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School of Architecture and Design
Fatih Rifki, Dean
Urban Planning
Varkki Pallathucheril, Coordinator
Faculty
- Erik Ferguson
- Jerry Kolo (Visiting Professor)
- Amer Moustafa
Master of Urban Planning (MUP)
Urban planning is concerned with creating better environments in which present and future generations live, work, entertain and engage in their customary community, social, religious and cultural activities.
Urban planning has roots in architecture, engineering, public health, law and the social sciences. Planners today combine design and analytical and communication skills to help communities manage change. Urban planning involves government, private enterprise and local communities taking concerted action toward achieving a common goal.
The Master of Urban Planning (MUP) at AUS provides professionals with outstanding, specialized graduate education that enables them to undertake leadership roles in managing urban growth, developing urbanization policies and advancing social development. The program empowers students with the highest ethical standards compatible with the values of local cultural settings, principles of social justice and concerns for environmental protection and sustainability. More details on the program are available at www.aus.edu/programs/mup.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are required to fulfill the university’s general admission requirements for graduate studies. The program admits students from all fields of study including, but not limited to, architecture, engineering, business, the humanities and the social sciences. The admissions committee consists of the Director of the Urban Planning Program and two faculty members who teach in the program, one from the School of Architecture and Design and one from the School of Engineering. An updated curriculum vitae (CV) must be submitted with the application package.
Transfer Policy
The transfer policy is described in the Graduate Admission Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.
Academic Standing
Enrolled students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (B average) to remain in good standing. Students who fall below that level will be placed on probation and must raise their overall GPA to at least 3.0 within one semester to be returned to good standing.
Academic Load
Students may register for two courses per semester (part-time) or three to four courses per semester (full-time). Classes are held on weekday evenings and/or Saturdays to meet the scheduling needs of working professionals.
Degree Requirements
The MUP degree is awarded after the successful completion of 48 credits, which include an internship and research thesis or final project. In addition to core course requirements, students must choose between two areas of concentration: design of the built environment or transportation planning. Students must also complete two elective courses at the 500 or 600 level. Students must complete the degree requirements within five years from the time of initial enrollment in the program. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required for graduation.
Required Courses (36 credits)
Core Courses (27 credits)
• UPL 501 Fundamentals of Urban Planning
• UPL 541 Planning Theory and Methods
• UPL 547 Research Methods and Analysis
• UPL 548 Environmental Planning
• UPL 550 Urban Economics and Analysis
• UPL 556 Advanced Planning Tools: GIS Applications
• UPL 565 Land Use Planning Principles and Practice
• UPL 597 Planning Internship
• UPL 667 Urban Planning Lab
Concentration: Design of the Built Environment (9 credits)
• UPL 582 Theory and Principles of Urban Design
• UPL 584 Urban Form Analysis
• UPL 686 Space, Society and the Public Realm
Concentration: Transportation Planning (9 credits)
• UPL 572 Urban Transportation Planning
• UPL 574 Urban Transportation Systems Analysis
• UPL 676 Transportation Systems Operations and Control
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Students must complete two elective courses selected in consultation with their advisor from any university graduate-level course or UPL course not counted as a core or concentration course. UPL 698 and UPL 699 cannot be counted as electives.
Final Project or Master’s Thesis (6 credits)
In addition to the courses above, students must pursue either a final project (UPL 698) or a research thesis (UPL 699) option. The AUS Guide to Formatting Graduate Theses is available from the Office of Graduate Programs and online at www.aus.edu/gpr/graduate/thesesguide/index.php.
Academic Advising
Academic advisors are responsible for orienting, guiding and following the student’s progress. The advisor works closely with the student in selecting elective courses that address the student’s individual needs. Upon completing 30 credits in the program and once a research topic has been identified for the final project or thesis, the program director will encourage the student to select a research advisor whose background and interests suit the research interest of the student. The role of the academic advisor will then be transferred to the research advisor.
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