Urban Planning (MUP)
Program Description
NYU Wagner’s Master of Urban Planning (MUP) degree equips you with the technical, organizational, and analytical skills to address the challenges of modern cities while having an effective and lasting impact on the well-being of its people. Located in the world’s most exciting global city and housed in a school of public service, this urban planning program provides you with hands-on experience in shaping how people frame, understand, and act on critical public issues that influence communities and their built environments. You'll gain expertise in land use planning, community development, financial management, and policy analysis—a unique blend that distinguishes beautiful designs from real-world impact—within and beyond New York City’s vibrant and diverse neighborhoods.
Program Highlights
- Convenience & Flexibility. Our program offers flexible scheduling for both full-time and part-time students, with start terms available in both the Fall and Spring. Full-time students who begin in the Fall can complete the program in as little as two years. Part-time students typically finish in three to four years.
- Distinguished Faculty. Learn from renowned experts in fields such as planning, economics, public policy, and emergency management. NYU Wagner’s faculty bring real-world experience and cutting-edge research to the classroom, preparing you to tackle the challenges of today’s cities.
- Hands-On Experience. Gain practical experience through internships, fellowships, and a yearlong, team-based capstone project. Our students benefit from the program's strong connections to New York City’s extensive urban planning ecosystem, NYU’s leading urban research centers, and a global campus network, giving them unparalleled access to real-world projects, international opportunities, and professional networks.
- NYC as Your Classroom. Situated in the heart of New York City, our location offers you a living laboratory to explore urban planning challenges and solutions with implications for communities across the United States, and the globe. From transportation and housing, to climate resilience and environmental sustainability, NYC’s dynamic landscape serves as a critical resource throughout your studies.
- Tangible Career Outcomes. Graduates from our Master of Urban Planning program go on to impactful careers in city planning, sustainability, transportation, and more. Our alumni work in leading government agencies, nonprofit organizations, international development firms, and private consultancies worldwide.
Specializations
The Urban Planning MUP offers the following specializations:
City and Community Planning
Cities and communities are becoming more innovative: they are using data to optimize services and local decision-making, even as they are being forced to reexamine complex historical and contemporary realities in ways that may generate new institutional arrangements for improved urban development. At the same time, the need to better incorporate community-level dynamics that influence planning processes are more salient than ever. With the skills and knowledge gained in the City and Community Planning specialization, you can be part of this. You will learn the foundation of urban economics, urban planning practice and methods, and spatial analysis, while also developing an in-depth understanding of people’s lived experiences in their communities and the policy considerations that come to bear on planning outcomes.
As a graduate, you'll have the public service orientation necessary to make a long-term impact, whether working in and with government agencies, community-based nonprofits, or public-private partnerships.
International Development Planning
When “the greater good” has global proportions, how do you balance the needs and values of all the people involved? We’ll help you answer that. Whether you’re interested in planning for the multinational cities of tomorrow or the developing economies of today, we’ll prepare you to juggle the complexities of work with and across governments, NGOs, and international development agencies—and anything else the world ends up throwing your way.
Admissions
Admission to the MUP program requires the following:
- Online Application
- Essays
- Resume
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Interview (by invitation only)
- Standardized Test Scores
- Application Fee
See MUP Application Checklist for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
International Applicants should review the International Applicant Checklist for a complete and comprehensive list of application requirements and instructions.
Dual-Degree Option
With NYU's School of Law, NYU Wagner offers a dual-degree JD-MUP program. Whether you see yourself pursuing public interest law, writing legislation, or running an agency or organization, you’ll find the focus you need through this full-time, four-year, dual-degree program. You’ll walk away with a vast toolkit of analytical skills, ready to lead programs and institutions that create a positive impact. Please note that entry to this program requires separate application and admission to each participating school.