In this master’s in urban and environmental planning program, you’ll learn how to create healthier, safer and more vibrant communities. You’ll also engage with practical planning problems and contemporary planning challenges. Upon graduation, you’ll have the theoretical foundations, professional skills and practice-centered experience needed to become an urban planner or work in an allied field. This can include roles within urban design, architecture, engineering and development.
Additionally, you’ll be prepared to sit for the American Planning Association’s (APA) American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam. Working toward this credential can give you a leg up when applying for roles.
The knowledge and skills you’ll develop
With faculty members drawing from expertise in research and practice, you’ll receive a robust education that covers planning knowledge and skills, planning values, ethics and emergent planning issues. You’ll also gain critical thinking abilities related to problem definition, solving and evaluation. Additional transferrable skills you’ll develop to support a career in the planning profession include:
- Graphic communications.
- Professional writing.
- Project management.
- Public participation and community engagement.
- Public speaking and presentation.
- Research and data analysis, including quantitative and qualitative methods.
Who’s a good candidate for this master’s program?
Urban planning professionals enter the field with a wide array of backgrounds. Ideal candidates are individuals with undergraduate degrees in urban planning, urban studies, public policy, geography, geographic information systems or related disciplines. This program can also be a great fit for those with professional planning experience or an interest in cities, neighborhoods and communities.
Are you interested in becoming a leader in urban planning to positively impact your community? If so, Arizona State University’s online Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree may be perfect for you. Through interactive classes and real-world projects, this program equips you to solve complex social, economic and environmental issues in diverse communities.
In your courses, you’ll gain foundational knowledge about the planning profession and planning issues in a global context. You’ll also have the opportunity to pursue individual areas of expertise through a wide variety of electives. Additionally, the program culminates in completing a capstone project, which will allow you to engage with a practical planning scenario, showcase your skills and create innovative solutions.
From Royal Society and American Academy Fellows to Marshall and Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is home to prestigious students and faculty members who include:
- Fulbright American Scholars.
- Guggenheim Fellows.
- MacArthur Fellows.
- Nobel laureates.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences takes a transdisciplinary approach to education with a vast spectrum of degrees in the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. We inspire students to become socially aware critical thinkers and global citizens.
students enrolled as of fall 2024
in research expenditures in FY23
interdisciplinary schools and departments
undergraduate degrees
graduate degrees
for humanities research, according to the National Science Foundation
Applicants to the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of their bachelor's program. Alternatively, applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in an applicable master's program.
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee.
- Official transcripts.
- Personal statement.*
- Up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume.
- Optional: Up to three letters of recommendation.**
*Personal statement:
The personal statement should be no longer than 600 words and must address the applicant's:
- Academic or professional background and, if appropriate, preparation for the selected area of specialty. This may include written samples or a portfolio, but they are not required.
- Career goals, including how a Master’s degree in urban and environmental planning from the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning will help achieve them.
- Educational objectives.
- Interest in planning.
**Letters of recommendation:
Letters of recommendation are not required for admission into the MUEP program. However, applicants are encouraged to submit up to three letters of recommendation to strengthen their application or provide necessary context. Recommenders may include professional supervisors and colleagues or academic supervisors (e.g., former professors and instructors) who can speak to the applicant's academic or professional experiences and qualifications to pursue a graduate degree.
Examples of situations in which applicants may consider submitting recommenders include:
- Returning students (more than five years after completing an undergraduate degree).
- Students pursuing a career change from an unrelated field.
- Students with a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field.
- Students with a cumulative GPA between 2.50 and 3.00.
An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency.
We strongly recommend you visit our state authorization page to learn how ASU is authorized to operate in your state, policies for out-of-state students and program exceptions.
ASU's academic programs that prepare you for professional licensure or certification are designed to meet Arizona's requirements. Completing an ASU program may not fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states. For additional information, visit the professional licensure page.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”