Please note: A new MUP core curriculum and capstone requirements were adopted in November 2007. Joint degree students admitted to the program prior to Fall 2008 are required to complete the requirements under the old curriculum. Click here or the previous program overview statement.

Joint Degree Programs

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers joint degree programs at the master's level, in Architecture, Law and with other degree programs. The joint degree programs provide the opportunity to complete two degrees in a compressed time frame. Both the Master of Architecture/Urban Planning and Juris Doctor/Urban Planning joint degree programs require completion of 32 hours of urban planning courses. Joint degrees with other programs require completion of 40 hours of urban planning courses. These requirements are met by the 30 hours of core courses, electives and up to 8 hours of capstone course credit. The hours of urban planning credit is a minimum, and cannot be reduced by UP 590 internship credit or other waivers. Students may choose to take more urban planning electives to the extent that it is feasible, given the requirements of the other program.

The two degrees must be taken concurrently or consecutively. A student cannot complete one master’s degree, work for a few years, and then come back to get a joint degree with Urban Planning. The joint aspect of this is important: students should study in their other program close enough in time to the MUP so that they are able to reflect on the significance of that discipline within the context of urban planning. Both degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of all requirements.

Students may apply initially to the joint degree program prior to enrollment for the MUP degree, or they may apply while enrolled in the first year of either program.

Master of Urban Planning and Master of Architecture

Reciprocity of credit hours allows students to complete the two degrees, normally requiring two years each, in a total of three years. Up to 20 of the hours required for the Master of Urban Planning may count toward the Master of Architecture, and up to 20 of the hours required by the Master of Architecture may count toward the Master of Urban Planning. To receive both degrees, students must complete a total of at least 86 hours, including at least 32 hours of UP courses and 42 hours of Arch courses. Those courses must include the core and capstone courses in each program.

Normally a student would take one year focused on their Architecture core courses and one year focused on the Urban Planning core. Then in the third year, the student would complete the capstone requirements. Joint degree students take electives from either program as appropriate in all three years.

The capstone requirement may be met separately for each program, or jointly by means of a single project. If the latter is chosen, the student must assemble a committee with representatives of each program. That committee must agree that the proposed project meets the requirements of each program. Registration for such a joint capstone is completed under the course rubric of one of the programs, and the other program would agree to recognize the given as meeting its capstone requirement.

To satisfy requirements of the Graduate College, joint degree students must be enrolled for at least two semesters in each of the two programs. In any semester, students must be officially enrolled in one degree program or the other. Switching enrollment from one program to the other requires a petition to the Graduate College.

How to Apply for the Joint Degree in Urban Planning and Architecture

• Students currently enrolled in the Master of Architecture program can apply to the joint degree program by requesting Architecture to send their file (or a copy) to the MUP Coordinator, and submitting at least one new letter of recommendation and a statement of purpose appropriate for the MUP program. No application fee is necessary. If the application is approved, the student may transfer to Urban Planning simply by means of a petition to the Graduate College.
  
• Students may apply to both programs simultaneously prior to matriculation at the University of Illinois, with one application fee. The application and supporting materials should be sent to either program, and should clearly specify that the application is for the joint degree. At the same time, applicants should send a letter to the other department, officially informing them that a joint degree application has been submitted.

Master of Urban Planning and Juris Doctor

Students in this joint degree program can complete both degrees in seven or eight semesters instead of the usual ten. Normally a student would begin by taking one year of required courses in one program, followed by the year of required courses in the other program.

Students must take at least 32 hours of UP courses (instead of the normal 64 hours), including all core course and capstone requirements. Students admitted to the Law School at the beginning can get credit for up to 16 hours of non-Law courses, which means that they need take only 74 hours of Law courses instead of the usual 90. Therefore, students admitted to the Law School at the beginning can complete both degrees in 3 ½ years. MUP students who subsequently are admitted to the Law School can complete the program in 4 years.

Students must be registered at least 5 semesters in the Law School, and at least 2 semesters in Urban Planning (you need to petition for approval each time you switch). Generally, students may hold a teaching or research assistantship in Urban Planning only in semesters in which they are enrolled in Urban Planning.

How to Apply for a Joint Degree in Urban Planning and Law

• If you are already in the Law School, you can apply to the joint degree program by requesting Law to send your file (or a copy) to the MUP Coordinator for evaluation. You should also submit one letter of recommendation and a statement of purpose. To be officially admitted into the program, you must pay an application fee. If your application is approved, you can transfer to Urban Planning simply by means of a petition to the Graduate College.

Other Joint Degrees

Candidates may propose joint programs combining the MUP with other UIUC master’s degrees, according to the following guidelines

1. They must either be enrolled or offered admission to the other degree program;


2. They must submit a proposal to the MUP program coordinator describing the interdisciplinary value of the proposed joint program and show how the second degree serves as a specialization in the planning curriculum;


3. They must provide evidence of a commitment to their proposal from their academic advisor and coordinator from each program. We require an explicit statement of support from the student’s advisor and master’s degree coordinator of the other program, as well as from their MUP advisor and MUP degree coordinator. Both programs must be committed to the student’s participation in the joint degree;


4. The proposal must be approved by the Graduate College via petition;


5. At least 40 hours must be in Urban Planning. This requirement is met by the 30 hours of core courses, electives and up to 8 hours of capstone course credit;


6. The two programs must total a minimum of (a) 80 hours or (b) the sum of 40 Urban Planning hours plus the required number of hours for the second degree if the total is greater than 80 hours.
   

   In case (a), if the other program requires only 32 hours (2 semesters), and then the joint degree would require 80 hours (5 semesters).

   In case (b), if the other program requires more than 40 hours, then the joint degree requirements could exceed 80 hours. The other program may count up to 8 hours of Urban Planning courses as electives in case b only. For example, a joint degree with the 40 hours of urban planning courses and another program requiring 64 hours would total of 104 hours (6.5 semesters). Under these circumstances, the other program may count 8 hours of Urban Planning courses as electives which reduces the total hours to 96 hours (6 semesters).

7. Students may satisfy the MUP capstone requirement by completing a capstone thesis or project registered in the other program, provided that faculty from both programs participate (this may require additional coursework in order to meet the requirement of 40 hours in Urban Planning); and


8. The student must be enrolled in only one of the programs each semester. This establishes the tuition rate, and it also assigns responsibility for waivers, if applicable. When we provide assistantships and waivers for joint degree students we only do so in semesters in which they are enrolled in the MUP program. Students must be in residence in Urban Planning for at least two semesters.

Listed below are examples of joint degrees; proposals for joint degrees with other programs will require significant justification.

Business (real estate development or urban redevelopment)

Civil engineering (urban infrastructure planning and management)

Leisure studies (parks and recreation planning)

Natural resources (resource management and environmental policy)

Economics (regional economic planning and analysis)

Landscape architecture (environmental planning, master-planned communities)

African studies (urban planning and regional development in Africa)

Latin American studies (urban planning and regional development in Latin America)

How to apply for a Joint Degree with Urban Planning if you are in another degree program:

• Submit a statement and proposed study plan for both degrees, a current transcript, copy of your file (original application, test scores, transcript), along with a statement of support from the other degree program coordinator.


• We will review the material, request revisions to the study plan as necessary, and make the admission decision.


• After both programs have approved the proposal, you should initiate the graduate college petition from the other program. DURP will then add its recommendation and letter of support, and forward it to the Graduate College for final approval.

How to apply for a Joint Degree with another degree program if you are in Urban Planning:

• Follow the application requirements of the other program, and request DURP to send the other department a copy of your file.


• Once admitted to the other program, submit to both programs a statement and proposed study plan for the two degrees.


• Both programs will review the study plan, request revisions as necessary, approve the plan, and prepare letters of support.


• After both programs have approved the proposal, you should initiate the graduate college petition from DURP.  The other program will then add its recommendation and letter of support, and forward it to the Graduate College for final approval.