Urban planning is becoming increasingly complex. Industry professionals have to navigate stronger regulation, dwindling public resources and political forces that simultaneously restrict government support and heighten income inequality. This makes advanced specialized training more and more crucial. USC Price’s accelerated online Executive Master of Urban Planning program directly bridges the gap between urban planning goals and the objectives and constraints of effective real estate development. The urban planning graduate program is tailored for experienced professionals who know that cities are our greatest challenge and opportunity.
Why Urban Planning?
Urban planners lay the foundation for our everyday lives. By designing and adapting urban infrastructure, building for environmental sustainability, and analyzing public needs, they shape our cities’ futures—and, in turn, the ease with which we interact with our surroundings and are able to thrive in the places in which we live.
Some specific duties of a leader in the urban planning field include:
- negotiating between public objectives and private sector constraints
- planning, designing, and implementing major public works and development projects
- convening multiple stakeholders to develop innovative planning solutions
- leading teams from project initiation to execution
- analyzing data from market research, censuses, and economic and environmental studies to craft innovative plans and development proposals
$71,490 Median pay per year
13% expected job growth between 2016 and 2026
Become a Leader in Urban Development
To learn how you can advance your urban planning career with an online Executive Master of Urban Planning degree from USC, request information today.
Explore the Online Master’s Curriculum
USC’s online Executive Master of Urban Planning is a 24-unit curriculum designed with significant input from the practice community and includes myriad outreach opportunities throughout. The degree goes beyond that of a typical master’s program and equips graduates with an expert skill level in this field.
As a graduate from our urban planning master’s program, you will emerge with advanced knowledge in four main areas: project and land economics; political, legal, and regulatory process and stakeholder outreach; data analysis, visualization and communication; and urban design and the built environment.
16 Months to Complete
8 Core Courses
2 In-person Intensives
Course Sequence
Term 1
Economics of a Productive Development
3 Units
Politics and Processes of Urban Development
2 Units
First Intensive
2 Units
Term 2
Urban Political Economy and Urban Development
2 Units
Economics for a Productive City
3 Units
Term 3
Effective
Engagement With Stakeholders
3 Units
Big Data for Planning and Development
2 Units
Second Intensive
2 Units
Term 4
Leading a Collaborative
City
4 Units
Integrating Concepts for Action
1 Unit
Course Descriptions
Economics of a Productive Development — 3 units
Introduction to the economic and financial aspects of real estate development, tools and methods of financial analysis, and public and private perspectives.
Politics and Processes of Urban Development — 2 units
Introduction to concepts of formal and informal political institutions with a focus on planning and urban issues at the local, state and national levels as well as theories and methods to understand contemporary planning conflicts.
Urban Political Economy and Urban Development — 2 units
Planning and development within a complex political landscape; budgetary and fiscal politics, metropolitan fragmentation and sub urbanization, immigration, and race, gender, and ethnicity in urban politics; and implications for planning and development.
Economics for a Productive City — 3 units
Basic concepts of urban and land economics with an emphasis on how planning and development are shaped by the metropolitan economic context and of how key theoretical elements inform planning and development questions.
Effective Engagement With Stakeholders — 3 units
Approaches and challenges to community engagement, different conceptualizations of citizen microscale forum and macro-scale methods, and use of media for participation in communities.
Big Data for Planning and Development — 2 units
Introduction to data and visualization trends in relation to urban planning and development and training leaders to manage teams while leveraging data and information technology resources.
Leading a Collaborative City — 4 units
Leadership skills for planning and development; cross-sectoral collaboration, negotiation and theories of organizational leadership; and metrics for performance assessment, project management and team building in organizations.
Capstone Project: Integrating Concepts for Action — 1 unit
Research a planning and development topic; capstone project.
Intensives
Intensives take place in person over two four-day periods. They are incorporated into the Executive Master of Urban Planning curriculum to allow students to build hands-on skills and network with peers and faculty in person.
First Required Intensive
Planning and Development Case Study — 1 unit
Case study project: students analyze a project and develop recommendations for financing and regulatory issues.
Designing Livable Environments I — 1 unit
Studio setting: students will go through a design charrette, site visit and develop an understanding of design principles.
Second Required Intensive
Designing Livable Environments II — 1 unit
Studio setting: students will go through a design charrette, site visit and develop a further understanding of design principles.
Communicating Data for Planning and Development — 1 unit
Methods and techniques for data visualization, application to planning and development contexts, and critical assessment of data presentation approaches and methods.
Learning Objectives
Students will:- Learn to lead teams that are innovating in planning and development.
- Synthesize a range of skills in a multi-disciplinary team from a leadership perspective.
- Understand the interlocking themes that influence the success of plans and projects in modern cities.
- Understand the local, neighborhood, city and regional contexts of projects.
- Obtain enhanced skills in finance, project management, economic analysis, urban design, demographic analysis and data visualization.
- Build enriched project experience with attention to matters of politics and implementation — including project definition, collaboration and participation among diverse or competing actors, and ethical considerations — in a real-world setting guided by well-known academics and established professionals.
Early Decision Deadline:
January 8, 2021
Start building the foundation to make a difference in your community. Apply today.
Access Your ApplicationHow Can This Executive Degree Advance Your Urban Planning Career?
USC Price’s online Executive Master of Urban Planning curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between good planning practice and the economics of urban development. Our coursework will equip you with hands-on skills you can use on the job, including the ability to:
- navigate between public and private sector planning goals and innovate at the nexus of local public finance, private sector development and urban policy
- understand and analyze the economics of urban planning and development projects
- leverage available commercial and demographic data to improve decision-making
- lead a team in the industry effectively
Our program is tailored so that professionals from outside the planning field can emerge with expertise that matches their peers in this space. It is also a good fit for professional planners who would like to build the expertise to advance and become leaders in the public, non-profit, or private sectors.
Who Can Benefit From an Advanced Degree in Urban Planning?
USC Price’s Executive Master in Urban Planning program can help a variety of professionals advance their careers. Those with expertise in urban planning can go on to work for public organizations like city, county, state or the federal government; metropolitan and regional agencies; and economic development organizations. Graduates may also be ready to work for private firms, such as development or architecture and engineering firms specializing in infrastructure.
Other employers who seek professionals with advanced experience in urban planning include development and law firms, nonprofits and NGOs, educational institutions, and private firms specializing in consulting.
The degree can also benefit those at every level of their career. This includes:
Public Policy Workers
City managers who want to work more effectively with planners and developers
Middle management planners who need to learn more about the link between planning with the development community
Public Policy Workers who need more specialized planning knowledge
Private Sector Developers
Architects who design infill projects or master-planned communities and need a stronger background in the space
Engineers whose work requires a foundation in economics, politics and planning
Senior analysts who need to better understand the complex public approval process
Leaders in Non-Profit and Other Fields
Affordable housing professionals who need more knowledge about navigating the project approvals process and reaching out to stakeholders
Land use attorneys looking to gain deeper understanding of the economics of development
Online Master’s in Urban Planning Admissions
USC Price’s online Executive Master of Urban Planning requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. USC Price values diversity of experience, and the online master’s is designed for rising executives in the industry. Five to seven years of relevant full time work experience are recommended to apply.
No GMAT or GRE scores are required.
During each application period, the admissions team offers an Early Decision deadline, which allows you to receive a decision and start planning for your future sooner, as well as waive the $90 application fee. If you are interested in a $90 application fee waiver, please reach out to your admissions counselor to learn more.
Apply TodayEarly Decision Application Deadline
January 8, 2021
Priority Application Deadline
February 8, 2021
Final Application Deadline
March 12, 2021
Classes Start
May 5, 2021
“Half of humanity now lives in urban areas. As challenges of sustainability, economic development, human health and democratic governance play out in cities and mega-cities across the globe, urban planners will be the innovators and leaders of the 21st century.”
- Professor Marlon Boarnet, Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis and Director, Executive Master of Urban Planning Program
Program Delivery: The Online Experience
Our online Executive Master of Urban Planning is designed to deliver the rigor of a USC Price degree with the flexibility to advance your education on a busy schedule. Classes are delivered through our live, face-to-face videoconferencing technology, and coursework is available 24/7 from any connected device. Throughout the urban planning program, we offer academic, career and technical support to help you get acclimated to online learning and reach your career goals.
Request information today to learn more about the online Executive Master of Urban Planning program from USC Price or contact an admissions counselor at Phone Number: 1-855-637-1999 or admissions@uscpriceonline.usc.edu.