University, College and School mathematics requirement.); and PDC 120 Planning and Design Digital Graphics (2 cr).
Requirements for admission to Fall Year 3 Upper Division courses are showing in italics.
Course Color Chart | ||
Landscape Architecture Courses | Other Required Courses | General Ed (University Requirements) |
FIRST & SECOND YEARS | CREDITS | THIRD & FOURTH YEARS |
CREDITS |
Fall Year 1 | Fall Year 3 | ||
LA 140 Graphics and 2D Design Studio | 4 | LA 332 Advance Landscape Site Engineering | 4 |
LA 200 Introduction to Landscape Architecture | 3 | LA 344 Connections of Scale Studio | 5 |
University Courses | 6-9 | Spring Year 3 Study Abroad | |
Spring Year 1 | LA 345 Design Development Studio | 5 | |
LA 141 Graphics and 3D Design Studio | 4 | LA 390 Field Studies | 3 |
PDC 120 Digital Graphics** | 2 | LA 421 Drawing as Knowing | 4 |
HRT 212 Ornamental Shrubs | 3 | Fall Year 4 | |
University Courses | 3-6 | LA 447 Juried Design Studio | 5 |
Fall Year 2 | Spring Year 4 | ||
LA 230 Site Construction Materials and Methods | 4 | LA 448 Regional Environmental Design Studio | 2 |
LA 242 Creating Spaces Studio | 4 | Fall Year 4.5 | |
HRT 211 Ornamental Trees | 3 | LA 480 Professional Office Practice | 3 |
IDES 240 or CAD Equiv. Computer Aided Design** | 3 | LA 817 Environmental Design Studio |
3 |
University Courses | 6 | Directed Electives to Reach 130 Credits |
|
Spring Year 2 | |||
LA 231 Landscape Site Engineering | 4 | ||
LA 243 Place Making Studio | 4 | TOTAL BACHELOR DEGREE CREDITS |
130 |
HRT 311 Planting Design Studio | 4 | ||
ISS 310 History of Environmental Design (Specific LA Section)** | 4 |
General University Requirements | Credits | Other University Requirements | Credits |
WRA 101 College Writing | 4 | IAH 201-210 Arts and Humanities I** | 4 |
ISS 2XX Introduction to Social Sciences** | 4 | IAH 211+ Arts and Humanities II** | 4 |
ISS XXX ISP Lab | 2 | EC 201 or 202 Micro or Macro Economics** |
3 |
ISP XXX Integrative Studies Physical Class** | 3 | ||
PLB 105 Plant Biology** | 3 | ||
MTH 116 College Algebra and Trigonometry (The completion of MTH 103 (3 cr) College Algebra and MTH 114 (3 cr) Trigonometry OR MTH 103 (3 cr) College Algebra and STT 200 (3 cr) Statistical Methods may also be used to satisfy the University, College and School mathematics requirement.) | 5 |
*Note: This is only a guide for completing the BLA degree. Students must meet with their Academic Advisor each semester to ensure proper course scheduling for timely completion of the degree.
**Note: These courses are offered during the summer semester.
Learn more about requirements and courses for this degree.
The BSURP curriculum is comprised of 37 core and 18 elective, planning-related credits. Students are encouraged to consider the URP Study Abroad program titled “European Planning and Practice" offered during the summer semester in odd years (2021, 2023, 2025) for their six credit electives. The program is usually three to four weeks long and includes study in Germany and one or two additional European countries.
Searchable course descriptions are also available online.
Suggested course sequencing for junior and senior years is below. This sequencing is modified for Fast Track MURP Option candidates. These candidates should schedule an appointment with the URP Undergraduate Student Advisor in year three to receive more detailed information.
Year 3 - Junior Year | Year 4 - Senior Year | ||||||
Fall 1 | Credits | Spring 1 | Credits | Fall 2 | Credits | Spring 2 | Credits |
UP 201 | 4 | UP 314 | 4 | UP 353 | 4 | UP 494 | 6 |
CSS Required | 3 | UP 365 | 4 | UP 424 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
CSS Required | 3 | UP 400 | 3 | UP 433 | 4 | Elective |
3 |
CSS Required | 3 | Elective | 3 | UP 454 | 3 | ||
CSS Required | 3 | Elective | 3 | UP 400 | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 16 | Total Credits | 17 | Total Credits | 17 | Total Credits | 12 |
Students must meet the following criteria before they are considered for admission to the Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning in their junior year: Student quality at the MSU undergraduate level is assured though an admission process. The number of students admitted to the BSURP program is limited to between 80-100 students. This approach to admission helps to assure the highest quality of students that major in urban and regional planning, assures a strong and workable student/faculty ratio, and enables a viable student body community. Although official admission into the program occurs in the junior year, undergraduate students may take classes as early as their freshman year.
Admission to the BSURP program is competitive, and there is no guarantee that students with a major preference in Urban and Regional Planning will be admitted as a junior. For admission at the junior level, faculty considers the relative qualifications of the applicant, their suitability for the program, and enrollment capacity of the program. We encourage students that have interests in social science and economics to apply.
For freshman and transfer admissions, the MSU Office of Admissions and Scholarships handles admission applications for undergraduate students.
Learn more about requirements and courses for this degree.
Admission to the master’s program is rolling. For priority consideration, applications should be received by:
Preferred backgrounds include:
Learn more about requirements and courses for this degree.
This graduate program is intended for students holding an accredited undergraduate degree in one of the major design professions, including:
Learn more about requirements and courses for this degree.
We encourage students from various backgrounds and different stages in their professional careers to apply. We take into account a number of factors including:
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.
MURP Degree requires a total of 43 credits and can be achieved in two ways: Research Track (Plan A) or Professional Practice Track (Plan B). The foundation of the degree is contained in eight core courses (28 credits) required of all students:
Students are expected to write a Masters Thesis. This is a two-step process whereby the student must enroll in UP 889 Masters Research for two (2) credits with their major faculty advisor who will chair their research before they can enroll in four (4) credits of UP899 Master's Thesis Research or additional elective courses usually in their second year. A maximum of six (6) credits can be taken in UP889 and UP899.
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.
Searchable course descriptions are available online. Below is the suggested sequencing of courses for MURP students which would allow for students to complete the degree in four semesters (This sequencing is modified for Fast Track MURP Option candidates.). Courses taken out of sequence may result in a longer time to degree.
Students are encouraged to consider the URP Study Abroad program titled European Planning and Practice" offered during the summer semester in odd years (2021, 2023, 2025) for their six credit electives. The program is usually three to four weeks long and includes study in Germany and one or two additional European countries.
Year 1 | Year 2 | ||||||
Fall 1 | Credits | Spring 1 | Credits | Fall 2 | Credits | Spring 2 | Credits |
UP 801 | 4 | UP 814 | 4 | UP 844 | 3 | UP 894 | 4 |
UP 823 | 3 | UP 865 | 3 | UP 854 | 4 | Electives | 3 |
UP 824 | 3 | UP 400 | 3 | UP 889 (Plan A) | 2 | UP 899 (Plan A) | 4 |
Electives | 3 | Electives (Plan B) | 3 | Electives (Plan B) | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 10 | Total Credits | 13 | Total Credits | 9-10 | Total Credits | 10-11 |
A maximum of 11 transfer credits equal to the 400- or 800-level at MSU may be accepted toward the Master in Urban and Regional Planning degree.
The time limit for completing the degree is six years from the first semester of enrollment in the program.
Learn more about requirements and courses for this degree.
To be considered for regular admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Planning, Design and Construction, an applicant must have all of the following:
Additionally, students are encouraged to submit a sample of scholarly work or a portfolio of design work. Depending on the proposed area of concentration, the school may ask for additional background information.
Provisional admission may be granted to an applicant who does not meet the above requirements but demonstrates outstanding potential. Collateral course work will not count towards degree requirements.
April 14, 2022
This document outlines the requirements and details for admission to PhD in Planning, Design and Construction program.