Urban Planning and Development, M.S.

Student Manual

Saint Louis University's urban planning and development program teaches students the essential knowledge, skills, and values central to the planning and development professions.

SLU’s interdisciplinary urban planning program operates in conjunction with Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, School of Law, and School of Social Work, and College of Public Health and Social Justice to offer five areas of specialization:

• Community Development
• Economic Development 
• Environmental/Sustainability Planning
• Public Health
• Real Estate Development

Intimate classes emphasize skill building, discussion and debate. The curriculum's professional focus allows you to develop the knowledge and skills you need to become a leader in supporting urban growth and revitalization.

Curriculum Overview

Students can pursue the 48-credit degree program on a full- or part-time basis. Students who attend full time, including the summer session, can complete the degree in two years. Those who attend part-time, with a minimum participation of six credits per semester, can complete the degree in three and a half years.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Faculty and students in SLU’s urban planning and development program have been involved in almost $2 million in funded research, including projects for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Rivers Greenway, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Missouri Growth Association, and various other regional, state and local entities.

Careers

Graduates of SLU's urban planning and development program work across the public, private and nonprofit sectors holding jobs with state, regional and municipal governments, planning consulting firms, real estate development companies, community development corporations, and economic development organizations, to name a few.

The typical graduate is employed in the profession within three months of graduation; 100 percent of our students are employed within one year.

A few of the organizations where our alumni find jobs include:

Public Sector  

• America's Central Port
• City of Cincinnati
• City of Ferguson
• City of St. Louis
• City of Webster Groves
• East-West Gateway Council of Governments
• St. Louis County
• St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce

Private Sector    

• Banana Republic
• Development Strategies Consulting
• PGVA (Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc.) architecture, design and planning firm
• U.S. Bank Corp
• McCormack Baron Salazar Developers

Nonprofit Sector  

• Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis
• Park Central Development Corp.
• Washington University Redevelopment Corp.

Admission Requirements

Minimum GPA: 3.00

Application Requirements

• Application form and fee
• Transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE scores (optional)
• Résumé
• Interview (optional)
• Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Assistantship and Application Deadlines

Students who want to be considered for scholarship and assistantship support must submit their application by March 1, the priority deadline for admission. The final application deadline for U.S. students is July 15. International students should apply by May 1.

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as received, beginning Aug. 1 and continuing until the July 15 general application deadline.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The College for Public Health and Social Justice offers several ways to help finance graduate education. Opportunities include a limited number of merit-based scholarships, graduate research assistantships and part-time jobs.

Fellowships

Newly accepted students and students in the first year of a program are eligible to apply for the Diversity, Dissertation and Presidential university-funded fellowships. Students must apply to be nominated by the School of Social Work by January 15.

Other university scholarships that do not require nomination by a department/school are also available.

Graduate Assistantships

Students can apply for a full or partial graduate assistantship with the School of Social Work. Applications are accepted Oct. 1-March 1.

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation 

The College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Community Development 

Economic Development

Environmental/Sustainability Planning 

Public Health Planning

Real Estate Development

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Standard Track (full-time student)

Standard Track (part-time student)

Community Development (full-time student)

Community Development (part-time student)

Economic Development (full-time student)

Economic Development (part-time student)

Environmental/Sustainability Planning (full-time student)

Environmental/Sustainability Planning (part-time student)

Public Health Planning (full-time student)

Public Health Planning (part-time student)

Real Estate Development (full-time student) 

Real Estate Development (part-time student)  

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions please contact,
Kristi Richter, MSW, LCSW
Director of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
School of Social Work
(314) 977-2752