Oct 04, 2024  
Graduate Record 2022-2023 
    
Graduate Record 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Other Opportunities - Urban and Environmental Planning


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4+1 Option


Graduates of the BUEP and other undergraduate planning programs (upon approval of the Chair of the Department and Graduate Program Director) will be considered for the 4+1 option (previously advanced standing) in special cases. A minimum of 30 graduate credits must be completed beyond the bachelor’s degree (and not applied to any other degree) at the University of Virginia. This must be constructed so that, combined with the undergraduate program, each of the requirements for the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree is met, including general planning knowledge, planning application courses, planning concentration, and internship. The 4+1 option is intended for students with strong undergraduate records and at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA.

MUEP-JD 


The Law School offers a combined program with the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning of the School of Architecture, in which the student may earn both the degrees of Master of Urban and Environmental Planning (M.U.E.P.) and the J.D. in four years.  A student must be independently admitted both to the Law School and to the School of Architecture, Department of Urban and Environmental Planning.  The student spends one full year in the School of Architecture in the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning program.  Twelve credits earned in planning courses may be counted toward the J.D. and 20 credits earned in Law School courses may be counted toward the M.U.E.P. Prospective applicants to the Law School who are interested in the J.D.-M.U.E.P. program should contact The Chair of The Department of Urban and Environmental Planning.  The Law School faculty advisor for this program is Professor Thomas R. White, III.

MUEP-MPP


The University of Virginia School of Architecture and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy offer a dual degree program which leads to the completion of the MUEP and MPP degrees in three years instead of the four years that would be required if each degree were pursued independently. The program is administered by faculty advisors from the School of Architecture and Batten School. A student who wishes to be admitted into the dual program must apply to each school separately and be admitted to both the School of Architecture and the Batten School through the normal admission process of each school. The fact that the student is a candidate for the dual program is not considered at this stage. Students who have been admitted to both schools and who wish to undertake the dual program should notify the registrar of each school and apply to the faculty advisors for permission to do so. Admission requires approval of both the Architecture and Batten faculty advisors.

Application to one school may be made either prior to entrance or while a first-year student at the other. The program takes three years to complete. In no circumstances will a dual degree student be permitted to complete the program in fewer than three years (six semesters) of coursework. The program consists of the complete first-year program of each school, followed by one year of coursework taken from the curricula of the two schools. This coursework includes, in appropriate cases, courses from other graduate offerings at the University. Students who have been admitted to the program may elect whether they want to start at the School of Architecture or the Batten School and, in any event, must spend their first year in full-time residence in either the School of Architecture or the Batten School. The second-year is spent in the other school, again in full-time residence, in effect as regular first-year students. During the third year, students must complete the remaining required curricula of both schools.

Dual Degrees in Other Fields


Dual degrees are available also between Planning and each of the programs in the School of Architecture. Please see the Graduate Director for more information.

Accreditation


The Graduate Program in Urban and Environmental Planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, sponsored jointly by the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

Advanced Standing (4+1 Option)


Master of Urban and Environmental Planning Degree


Bachelor of Urban & Environmental Planning students may consider pursuing the Master’s Degree through advanced standing.

The standard Master of Urban & Environmental Planning degree program is a two-year course of study oriented toward students coming from arts and science or design backgrounds. The graduate curriculum consists of core courses, specialized courses representing functional areas of planning, applied courses emphasizing the synthesis of planning analysis and values in specific settings, and a professional internship. Graduate students design a concentration in consultation with a faculty member. 

Admission

Admission to the 4+1 Master’s Program will be determined through the regular formal graduate admissions procedure. A Letter of Intent will be required.  Careful attention will be given to the Letter of Intent which should indicate the rationale for a specific course of study.  The program is intended for students with strong undergraduate records.

Prospective students may apply for 4+1 Master’s Program after graduating from the University of Virginia BUEP Program, or other undergraduate planning programs upon approval of the Graduate Director and Chair of the Department.

4+1 Option

Only students having a cumulative overall GPA of 3.4 will qualify for 4+1

General Curriculum Requirements for Students Receiving Advanced Standing

The 4+1 option requires students to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate work taken after receipt of a Bachelor of Urban & Environmental Planning Degree at UVA (or other undergraduate planning programs upon approval of the Graduate Director and Chair of the Department). These will include:

Waivers

When a student has previously completed a course, earning a grade of B or better, which has a demonstrated counterpart master’s core course at UVA, the Department Chair, upon consultation with the instructor of the course to be waived, may eliminate the requirement for that student to take the 4+1 core course. No reduction in total credit hours for the Master’s degree results from waiving a course. Credits still need to be taken to achieve 30 credits in total for the advanced standing degree.

Joint Degrees

This curriculum could permit students to start on a second Master’s Degree. Admission and acceptance of such courses must be approved by the administrators of the second Master’s Degree.

One-Year Program Summary for 4+1 Option

The one-year leading to the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree would follow this general pattern.

Fall Semester: 15 Credits Spring Semester: 15 Credits 
  • PLAN 6070 - Planning Theory and Practice, Credits: 3
  • PLAC Self-Directed Concentration Course, Credits: 3
  • PLAN Self-Directed Concentration Course, Credits: 3
  • PLAN Self-Directed Concentration Course, Credits: 3
  • PLAN Self-Directed Concentration Course, Credits: 3