Urban Studies, BA /Urban Planning, MUP BA, MUP: Accelerated Graduate
Accelerated master’s degrees (AMDs) allow high-achieving students to begin graduate-level work before completion of the undergraduate degree. By double-counting some credits for both the bachelor’s and the master’s degree, students can earn both in five years total instead of the usual six.
The curriculum is quite structured in an AMD – specific classes need to be taken at specific times – so early planning is critical to be able to benefit from the time savings built into the program. Students should begin planning in their first year and be prepared to start at an advanced level of Urban Studies that same year.
Students begin the program working on the undergraduate coursework needed for the bachelor’s degree. By the third year, students are taking advanced undergraduate coursework and some graduate coursework at the same time.
Admissions to the AMD will be determined at the start of junior year and is dependent upon meeting the normal criteria for graduate school admissions such as GPA. Students who aren’t admitted to the AMD can continue on in the undergraduate program to earn just the bachelor’s degree as long as they are in good academic standing.
You can read more about AMDs and our FAQ via the UWM Graduate School website.
Program Type
Accelerated Graduate Degree
Program Format
On Campus
Advantages of an Accelerated Master’s Degree:
- Cost Savings — finishing two degrees in five years instead of six saves one full year of tuition cost
- Time Savings — completing both degrees a year early gets you started in your career faster
- Boosted Salary — starting your career with a master’s degree can garner you a higher starting salary
- Rigorous Curriculum — the pace and courses are well-suited to gifted and advanced students
Overview
The program consists of three years of undergraduate study and two years of graduate study.
The total number of credits for the BA-Urban Studies is 120 and the total number of credits for the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) is 48 credits. The Accelerated Master of Urban Planning will utilize 9 forward-shared and 21 backward-shared credits.
- Forward-shared courses are taken at the graduate level while the student is in their undergraduate career, and may be applied to the MUP in Urban Planning upon admission into the Graduate School. In accordance with existing Graduate School policy, students must earn a B or higher in the course (B- is not acceptable). See the Benchmark area for all approved Urban Studies U/G courses.
- Backward-shared courses are taken at the graduate level while the student is in their graduate career, and may be applied to the BA in Urban Studies upon completion of the course. This includes all approved Urban Planning graduate courses.
Advising
The Urban Studies Associate Director/Undergraduate Studies Coordinator will be responsible for advising students in the accelerated BA in Urban Studies/Master of Urban Planning.
The Urban Planning Graduate Advisor will be responsible for tracking and advising graduate students applying to and admitted by the Graduate School as part of the accelerated BA in Urban Studies/Master of Urban Planning.
Admission to the professional phase of the Master of Urban Planning is selective and occurs in December-January of the junior (3rd) year. Students should apply by December 15th to be considered for funding and priority registration.
Students who do not satisfactorily meet admissions criteria for the Master of Urban Planning may continue with their BA undergraduate degree in Urban Studies.
Advancement to Major/Admission
Undergraduate Requirements
Interested students must meet with an academic advisor to determine eligibility for the accelerated graduate degree. The Accelerated Master of Urban Planning requires students meet the following criteria:
- Minimum UWM cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
- Completion of all General Education Requirements (GER).
- Junior standing.
- Declaration of major in Urban Studies with the intent to apply for the Accelerated Master of Urban Planning degree.
Students must meet these requirements before taking any graduate (G) level classes as an undergraduate student.
Approved enrollment into graduate level course work during an undergraduate career does not guarantee admission to the Master of Urban Planning as part of the accelerated Master of Urban Planning program. These courses fulfill requirements for the BA in Urban Studies, regardless of acceptance into Graduate School.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
Admission to the professional phase of the Master of Urban Planning is selective and occurs in December-January of the junior (3rd) year. To be considered for admission into the Graduate School prior to completing their bachelor's degree, a student must meet the criteria for admission established by the MUP and the UWM Graduate School, and be in progress to complete 99 bachelor's credits prior to their first term as a graduate student. In addition, admission to the MUP requires:
- A cumulative UWM grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
- Three letters of recommendation.
Double Counted Courses
This accelerated graduate degree program involves the following bachelor's and master's degrees: Urban Studies (USP), BA and Urban Planning MUP. There are 9 forward-shared credits and 21 backward-shared credits for a total of 30 shared credits.
Eligible Forward-shared Courses
Courses must be taken at the graduate (G) level and will count toward the MUP graduate requirement, and will also fulfill the Urban Studies major requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses approved for forward sharing | ||
| AFRIC 300G | Urban Violence | 3 |
| AFRIC 319G | African American Urban History | 3 |
| GEOG 441G | Geography of Cities and Metropolitan Areas | 3 |
| GEOG 443G | Cities of the World: Comparative Urban Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 464G | Environmental Problems | 3 |
| GEOG 520G | Physical Geography of the City | 3 |
| GEOG 540G | Globalization and the City | 3 |
| GEOG 564G | Urban Environmental Change and Social Justice | 3 |
| GEOG 826 | Intermediate Geographic Information Science | 4 |
| HIST 450G | The History of Milwaukee | 3 |
| HIST 463G | History of the American City | 3 |
| POL SCI 450G | Urban Political Problems | 3 |
| POL SCI 452G | Administrative Law | 3 |
| URB STD 450G | Urban Growth and Development: A Global View | 3 |
Eligible Backward-shared Courses
These courses fulfill College of Letters & Sciences (L&S) electives for the undergraduate degree (a maximum of 30 credits outside of L&S may be counted toward the L&S BA).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses approved for backward sharing | ||
| URBPLAN 701 | Introduction to Land Use Planning | 1 |
| URBPLAN 702 | Introduction to Planning Law | 2 |
| URBPLAN 711 | Planning Theories and Practice | 3 |
| URBPLAN 720 | Urban Development Theory and Planning | 3 |
| URBPLAN 721 | Applied Planning Methods | 3 |
| URBPLAN 740 | Data Analysis Methods I | 3 |
| URBPLAN 810 | Planning Policy Analysis | 6 |
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
Students are encouraged to supplement their classroom learning with experiential learning through relevant part-time jobs or internships. Experiential learning is built into the curriculum of the AMD but additional experiences will enhance a resume and better prepare students for their first professional job.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.