Master of Urban Planning program overview
The Master of Urban Planning (MUP) Program at Texas A&M University is the
oldest planning program in Texas, having been authorized in 1965 and accredited
in 1969. It is now one of three accredited programs available in the state.
In 1991, after many years of growth, the Department of Urban & Regional
Planning was merged with the Department of Landscape Architecture to form the
Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning.
As a Research I University,
the professors in the MUP Program conduct millions of dollars of research through
a variety of research centers, laboratories,
and institutes at the University. The College of Architecture is the administrative
home of several research centers and laboratories. Students may find employment
through these centers or through the Texas Transportation Institute.
The nationally
accredited program unites the historically important skills and challenges
of planning with the emerging areas of specialization where
our faculty and university offer exceptional resources. The program has a
tradition of exposing every professional degree candidate to a firm foundation
in the
core skills of the community planner, including land use and urban planning
from technical, political, economic, and legal perspectives.
The curriculum
provides every MUP student with the opportunity to develop a specialty in one
or more
areas of practice: Health and Human Services, Housing and Economic Development,
Land Use and Environmental Planning, or Transportation Planning and Design.
There is also a Self Selected option which allows the student to work closely
with an advisor to develop expertise in a subject not covered by the four topical
emphasis areas (for example, Historic Preservation or Urban Design). Recognizing
that our field is a combination of both art and science, we build our students'
professional skills through applied course work and field experience, as
well as the latest findings from applicable research.
The MUP degree program
requires 48 hours of course work. At least 12 hours of course work are associated
with
the student’s area of specialization.
Course work culminates with either a professional paper (Professional
Practice Curriculum Option) or a thesis (Research
Curriculum Option).
There are several reasons to consider the Master of Urban Planning degree program at Texas A&M.
- a superior reputation
- an outstanding faculty
- state-of-the-art facilities
- accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board
- a progressive curriculum
- studio courses that allow students "hands-on" experience
- an extensive
alumni network to assist students both during their graduate work and after
they leave Texas A&M
- a supportive environment
Urban Planning Courses
Course Listings
Urban Planning Courses
College of Architecture Courses
All Texas A&M University courses
2005 – 2006 Graduate Catalog
2005-2006
Academic Calendar
Urban Planning Faculty
Elise M. Bright, Program Coordinator
Professors
* These are the faculty who are primarily associated with the MUP Program
Master of Urban Planning Student Information
MUP Student Handbook
Testimonials
“
I thought a MUP degree would “broaden” me and complement my BED
{Bachelor of Environmental Design] degree.”
“…the city planner I spoke to describe[d] the A&M program
as one of the most practical programs and [added] that the graduates were considered
to be some of the best prepared planners entering the workforce.”
“[I wanted] to receive a good education from a responsive faculty.”
“ My advisor actually told me ‘If you want to get a job in Texas – you
need to go to A&M.’”
List of Students and Profiles...[more]
Admission to the Master of Urban Planning Program
Applications
for admission to Texas A&M University can be downloaded from
the Office of Admissions and Records Web site
To apply, applicants must mail a completed application, official transcripts
from all universities and/or colleges attended, Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
scores, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score and application
fee -- $50 for domestic applicants and $75 for international applicants --
to the following address.
Graduate Admissions
Texas A&M University
P.O Box 40001
College Station, Texas 77842-4001
USA
Mail three letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose to the following
address.
Master of Urban Planning
Texas A&M University
Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
MS 3137
College Station, TX 77843-3137
Important considerations:
Please include an e-mail address with each item submitted to Texas A&M
University.
All requested information -- GRE, TOEFL, transcripts, fees, etc. -- must be
received before applications will be reviewed. The application fee cannot be
waived or paid by the department.
GRE scores will not be waived, but GMAT scores may be substituted in exceptional
cases.
Applicants may check their application status online at the Office of Admissions
and Records Web site
Application deadlines
Spring semester - August 1
Summer sessions - November 1
Fall semester - March 1
International students who seek financial assistance and fellowships should
submit all application materials to the Admissions Office by January 1 for
fall entry.
All students who seek financial assistance and fellowships should submit all
application materials to the Admissions Office by January 1 for fall entry.
The Master of Urban Planning Program allows Spring admission.
For program information, please contact the graduate program coordinator for
the Master of Urban Planning:
Dr. Elise Bright
mup@tamu.edu
(979) 862-2730
Room: Langford A 327
Financing Education
Your education is an investment of your time
and money. At this time in your life it is probably the largest investment
you will make. The University’s
Department of Student Financial Aid offers
information regarding applying for financial aid, finding a job on or off campus,
managing your finances, and other resources designed to help you achieve your
goal of attaining a graduate degree.
Urban Planning scholarships and fellowships
Scholarships and fellowships are available at the university, college, department,
and program level. Please see the
University’s Department of Student
Financial Aid for information regarding university-level
scholarships. Information about other scholarships and fellowships can be found
below.
Program Scholarships
Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association Scholarships - Established
by the Education Foundation of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association;
awarded to students pursuing a master of urban planning degree.
Katherine F. Turnbull Transportation Scholarship – Established by Katherine
F. Turnbull, Ph.D., ’93, of the Texas Transportation Institute; awarded
to a student pursuing a master of urban planning degree with transportation
as their declared emphasis area or intending to concentrate their studies in
transportation. $1,000 per year
The David Pugh Planning and Land Use Law Scholarship - Established by McDonald
Associates of Dallas, Texas, in honor of Dr. David Pugh - associate professor
of urban planning, former MUP program coordinator and associate professor;
awarded to a Texas resident entering the Master of Urban Planning program
who has demonstrated scholarship, an interest in public service and an interest
in planning and land use law. Two years/$1,000 per year.
College Scholarships
College-Wide Scholarships: Rotates to every department in the College of Architecture.
Undergraduate or Graduate student - R. Joseph Reeves Endowed Memorial Scholarship
- Endowed by the Roy T. Reeves Family Trust; awarded to a graduate or undergraduate
student in the College of Architecture in good academic standing.
Colonel James E. Ray '63 Endowed Scholarship - Established by alumni, colleagues
and friends to recognize the accomplishments of Colonel James E. Ray '63; awarded
on a rotating basis to a full-time student in one of the three College of Architecture
departments. The award is based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities
and financial need.
Resources for Students...[more]
Urban Planning Career Information
Planners work in the public,
private, and non-profit sectors. Planners in the public sector work for cities,
states, regional governments, and
federal offices. In smaller organizations one planner may be involved in
transportation, housing, land use, design, and economic development planning.
In larger organizations
planners may specialize in one or two areas.
Planners in the private sector work for consulting firms, real estate
developers, architecture and engineering firms, utility companies and law firms.
Their work may be specialized, such as negotiating easements for utilities,
or more
general,
such as preparing
comprehensive plans for cities.
Planners also work for non-profits. Organizations that assist with low-income
housing, issues related to senior citizens, and that write grants for small
cities all need planners.
Planners may work for a variety of organizations throughout their careers.
Planning jobs are available in large and small towns, in dense urban areas
and in rural areas for groups such as the Native American tribal offices. For
information about careers in planning see related links below.
Urban Planning Student Organizations
The Association of Student
Planners
This student organization is open to all MUP students. The Association plans
student events to learn about planning, and just to have fun! The Association
of Student Planners is a student organization run by the students. Membership
in the student organization entitles you to receive a monthly journal and they
provide guest speakers for the university community and coordinate travel to
state and national conferences.
The Texas A&M Institute of Transportation Engineers Student Chapter
Despite the name this organization is open to all people interested in transportation.
Membership in the student organization entitles you to receive ITE Journal,
the monthly journal of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The Texas
A&M Student Chapter promotes the discussion of transportation problems
and solutions. They provide guest speakers for the university community and
coordinate travel to state and national transportation conferences.
[More]
Urban Planning related links
Elise Bright, Program Coordinator
Texas A&M University Real Estate Center
American Planning Association
Texas Chapter of the American Planning
Association
Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning
The Association of European Schools
of Planning
Planners Network
Planetizen – The Planning and Development Network
Cyburbia
Texas Transportation Institute
Institute of Transportation Engineers
Texas Chapter of the Institute of Transportation
Engineers
Congress for the New Urbanism
Urban Land Institute
American Health Planning Association
Urban Planning program-related achievement
Graduates of the Texas
A&M Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program have
gone on to careers all over the country and at all levels of government and
the private sector. Approximately one-half of MUP graduates work as local government
planners. They work as Planning Directors (Emil Moncivais class of 1971) city
managers (Joseph Dunn class of 1994) as well as general planners.
About one-quarter of MUP graduates work as planners in state and federal agencies.
Our most notable graduate in this area is former Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development Henry Cisneros, class of 1970. Others pursue political careers;
San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza is one example.
Another one-quarter of MUP graduates go on to work in the private sector.
They may work for developers, such as Katie Blanchard class of 2004 who is
working on redevelopment of the old Astrodome site in Houston; architecture
engineering and/or planning consultants, such as Gary Mitchell, (FAICP, class
of 1988); or a wide variety of other private employment including retail siting,
cellular antenna approvals, and real estate appraisal.
MUP graduates have also gone on to distinguish themselves in the planning
profession itself. Emil Moncivais (class of 1971) and Gary Mitchell (class
of 1988) are fellows in the American Institute of Certified Planners. This
is the highest honor awarded by the professional planning organization.
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