Professional Studies Urban Planning (MPUP)
MPUP 5000 Ethics Planning Practice 3 Credits
This core course explores the values and decisions related to the ethical practice of urban planning in democratic societies. Students investigate the process of developing ethical frameworks and advancing decision-making in professional planning practice. Students critically assess historical practices in the context of the multi-cultural city and contemporary goals for social and environmental justice.
Level: Graduate, Undergraduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 5100 Planning Research Methods 3 Credits
This core course introduces students to the underlying skills and research methods necessary to excel in the Urban & Regional Planning program. Students will become familiar with the sources of data, quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, and spatial analysis, while concurrently developing knowledge in the concepts and terminology of urban planning practice. Through readings, lectures, field study and applied analysis, students gain proficiency in applying both foundational knowledge and skills. This course is required for all incoming students.
Level: Graduate, Undergraduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 5200 History Theory of Planning 3 Credits
This core course examines the history of the planning profession and the planner’s role in urban development. Themes include the physical design of cities, the social construct of community and the planner's response to new technologies. Course readings emphasize primary texts associated with urban planning practice and students complete an in-depth historical case study of urban planning outcomes.
Level: Graduate, Undergraduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
MPUP 5300 Legal Foundations of Planning 3 Credits
This core course studies landmark land use law cases that form the legal foundation of contemporary urban planning practice. Students examine the law as a method by which to shape the quality of neighborhoods and communities. Students evaluate legal constraints that arise in the course of the planning practice which directly impact urban development and resource allocation. The powers and constraints of zoning law are introduced in addition to the environmental and housing frameworks that govern metropolitan form.
Level: Graduate, Law Doctorate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
MPUP 5400 Urban Economics Land Uses 3 Credits
This core course applies economic analysis to the study of urban land use patterns and real estate markets. The goal of the course is for students to understand and apply economic principles to the analysis of diverse urban land uses. Among topics covered include the growth of the urban core, the determination of highest & best uses, the determination of rent and vacancy, affordability, and the economics of the private investment cycle. Previous familiarity with basic terms and concepts in economics is expected. Calculus is not required, but a firm understanding of algebra and proficiency in interpreting graphs is assumed. Problem sets, case studies, tests, and class participation are included in grading.
Level: Graduate, Undergraduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
MPUP 5500 Planning a Sustainable Future 3 Credits
This core course examines the facets of sustainability planning that affect the health and future of the 21st century city in the era of climate change. As urban populations increase and natural resources grow more scarce, the principles of sustainable communities become integral to shaping livable urban environments. Theories of sustainability, sustainability policy, as well as obstacles to sustainable development are reviewed and case studies of sustainable communities are used to establish global benchmarks of best practices.
Level: Graduate, Undergraduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
MPUP 6010 Urban Development Practicum 3 Credits
This seminar simulates professional negotiation in order to explore the intersection of urban planning and real estate development. Scenario-based collaboration and game theory simulate real-world decision-making at the core of the development process. Pedagogical tools developed by the Urban Land Institute (Urban Plan and Hines Competition) are used to force students to role play and by doing so gain insight into the values and trade-offs associated with alternative land use strategies. Special guests judge the final development proposals produced during team competition.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6030 Placemaking Management 3 Credits
This advanced seminar explores a new generation of professional practice which explicitly serves a defined urban district in order to advance comprehensive community development. Place management practices typically challenge the conventional framework of local governance and open new opportunities for innovative partnerships between urban stakeholders. Students will gain exposure to the establishment of place management districts, alternative stakeholder frameworks and the new professional activities which have given rise to many successful place-based, place-making initiatives. Washington D.C. is one of the most innovative cities in these practices and coursework includes field study, guest lecturers, detailed examination of case studies and scenario-based simulations of place management practices.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6040 Participatory Planning 3 Credits
This seminar explores the theory and practice of participatory urban planning and utilization of the contemporary tools to advance best practices of community engagement. International in scope, students gain practical skills training through case studies, the observation and critique of contemporary practice, and scenario-based exercises. Topics include public presentation, media training, community charrettes, web-based engagement strategies, crowdsourcing, and other decentralized or digitized modes of engagement.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6050 Civic Leadership in Practice 3 Credits
This advanced seminar explores the frameworks, practices and strategies of civic leadership in a metropolitan and municipal context. City-building, city planning and community development is a political exercise which requires establishing civic trust with many stakeholders. Civic leadership is the agency with which this trust is established. Coursework explores alternative leadership styles, strategies to overcome traditional barriers of civic fragmentation and it introduces methods of personal self-analysis to prepare students for professional leadership roles. The course is taught in an interactive workshop format in an applied manner.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6101 Digital Skills Practicum 3 Credits
This course introduces students to foundational software associated with high-performing academic achievement and professional practice. Students are introduced to the following software: Microsoft Office Suite including an intensive module on the functionality of Excel, Adobe Suite, InDesign, Sketch-up and Wordpress. Students may take this course in advance of commencing the core Urban & Regional Planning Curriculum or concurrent to it. Students are responsible for their own hardware and software licenses may be purchased at a discount through the University.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6110 Geospatial Analysis 3 Credits
This seminar is an introduction to Geographic Information Systems and their application within the fields of urban planning, asset management and public administration. Students develop proficiency in ESRI software and discover geo-coded data in support of performing spatial analysis in cities and regions. This course includes a combination of hands-on instruction as well as lectures introducing contemporary applications. Students will produce a final spatial analysis project as the dedicated means to researching communities and the built-environment.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6120 Advanced Applications in GIS 3 Credits
This advanced seminar explores the strategic geospatial analysis of cities and regions. Students employ the ArcGIS Pro desktop GIS mapping application to become proficient in suitability modeling, mapping clusters, and regression analysis. Using the Python scripting language, students develop custom tools and methods for spatial analysis. The class culminates in an analysis competition, in which students apply analytical concepts to contemporary urban issues. Prior completion of MPUP 605 is required for students with no prior exposure to GIS software.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment limited to students in the MPS-PRSU program.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6130 Advanced Quantitative Methods 3 Credits
This seminar explores how urban planners collect and use information to examine a broad range of social, environmental, land use, economic, and organizational data. Students will become informed users of this data and acquire the skills to perform diverse quantitative research. The first half of the course explores research methods for data collection and information gathering. The second half of the course explores rigorous statistical methods and quantitative data analysis. Using case studies, the course provides students with practical instruction on how to thoughtfully define and address planning-related problems using empirical, quantitative data.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6140 New Urban Technologies 3 Credits
This advanced seminar is organized as a studio investigating the introduction of new technologies into urban places and systems. The course is structured to enable students to work collaboratively with industry professionals seeking to develop new urban solutions. This class requires all students to perform systems analysis, design thinking, and creative problem-solving. Interim exercises emphasize methods of problem definition, documentation, interdisciplinary analysis, and scenario-based analysis. Effective communication skills are developed to support the translation of complex interdisciplinary problems into understandable and actionable measures. A final project requires students to create a defined application that blends technology management and urban planning.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6210 Contemporary Urban Theory 3 Credits
This seminar surveys contemporary planning theory and investigates how leading practitioners seek to apply theory to the innovation of professional practice. Students examine emerging practices with respect to theories of social inclusion, expansion of the public realm, cultural production, and ecology. Prior completion of MPUP 510 is required for students with no prior exposure to social theory.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6220 Housing Policy in the U.S. 3 Credits
This seminar explores housing as an expression of urban economies and as a subject of federal and local policy making in the United States. The course is taught through an in-depth review of historical case studies which investigate the outsized impact that federal policy has had on local housing typologies and neighborhood settlement patterns. The course includes a critical assessment of housing policy as a tool of racial segregation and spatial dispersion in the United States.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6230 Approaches to the Modern City 3 Credits
The course examines the history of the city comparatively and thematically. Each student researches the history of one city for the entire semester. Class time will be used to discuss common readings and to present research findings. In order to overcome the Eurocentrism of much of the urban studies scholarship in English, roughly half of the material for the class will be related to Asia. One of the goals of the course will be to rewrite the history of modern cities from the ground and from new sites and perspectives. Tools and methods for oral history and ethnographic fieldwork are introduced. This seminar is cross-listed with the History department and meets on the main Georgetown campus.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6310 Land Use Controls 3 Credits
This seminar studies land use regulations, historic preservation and development review mechanisms. A first module explores the evolution, tools and application of municipal land use zoning in the United States. A second module explores other forms of municipal controls over land use, including inclusionary zoning, rent control, historic preservation, special design districts and international case studies. A third module examines historical case studies with an emphasis on complex urban projects which have required special approval processes and public-private negotiations. A common theme running through the course explores the historic impact of land use controls on the racial and economic composition of neighborhoods and cities.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6320 Cultural PlanningPreservation 3 Credits
This seminar explores the tools and strategies associated with historic preservation of buildings, neighborhoods and other elements of the built environment. Students are exposed to the legal frameworks enabling preservation regulations, the mechanisms which govern individual preservation decisions and the economic and social value derived from the preservation process. The seminar includes international case studies which encourage students to critically assess the strategic role of historic preservation as a means of creating value in cities in diverse contexts.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6330 Entitlements for Redevelopment 3 Credits
This seminar focuses on “entitlements” — the legal rights secured through government approvals to develop property for a certain use, intensity, building type or building location. Topics covered include property value creation through entitlements, the legal, institutional, and planning framework for redevelopment, analytical frameworks for selecting sites and assessing development risk, the role of building design in adding value to redevelopment projects and the negotiation of development agreements. Coursework is advanced through lectures, class discussions and exercises, and case studies.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6410 Affordable Housing Strategies 3 Credits
This seminar explores the practices of developing a comprehensive affordable housing strategy for a local jurisdiction. While the emphasis is on the economics of delivering housing to the complete range of incomes, the course explores how comprehensive housing strategies move beyond housing policy to include other urban planning challenges which impact affordability, social inclusion and community development. Lectures, guest speakers and analytical exercises explore policy themes and student research culminates in a final project which constructs a new housing strategy in a given jurisdiction.
Level: Graduate, Juris Doctor
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6420 Economic Development Practice 3 Credits
This seminar explores the theory, principles and contemporary planning practices which advance economic development and global competitiveness in cities and regions. The course reviews the challenges and opportunities associated with economic development planning as well as the individual tools and mechanisms used to make cities an attractive target for private investment. The seminar will review market assessments, land disposition, public finance, public incentives, city branding and digital engagement platforms as tools used to advance local economies.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6430 Public Private Partnerships 3 Credits
This seminar explores the practice of delivering high-performance infrastructure in the United States and globally. Course material introduces students to key areas of practice, including innovative municipal finance, civic technologies and data generation, regulatory innovation and cross-sector partnerships. Content is delivered through case studies, site visits and professional expert briefs. Students conduct research in a final project with context-specific infrastructure projects in a dedicated urban marketplace.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6440 Local Impacts of Federal RE 3 Credits
This practicum explores the impact of federal real estate actions on local economic development. The course examines the history of location policy of federal facilities and how federal decision-making has shaped cities and communities across the nation. The course examines the connection between federal portfolio management and local planning and development. Students learn how real estate and urban planning professionals can best develop local investment strategies around a framework of decision-making that lies outside their own powers. Examples include military base closure, development of federal offices, location decisions for courthouses, post offices and a myriad of other federal facilities in
local communities. Content is delivered through case studies, site visits and professional expert briefs. Students conduct research in a final project presented to invited guests.
Level: Graduate, Juris Doctor
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6510 Planning for Health 3 Credits
This seminar explores how to intentionally plan the built environment to improve public health, while critically examining risk factors linked to health and safety outcomes. Students develop proficiency in key areas of public health, gain exposure to tools and methods to translate research into action, and gain exposure to emerging trends influencing professional practice in planning, design and real estate. A key objective is to introduce evidence-based, feasible, and health-driven decision making frameworks, which place an emphasis on translating concepts into urban planning, design and investment actions.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6520 Low-Carbon Cities 3 Credits
This seminar explores the rapidly changing value proposition which delivers high-performance green buildings in the era of climate change. Coursework explicitly investigates how jurisdictions, investors, owners and tenants are tranforming the energy and emissions performance of the existing building stock and new buildings. Students will learn the linkages between planning, design, construction and building operations in terms of economic and environmental value. Prior completion of MPUP 540 is strongly recommended.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6530 Resilient Urban Systems 3 Credits
This seminar explores how are concepts of urban resiliency inform urban planning decisions with an emphasis on urban infrastructure and systems. Students develop proficiency in systems thinking in order to critically explore how urban infrastructure systems are defined, conceived, delivered and maintained. A review of best practice case studies introduces concepts of urban resiliency which directly inform the contemporary debate on urban infrastructure. Topics include new urban challenges associated with climate change, such as sea-level rise, storm events, flooding and coastal inundation, among many others.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6610 Transportation Planning 3 Credits
This seminar is a comprehensive introduction to the goals, strategies, and planning practices of urban transportation systems. Transportation planning is introduced across all modes, and in multiple locations in varying metro-regional contexts. Students explore how transportation planning sets goals, develops strategies, and assesses outcomes in meeting a community's transportation needs. Case studies are used to assess planning, regulatory, and funding strategies in the context of local, regional, and national transportation policies. The course includes a critical assessment of how new technologies and transit-oriented development strategies are disrupting old assumptions with concepts of urban mobility services, walkability, and on-demand transit.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
MPUP 6620 Quantifying Urban Mobility 3 Credits
This seminar explores the practices of quantifying transportation demand at the city, metropolitan and regional scale. Special emphasis is placed on identifying and applying quantitative methods to the challenge of describing mobility across public and private modes of travel. By utilizing a case study approach, students acquire quantitative skills and an understanding of the planning assumptions associated with the modeling of transportation flows. Prior completion of MPUP 765 is required for students with no prior exposure to transportation planning.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
MPUP 6630 Transit-Oriented Development 3 Credits
This seminar explores the public and private practices of transit-oriented development at the nexus of public policy, local planning strategies, and real estate development practice. Students will develop a thorough understanding of the goals of transit agencies and local officials, the principles for developing successful projects, and the unique constraints associated with mobility, traffic, and parking issues. Guest lecturers will add the unique perspectives of practitioners, including transit officials, environmentalists, planners, and developers with respect to issues such as market demand, mixed-income housing, finance, and land use entitlement issues.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6640 Big Investments in Big Cities 3 Credits
This seminar explores the role of the large infrastructure project in the comprehensive transformation of the city. The course starts with a global survey of infrastructure megaprojects, including the introduction of new transportation and transit systems, new water and energy systems. The course will critically assess the goals and impacts of large projects and will critically assess the finance, governance, planning, procurement and project management strategies which are employed to deliver them. The course concludes with a final project which affords students to prepare an in-depth case study of a contemporary project.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6710 Global Urbanization 3 Credits
This seminar introduces the diverse drivers of international urban development which make global urbanization one of the most important global trends in the 21st Century. Coursework includes surveys of global demographic change, global urban markets, urban investment trends and the socio-environmental challenges that accompany them. The course introduces students to international non-governmental organizations (NGO), multi-lateral development banks and international institutions of government who are collectively embracing localized urbanization as a global policy agenda.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a program in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6720 Pacific Cities Sustainability 3 Credits
This seminar employs on-site residency to explore the unprecedented scale of urban development across the continent of Asia. Central to the course are the challenges and opportunities associated with harnessing the processes of urbanization as a vehicle for producing social, environmental and economic outcomes. The course is organized around a 9-day travel itinerary to a city in Asia in order to conduct field study and meet local public officials, researchers and professionals. Students acquire field research skills through the investigation of a special topic of their choosing, documenting their observations in the field and preparing a final presentation which identifies contemporary innovations in urban development and community planning. This course includes a travel fee which covers on-ground expenses during the residency.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6730 Placemaking in Global Travel 3 Credits
This seminar explores the world's fastest growing industry: global travel and tourism. Utilizing global case studies, students gain exposure to the planning and management practices employed to balance global economics with local development outcomes. A critical question centers on the development of sustainable place-based tourism, which leverages distinct cultural, social, and historical attributes of a place, but which also is deliberate in assessing the collateral local impacts of the global tourism industry. The course surveys policies, markets, infrastructure, labor, training, product design and marketing in the cumulative effort to position unique places in the global marketplace. Performance based outcomes are evaluated with respect to economic, environmental and cultural sustainability, in support of the creation of a place-based hospitality framework.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 6740 Global Metropolitan Planning 3 Credits
This advanced seminar explores metropolitan planning in an international context. The course is taught through case-studies which reflect a diversity
of issues, including rapid urbanization, second- and third-tier cities, planning practices in a context of deficient data, regional governance, and sectoral economic development strategies in a globalized market context. Prior completion of MPUP 530 and MPUP 715 is required for students with no prior exposure to market economics and global urban development.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 7860 Collab for Sustainable Future 3 Credits
In this cross-functional course, students explore the challenges, opportunities, requirements, and approaches to achieving sustainable and circular outcomes through collaborating with other disciplines. Students will gain the fluency to communicate sustainability terms and principles to a broad range of stakeholders. Utilizing a project in their field of study, they will assess opportunities to increase sustainability and circulatory while discerning the necessity and value of cross-industry and cross-functional efforts.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Students in the School of Continuing Studies college may not enroll.
MPUP 7900 Planning Studio 3 Credits
This studio course is an introduction into the practices of urban planning through direct engagement of external organizations. Students engage in urban analysis and the formulation and articulation of an urban planning strategy. Examples of successful urban analysis, planning initiatives and community design strategies will are introduced as case studies of professional practice. Coursework emphasizes the exploration of methods of documentation, interdisciplinary analysis and effective communication of planning concepts. A final project presentation is made to external stakeholders.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 7940 Independent Study 3 Credits
Independent Study is a student-initiated and student-designed course of study. It can be structured either as a professional internship or as an advanced academic study project. Students must apply to take this course in the previous semester using the special application form. Once approved, students are assigned an academic advisor to help guide their work. Students are required to make an oral presentation at the conclusion of the semester.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Students cannot enroll who have a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 7950 Professional Internship 1 Credit
Professional Internship is a one-credit, student-initiated course of study to advance professional practice knowledge. It is structured as a professional internship in coordination with an external organization. Students must apply to take this course in the previous semester using the special application form. Students are required to make an oral presentation at the conclusion of the semester.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 7990 Urban Planning Capstone 3 Credits
Capstone is the culminating course in the program curriculum and the final requirement to become eligible to graduate. Students propose a topic, conduct research and work with an adviser to develop an argument advancing the professional practice of urban planning. Projects may be place-based, practice-based or be completed as a professional engagement. All students must present their work to a visiting review committee and submit a written deliverable for final evaluation. Capstone may be paired with Independent Study in the previous semester to allow the completion of an academic thesis. Upon completion students are encouraged to publish their work through Digital Georgetown and by doing so make their work searchable by the public. Students must apply to take this course in the previous semester using the special application form.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
MPUP 903 Independent Study 1 Credit
This one-credit course enables students to engage in an applied professional internship. Coursework includes a residency in a professional organization in the public, private or non-profit sectors. Students will be assigned an advisor and will produce a final report regarding professional practices in urban & regional planning. This course requires an application and manual enrollment by program staff.
Level: Graduate
Grading: Main Campus (UGrad, Grad)
Course registration restrictions:
Enrollment is limited to students with a major in PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning, PS: UrbanRegional Planning or PS: UrbanRegional Planning.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.
Students in the School of Continuing Studies college may not enroll.