Graduate Program: Planning (MS)

General Information

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Students applying to the program must meet University of Arizona Graduate College admissions standards.

• Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited United States college or university, or equivalent in a non-US institution of higher learning. The undergraduate degree can be in any field of study. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 90 graded quarter credit hours or last 60 graded semester credit hours is required.
• Applicants who do not meet the required 3.0 GPA can apply as Graduate Non-Degree Seeking. After completion of 12 consecutive semester units of 500 level courses, and a 3.0 GPA or higher, applicants can apply as graduate degree seeking using their graduate GPA.
• International students must demonstrate English language proficiency and submit scores from the TOEFL exam.

Application Requirements

Prospective students are required to submit application materials directly to the University of Arizona Graduate College. Please pay careful attention to the procedures described in the online application portal. You can access the online application system as many times as necessary to prepare your application up until the time you formally submit your materials. Applications will not be reviewed until all materials have been received.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required to apply.

All applicants must upload the following documents using PDF format:

• Personal Statement: You will be required to submit a Statement of Purpose, clearly and concisely delineating your focus or interest, special aptitude or personal characteristics and any other relevant factors related to your career aspirations in the profession of urban planning. Additionally, discuss your reasons for applying to the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and the University of Arizona.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae: You will be asked to provide a biographical profile/resume including a complete record of academic and professional work.
• Letters of Recommendation: You will be asked to provide the names and contact information (email address) of three persons who can comprehensively evaluate your record and potential for success in the graduate program. A combination of academic and professional recommendations is preferred. As soon as you have entered this information, an automatic email message will be sent to your recommender, explaining what is required and giving him/her instructions on how to log in on our website. On the recommendations site they will be asked to complete a form, and will also be able to upload a letter or type in some text if they wish to do so.
• Transcripts: One complete set of official college transcripts for all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework (diplomas, titulos). If these original documents are not in English, an official English translation must also be included. Submit these documents directly from the issuing institution to the Graduate College Online Application system. An official document must be submitted before formal admission to the Graduate College will be granted.

International students must also provide:

• Financial Guarantee: Applicants must submit a Financial Guarantee form certifying they have sufficient U.S. funds for their first year of education. If family members are to accompany the student, additional funds are required. If the student receives a fellowship or an assistantship, the amount of the award will constitute part of the financial guarantee.
• Proof of English Language Proficiency: TOEFL scores are required of applicants who speak English as a second language unless they have completed at least two years of full time academic study in the United States, English-speaking Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or other official English speaking countries at an accredited institution, culminating in the receipt of a bachelors or graduate degree that is awarded within two years of the term of enrollment.
• Students must have 48 graded semester hours of upper division, undergraduate work or 30 graded semester hours of graduate work. If the student has been residing outside the English speaking country for more than 2 years since completing studies and earning a degree, he or she will be required to submit current TOEFL or IELTS scores as part of the admissions process. TOEFL results are valid for two years only.
• Only scores of 79 or greater on the TOEFL (with a minimum score of 26 required for the Speaking section) and 7 or greater on the ILETS are acceptable. The Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) at The University of Arizona offers full-time English-language training for students who have not attained an acceptable score on their TOEFL.

Official transcripts may be mailed to:

CAPLA Graduate Programs Office
University of Arizona
1040 N. Olive
Tucson, AZ 85721

http://capla.arizona.edu/

 

 

Standardized Tests

Required test(s): N/A
Required GRE Subject tests: N/A

Recommended tests: N/A
Recommended GRE Subject tests: N/A

Minimum GRE Verbal: N/A
Minimum GRE Quantitative: N/A
Minimum GRE Written: N/A
Minimum GMAT: N/A
Minimum MAT: N/A
Minimum TOEFL: 79
Minimum IELTS: 7

 

Funding Opportunities

Financial aid is available to qualified students based on the program, merit and financial need. Many of our students receive some form of financial aid excluding loans. 

• The program provides financial support to offset tuition for its students in the form of: Graduate Tuition Waivers; Fellowship Funds; Program Fee Set Aside Funds; Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships; Program level scholarships; Graduate Access Fellowships; Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) Waivers for UA employees and affiliates; and student travel support offered by the program. 
• The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) allows residents of fifteen participating western states to enroll in this participating University of Arizona graduate program and pay Arizona resident tuition rates. To be eligible, students must be admitted and enroll in a participating program, show proof of residency in a participating WRGP state, and apply with and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.  WRGP Arizona resident tuition pricing does not include fees, which are not discounted through WRGP. See https://grad.arizona.edu/funding/opportunities/western-regional-graduate-program for more information. 
• The University of Arizona and the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture have an array of scholarships available to qualified students. Awards are based on need, merit, program, class year, and/or other specifications. Students can apply for additional scholarships through Scholarship Universe (https://financialaid.arizona.edu/scholarshipuniverse). Admitted students will be notified of the opportunity to apply through Scholarship Universe. 
• Applicants are eligible to apply for federal financial aid through Free Application Federal Student Aid(FAFSA). Please visit the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (https://financialaid.arizona.edu) for more information. 
• Additional funding resources and opportunities can be found on the graduate college website, at https://grad.arizona.edu/funding/opportunities and with the graduate center.

 

 

Admissions Deadlines

None

 

International Conditional Admission

International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.

Other Information

The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

32 

Core Coursework Requirements

CORE COURSEWORK (26 units)

• PLG 501A Planning Theory and Practice (3)
• PLG 514 Methods in Planning (4)
• LAR 570 Introduction to GIS for PLG and LAR (4)
• PLG 597Q Public Participation and Dispute Resolution (3)
• PLG 560 Land Use Planning Law (3)
• PLG 512 Comp Planning and Land Use Controls (3)
• PLG 696B Career Development Seminar (1)
• PLG 909 Master's Report (4)**
• PLG 597D Graphic Skills (1)

** Students will enroll in PLG 909 twice: Fall 2 and Spring 2.

 

Elective Coursework

6 units of elective coursework are required. Independent study (PLG 599) may be substituted for any elective option with program approval.

Suggested electives:

• PLG 507 Survey of Responsible Real Estate Development (3 units)
• PLG 550 Green Infrastructure (3 units)
• PLG 564 Preservation Planning Issues (3 units)
• PLG 573 Transportation and Society (3 units)
• PLG 595A Geodesign: Geographic Information and Tools for Planning and Design (3 units)
• PLG 625 Market Analysis for Responsible Real Estate Development (3 units)
• PLG 599 Independent Study (requires program approval)
• PLG 593 Internship

 

Additional Requirements

Select nine units of primary concentration and six units of secondary concentration (15 units total) from the following areas or otherwise demonstrate competency:*

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

• PLG 597S Sustainable Urban Development & Design (3 units)
• PLG 508 Planning for Urban Resilience (3 units)
• PLG 572 Environmental Land Use Planning (3 units)

URBAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

• PLG 568 Urban Transportation Planning (3 units)
• PLG 569 Transportation and Land Use (3 units)
• PLG 573 Transportation and Society (3 units)

REAL ESTATE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

• PLG 576 Land Development Process (3 units)
• PLG 569 Transportation and Land Use (3 units)
• PLG 597S Sustainable Urban Development & Design (3 units)

HERITAGE CONSERVATION

• ARC 571F Intro to Heritage Conservation (3 units)
• ANTH 540A Cultural Resources Management (3 units)
• LAR 597J Documentation & Interpretation of the Historic Built Environment (3 units)

INDEPENDENT CONCENTRATION

• Nine units of coursework from the list above in consultation with advisor.

* Upon admission to the program, students may demonstrate competency through coursework in an undergraduate related degree. Courses can be reviewed for comparative competencies in one of our master level courses by reviewing samples of work, projects or references along with passing scores of A or B.

Competency may also be demonstrated by extensive applied field experiences urban, regional or city planning practice. This will be reviewed by faculty based of references, resume and CV review.

 

Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.