About PhD Program,
The MUEP program prepares students to help solve complex social, economic and environmental issues and create healthier, safer and more vibrant communities. It emphasizes theories of planning, methods of analysis, effective public engagement, planning processes and creative implementation of planning tools, strategies and approaches. The program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board. Students who join the program are eligible for certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners after two years of professional practice.
The Master of Urban and Environmental Planning program offers a valuable opportunity to integrate urban and environmental aspects of planning in a rapidly developing metropolitan area. Small classes, one-on-one advising and a common core of courses that translate knowledge into practice provide students opportunities to build technical skills and grow their professional network.
As a part of the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, the program is enriched by school faculty whose research and teaching are grounded in geography, geographic information systems, and meteorology and climatology. Students have access to a wide selection of electives within the school, electives that explore issues such as population and migration, environmental and landscape dynamics, and urban climate systems. The program is also complemented by the participation of faculty from other disciplines within the university and collaboration with leading planning practitioners in the Phoenix area.
Faculty research and teaching interests focus especially on the following broad interdisciplinary themes:
- city building and urban structure
- environmental and resiliency planning
- housing, neighborhoods and community development
- spatial analytics and smart cities
- transportation planning and policy
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”) in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor’s degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”) in an applicable master’s degree program.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Selected applicants may be offered a one-year funding package, in the form of teaching assistantships. Funding packages are officially offered to selected students in writing upon admission to the program.
MUEP students may be considered for TA positions on a semester-by-semester basis. MUEP students may apply for teaching assistantships online and must do so each semester. Students are responsible for observing application deadlines.
TAs provide services which may include lecturing, leading discussion groups, serving as assistants to laboratory classes, and grading tests and papers, under the supervision of a faculty supervisor. The Graduate Assistant Training program offers a wealth of information to help TAs have a successful teaching experience. It contains information on designing syllabi, managing a classroom, student Code of Conduct and much more.
Teaching assistantship compensation
Students with quarter-time (10 hours per week or .25 FTE) appointments are treated as Arizona state residents for tuition billing purposes. Quarter-time TAs receive a 50 percent reduction in Arizona state resident tuition.
Half-time assistantships (20 hours per week or .50 FTE) receive a full tuition remission and student health insurance at no cost; however, enrollment in the insurance plan is required each semester. Spring semester insurance coverage includes the summer months.
In addition, assistantships pay a small stipend. For more information on assistantship benefits and eligibility, please refer to Graduate College.
Full and partial tuition remission does not apply to $1750/semester MUEP program fee or mandatory university fees.
More information about financial aid is available at students.asu.edu/graduate/finances and graduate.asu.edu/current-students/funding-opportunities
Information about School, local, and national awards is available at sgsup.asu.edu/student-life/graduate-resources/fellowships-funding
Application Requirement,
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement
- resume
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The personal statement should be no longer than 600 words and must address the applicant’s:
- interest in planning
- academic or professional background and, if appropriate, preparation for the selected area of specialty (This may include written samples or a portfolio, but they are not required.)
- educational objectives
- career goals, including how a master’s degree in urban and environmental planning from the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning will help them achieve those goals
Letters of recommendation are not required for admission into the MUEP program. However, prospective students are encouraged to submit up to three letters of recommendation to strengthen their application or provide necessary context to the application. Recommenders may include professional supervisors, colleagues or academic supervisors (e.g., former professors and instructors) who can speak to the applicant’s academic or professional experiences and qualifications to pursue a graduate degree.
Examples of situations in which applicants may consider submitting recommenders include:
- returning students (more than five years after completing undergraduate degree)
- students with a cumulative GPA between 2.50 and 3.00
- students with a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field
- students pursuing a career change from an unrelated field
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
$70: U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, in application for permanent residency, DACA, international online student studying outside the U.S.
$115: International students on any nonimmigrant visa type studying in the U.S. (e.g., F-1, H1-B, H-4, etc).
