Urban Planning and Development, M.S.

Saint Louis University's M.S. in Urban Planning and Development teaches students the essential knowledge, skills and values central to the planning and development professions.

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 36-credit degree in urban planning and development on a full- or part-time basis. Students who attend full time can complete the degree in three semesters. Those who attend part-time, with a minimum participation of six credits per semester, can complete the degree in six semesters. 

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, City of St. Louis, and various other regional, state and local entities.  Our Community Planning Lab provides students with additional exciting internship opportunities to work on local projects like community impact assessments and comprehensive plans. Students graduate with a solid record of planning experience that translates into competitive job opportunities.

Careers

Graduates of SLU's master's degree in urban planning and development 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; nearly 100 percent of our alumni report being employed within six months. A few of the organizations where our alumni find jobs include:

Public Sector  

• America's Central Port
• City of Dallas, Texas
• City of Ferguson
• City of St. Louis
• City of Webster Groves
• East-West Gateway Council of Governments
• Chicago Transit Authority

Private Sector    

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

Nonprofit Sector  

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

Admission Requirements

Successful applicants should possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.  

Application Requirements

• Application form and fee $65
• Transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation (two academic, one professional)
  • Two academic letters from professors who have evaluated academic performance in the classroom.
  • One professional letter from a supervisor who has evaluated your work in the field or related volunteer experience.
• Résumé
• Professional Statement

Requirements for International Students

The M.A. in Urban Planning and Development requires a TOEFL score of 92 or higher.

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.

Application Deadlines

All applicants who apply by the priority deadline of March 1 are reviewed for merit-based scholarships. Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed for admissions until Aug. 1. To be considered for a graduate assistantship, students must fill out the GA application by March 1.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The admissions committee considers several factors to determine a candidate's eligibility:

• Academic achievement
• Strength of the undergraduate program
• Application information
• Professional statement
• Work experience
• Any graduate degrees earned
• Motivation
• Leadership and service
• The undergraduate GPA is weighted with other criteria in the admissions process

Scholarships and Financial Aid

We recognize that when choosing to continue your education, cost can be a concern. To help ease that decision, we have identified the following financial aid resources.

FAFSA and Other Resources
All incoming students should complete the application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A step-by-step guide to submitting your FAFSA is available online. Saint Louis University Student Financial Services provides a Graduate Financial Aid Handbook that outlines the process of financing your graduate education.

The following links to resources in Saint Louis University Student Financial Services may also be helpful:

• Graduate Loan Options
• Confirming Your Award
• Paying Your Bill and Payment Plans

Scholarships
New and continuing students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. Prospective students who apply for admission by the priority deadline are automatically screened for scholarship eligibility. No additional application is required; awards are based on information provided in the admission application.

The priority deadline for fall is March 1.

Please note that the terms of scholarship are subject to change if the student petitions for a degree transfer or fails to remain in good academic standing.

Fellowships

The Doerr Fellowship for Equity and Inclusion is a full-tuition fellowship funded by the School of Social Work for new and continuing students. A separate application is required with a deadline of April 1. This fellowship requires that recipients serve as members of the School of Social Work's Equity and Inclusion Committee. Recipients will also be expected to actively participate in the diversity, equity and inclusion activities sponsored throughout the year by the Doerr Center.

Newly accepted master's or doctoral students and students in the first year of a program are eligible to apply for a University-wide Diversity, Dissertation or Presidential fellowship. You must first submit the full application minus the nomination letter to the School of Social Work by Jan. 2 to be considered for nomination. Find more details on application components here. Completed applications including all application components minus the nomination letter should be submitted as a PDF to kristi.richter@slu.edu.

Graduate Assistantships

By filling out a graduate assistantship application, you will automatically be considered for a full or partial graduate assistantship with the School of Social Work. Assistantships are appointed for one year. Students must reapply to be considered for a second year and there are no guarantees that recipients will receive subsequent/continuing assistantships.

Full graduate assistantships are University-funded assistantships (UFA) awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters, a duration of nine months, 20 hours per week, working with designated faculty. Most full assistantships are assigned to help faculty with research (GRA) and a small number may be assigned to assist with administrative work (GA), or faculty teaching (GTA).

The full graduate assistant works with one or two faculty members, depending on faculty needs. Time is divided between both faculty mentors, if the student is assigned two. Students who receive a fully-funded UFA in one year may not receive a UFA in subsequent years, although they remain eligible for partial assistantships throughout their pursuit of a graduate degree in the School of Social Work.

Partial graduate assistantships are funded and awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters, a duration of nine months, 8-16 hours per week, working with assigned faculty. Partial assistantships may be assigned to assist with administrative work (GA), research (GRA), or faculty teaching (GTA). Depending on the hours assigned, tuition benefits will differ; health insurance and stipends are not awarded with partial assistantships.

Current Students

Current students may be eligible for conference/training funding, graduate assistantships and scholarships. For more information and applications, visit the School of Social Work's Google Site.

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)

Program Director
Sarah Coffin, Ph.D., AICP
Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Development
sarah.coffin@slu.edu

Assistant Program Director 
Robert M. Lewis, CeCD, FAICP, Assistant Professor
bob.m.lewis@slu.edu

Admissions Contacts
Director of Recruitment and Admissions
Kristi Richter, M.S.W., LCSW 
314-977-2752
kristi.richter@slu.edu

Admissions Assistant and Program Coordinator
Deborah Jaegers   
314-977-2719
deb.jaegers@slu.edu