Urban Planning and Development, M.S.
Saint Louis University's urban planning and development program 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.
The M.S. in urban planning and development is a candidate for accreditation with the Planning Accreditation Board.
Curriculum Overview
Students can pursue the 48-credit degree urban planning and development 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 report being employed within one year.
A few of the organizations where our alumni find jobs include:
Public Sector
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America's Central Port
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City of Cincinnati
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City of Ferguson
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City of St. Louis
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City of Webster Groves
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East-West Gateway Council of Governments
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St. Louis County
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St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce
Private Sector
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Banana Republic
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Development Strategies Consulting
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PGVA (Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc.) architecture, design and planning firm
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U.S. Bank Corp
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McCormack Baron Salazar Developers
Nonprofit Sector
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Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis
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Park Central Development Corp.
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Washington University Redevelopment Corp.
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
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Application form and fee $65
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Transcript(s)
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Three letters of recommendation
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Résumé
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Interview
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.
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 August 1. To be considered for a graduate assistantship, students must fill out the GA application found under the Scholarship and Financial aid tab by March 1.
Review Process
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. As soon as an application is complete, it is reviewed. Admission decisions are based upon overall application.
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.
FASFA 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:
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.
Priority Deadlines
March 1 for Fall
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 March 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. Please click here for more details on application components. 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 assistantship 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 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.
Benefits include:
• 18 credit hour tuition remission (nine per semester)
• 9-month stipend (paid in nine equal payments at the end of the month – August through April)
• Health insurance for nine months
Partial graduate assistantship are funded and awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters, a duration of nine months, eight-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.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the history, theory, administration, law and politics of planning and apply that knowledge to the problems of planning systems.
- Graduates will be able to apply analytical techniques and spatial reasoning to planning problems and systems.
- Graduates will be able to analyze ethical implications of planning practice.
- Graduates will be able to employ clear and concise oral and written communication.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate culturally competent practice in their engagement with local communities
The Planning Accreditation Board requires this information be posted for the Master of Science Urban Planning and Development (UPD) program.
Student Achievement
Student achievement is formally assessed using the following learning activities; internship reports, capstone projects and presentations, studio reports and presentations, and alumni surveys. The most recent assessment noted that all students are achieving at or above expectations. The overall score for the two learning outcomes that were assessed in the 2018-19 academic year was 2.92 out of a possible score of 4 points.
Other indicators of student achievement include the level of student and alumni involvement in the profession. The previous past president and the current president of the St Louis Metro Section of the Missouri APA are alumni of the program and there is a rotating student member sitting on the board each year.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UPD 5030 | Land Use Law | 3 |
| PUBH 5600 | GIS and Public Health | 3 |
| UPD 5000 | Foundations of Planning | 3 |
| UPD 5010 | Planning & Development Theory | 3 |
| UPD 5020 | Land Use Planning & Analysis | 3 |
| UPD 5100 | Research Methods | 3 |
| UPD 5110 | Quantitative Planning Methods | 3 |
| UPD 5200 | Local Economic Development Policy & Practice | 3 |
| UPD 5220 | Infrastructure & Plan Implementation | 3 |
| UPD 5500 | Real Estate Finance | 3 |
| UPD 5900 | Planning & Development Studio | 3 |
| UPD 5960 | Capstone | 2 |
| UPD 5910 | Internship | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 12 credits in collaboration with advisor. | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
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)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| Critical course: PUBH 5600 | GIS and Public Health | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5000 | Foundations of Planning | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5010 | Planning & Development Theory | 3 |
| Elective Course chosen with advisor | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5200 | Local Economic Development Policy & Practice | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5220 | Infrastructure & Plan Implementation | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5020 | Land Use Planning & Analysis | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5500 | Real Estate Finance | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5910 | Internship | 1 |
| Elective Course chosen with advisor | 3 | |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5110 | Quantitative Planning Methods | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5900 | Planning & Development Studio | 3 |
| UPD 5030 | Land Use Law | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5100 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5960 | Capstone | 2 |
| Elective Course chosen with advisor | 3 | |
| Elective Course chosen with advisor | 3 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Standard Track (part-time student)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| Critical course: PUBH 5600 | GIS and Public Health | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5000 | Foundations of Planning | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5200 | Local Economic Development Policy & Practice | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5500 | Real Estate Finance | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5910 | Internship | 1 |
| Credits | 1 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5010 | Planning & Development Theory | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5100 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5020 | Land Use Planning & Analysis | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5220 | Infrastructure & Plan Implementation | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5110 | Quantitative Planning Methods | 3 |
| Critical course: UPD 5900 | Planning & Development Studio | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective Course chosen with advisor | 3 | |
| Elective Course chosen with advisor | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Elective Course chosen with advisor | 3 | |
| UPD 5030 | Land Use Law | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Critical course: UPD 5960 | Capstone | 2 |
| Elective Course chosen with advisor | 3 | |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |