master of urban and regional planning (MURP)

Established in 1974, the department’s Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program is currently the only accredited professional planning program within the three states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas.  Since the program’s inception, we have graduated well over 300 students who are employed in the private and non-profit sectors, and all levels of government

The program of study leading to the MURP degree provides professional training to students in preparation for careers in the public, private and non-profit sectors of urban and regional planning. The curriculum is carefully structured to provide students with a comprehensive grounding in the skills needed to address complex planning problems in professional practice. 

The 45-credit hour program offers specializations in the areas of Housing and Community Development/ Economic Development, Land Use/ Environment, and Historic Preservation.  These specializations provide students the opportunity for more targeted training in their chosen area of interest. The Department also offers a certificate program in Historic Preservation and is developing a Transportation specialization.  Opportunities exist for students interested in the non-profit sector to take courses and pursue internships through the International Program in Non-profit Leadership (IPNL).

In addition to high-quality classroom instruction, the MURP program offers graduate students real world planning experience while providing applied research and technical planning assistance to community-based organizations and state, metropolitan, and local agencies.  And in the critical years of rebuilding facing New Orleans, MURP students at the University of New Orleans will have the opportunity to gain valuable planning work experience through internships and community-based class projects while contributing to the revitalization of the city and region.

Committed to the equitable and sustainable rebuilding of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the MURP faculty has been actively engaged in post-Katrina planning efforts.  Faculty members have served on a variety of local and state-level task forces and commissions, worked with community-based organizations in neighborhood planning and post-disaster capacity building efforts, and participated in the citywide planning portion of the Unified New Orleans Plan funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

The Master of Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of New Orleans offers the following joint degree and affiliated programs:

• Master of Urban and Regional Planning/Loyola School of Law Dual Degree Program

• 3+2 Dual Degree Program with Dillard University

• 3+2 Dual Degree Program with Xavier University

• Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program

For more information about the MURP degree program, please contact Dr. Marla Nelson at mnelson@uno.edu, the MURP Graduate Coordinator.

MURP CURRICULUM OUTLINE AND STUDENT ADVISING GUIDELINES (PDF)

Additional Resources

Planners Network

Planetizen

American Planning Association

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