Master of Science in Urban Planning
Create a more resilient future for cities and regions.
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Learn more about the MS Urban Planning degree and talk with a recruiting specialist by calling 520-621-9819 or completing this form:
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Well-planned cities and regions are the key to confronting many of the most critical economic, environmental and social challenges facing the U.S. and the world today.
The two-year Master of Science in Urban Planning from the University of Arizona prepares you for a meaningful career where you'll shape a more resilient future for cities and communities, locally and across the globe.
At CAPLA, we're pushing urban planning education, research and practice in new and exciting directions—and students from diverse backgrounds are at the heart of our award-winning and engaging work.
Our MS Urban Planning program is fully accredited through the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). The MS Urban Planning program is affiliated with three dual degrees.
Degree Concentrations
As a student in the MS Urban Planning program you will specialize in two of four concentration areas:
- Urban Transportation Planning
- Environmental Planning
- Real Estate & Urban Development
- Heritage Conservation
Career Opportunities
As an urban planner, you may engage in:
- Community development and health planning
- Comprehensive and long-range planning
- Economic development
- Environmental and natural resources planning
- Hazard mitigation and disaster recovery planning
- Historic preservation
- Land use and code enforcement
- Neighborhood planning
- Parks and recreation development
- Public administration and finance
- Real estate and urban development
- Transportation planning
You’ll graduate ready to thrive in a profession of increasing importance in the face of climate change, growing urban populations and challenges to social equity.
Program Performance and Accreditation Reports
The Master of Science in Urban Planning’s expert faculty and flexible curriculum—including concentrations in Environmental Planning, Urban Transportation Planning, Real Estate and Urban Development, and Heritage Conservation—prepare you for an impactful career in planning or beyond.
Demand for urban and regional planners is projected to grow in Arizona and the nation, with an expected 3,500 annual job openings nationally.
Graduates can expect to work for public agencies, private planning firms and nonprofit organizations.
The CAPLA Master of Science in Urban Planning curriculum provides a really good mix of the academic and the applied, allowing me to hone in on the areas I’ve most enjoyed: community development, planning methods, site analysis and heritage conservation.
Ariel Fry '20 MS Urban Planning
Meet the MS Urban Planning Community
Tiara Stephen '24 MS Urban Planning
Tiara Stephen came to Tucson from Brooklyn to explore the Desert Southwest and work at the University of Arizona. Not long after, she joined the MS Urban Planning program, furthering her passions for affordable housing and community access.
Philip Stoker, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Planning
Philip Stoker's experience conducting research on water sustainability, wildlife management, pedestrian safety, rural planning, community patterns and urban design guides his lectures and course design.
Kristina Currans, Associate Professor of Urban Planning
Trained as a civil engineer, Kristina Currans has a wide variety of research and other interests, with a particular focus on land-use development and transportation planning.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
The University of Arizona is pleased to offer Coverdell Fellowships to returned Peace Corps volunteers who are enrolled in a graduate urban planning program. Coverdell Fellows find a robust Peace Corps community here, and many are CAPLA alumni.
Ready to shape a more resilient future?
Learn more about the Master of Science in Urban Planning by contacting us at capla-grad@arizona.edu or begin your application: