Urban and Regional Planning

Urban and Regional Planning is a dynamic, cutting edge field that attracts diverse individuals and draws upon and integrates knowledge from geography, economics, design, sociology, environmental studies, political science, urban studies, and other fields.

UCI's MURP program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).

A total of 72 graduate units are required including 32 units of core courses and 32 units of elective courses, as well as successfully completing 8 capstone units. Core courses include:

Year One:

• History of Urban Planning
• Microeconomics
• Planning Theory
• Planning and Design Graphics
• Quantitative Analysis

Year Two:

• Law course (choose from Environmental Law or Development Law)
• Additional Methods course (choose from: Analytical Methods, Qualitative Methods: Field Work, Regional Analysis, Demographics for Planning, GIS for Planning)
• Urban Settlements course (choose from Housing, Land Use, Regional Development or California's Population)
• Capstone Exit Requirement (Professional Report, Planning Practicum, Thesis, or Examination option)

Requirements

• Online Application for Graduate Admissions
• Statement of Purpose  – Required for all applicants, submitted through the online application. This essay should focus on your academic, professional, and/or research experiences and interests. The admissions and fellowship review committees will review this statement to evaluate your preparation for a professional planning degree program. This statement should include information about your academic plans and research interests, relevant experience, future career goals, and why UC Irvine would be a good intellectual fit for you. (1200 word maximum)
• Personal History Statement – Required only for US citizens and legal US permanent residents, submitted through the online application. This essay should focus on your personal background, and can include information on your life experience and history which motivates your personal and professional goals.  We welcome information on how you have contributed to, and/or plan to contribute to, diversity, equity and inclusion within our program and the planning profession. (1200 word maximum)
• Official transcripts from colleges attended
• GRE General Test scores -  Required for all applicants, except US citizens or US legal permanent residents with an undergraduate GPA of 3.3 and above 
• Three letters of recommendation – Our program welcomes letters from both academics and professionals, but we strongly recommend submission of at least one academic recommendation letter. Detailed information about submission process is given in the online application, and the Graduate Division's Letters of Recommendation web page 
• Application Fees

Scholarships

• Fellowships or Grants
• Teaching or Research Assistantships 
• Need-based Financial Aid
• Personal Resources