Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University's Master of Urban Planning and Development (MUPD) program educates current and future urban planning and development professionals and equips them with the knowledge and skills to effect positive change for diverse and dynamic metropolitan regions and communities within a global context. We prepare students to analyze and address past, present, and future urban conditions and planning and development issues and provide them the opportunity to develop technical expertise in areas of practice. Through our curriculum, engaged activities, and faculty research, we generate innovative ideas that foster livable, equitable, vibrant, and sustainable futures, particularly for legacy cities.

The MUPD program offers a broad educational experience to meet the needs of students and the planning profession. The program accommodates both full- and part-time students, with most required courses offered after 4:00pm. We offer in-house student support services, including student advising, to facilitate student achievement. Our students have opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, primarily through the CSU-APA student organization.  The Master of Urban Planning and Development program is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

Students may use their electives to pursue a generalist program or opt to complete one of the following specializations: economic development, environmental sustainability, geographic information systems, historic preservation, housing and neighborhood development, real estate development and finance, 

Admission Requirements

• Application Form

• Application Fee
• Undergraduate Transcripts
  • Minimum 3.0 Undergraduate GPA
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• GRE Test Scores
  • Average Verbal & Quantitative Test Scores at 50th percentile and an Analytical Writing Score of 4.0
  • Students with a graduate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university are exempted from this requirement. 

*Admission to the program is based on a combination of a candidate’s undergraduate GPA and the GRE score.  

-International students are required to have met at least one of the following English language proficiency requirements:

• TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based): 78 & at least 17 in each section
• TOEFL PBT (Paper-Based): 550
• IELTS: 6.0 and at least 5.0 in each section
• PTE (Pearson’s Test of English): 50
• iTEP: 3.8

Admission Deadlines

All applications must be submitted and complete on the following application deadline dates:

• Domestic Students
  • Rolling
• International Students
  • Fall Semester – May 15th
  • Spring Semester - October 15th
  • Summer Semester - March 15th

Career Outcomes

• Graduate urban planning education offers students the opportunity to pursue careers in city or regional planning, housing and neighborhood development, real estate finance and development, economic development, environmental planning, historic preservation, and geographic information systems (GIS). Courses train new planners and upgrade the skills of existing planners, with an emphasis on contemporary planning theories, skills, and methods.
• MUPD graduates work in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Many graduates pursue careers with: city and county economic development agencies, city and county planning agencies, community development organizations, metropolitan planning organizations, nonprofit advocacy organizations, philanthropic foundations, private sector planning, development, and design firms, public or non-profit housing agencies, public park systems, real estate development firms, school districts, state and federal government agencies, university research centers, and watershed organizations.
• These are some of the local companies/organizations that are hiring CSU grads: The Bolton Group, City of Cleveland, City of Mentor, Team NEO, Madison Commercial Real Estate Services, RMS Investment Group, and Forest City Enterprises.