What is the Accelerated Five-Year Program?
The Urban Studies-Urban Planning accelerated program offers high-achieving students the opportunity to complete a combined Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and a Master of Urban Planning degree in 5 years. Normally, a BA plus a MUP degree would take six years or more. Students in the accelerated program can save one year of time and tuition costs.
The 5-year accelerated program consists of 3 years of undergraduate study and 2 years of graduate study. To successfully complete both programs in five years, students must map out a clear plan early – no later than the second semester of freshman year.
What can I do with this degree?
This program is especially well-suited to students with a high GPA and clear professional goals related to urban planning, economic development, environmental sustainability, physical planning and urban design, transportation planning, and urban revitalization. MUP holders typically work in municipal, state or federal government offices and agencies, private sector land use consultant firms, architecture and design firms, and nonprofit agencies dedicated to urban issues such as housing programs and nature conservancies.
Am I eligible? How can I enroll?
Students should declare their interest in the accelerated Master’s program as soon as they start at UWM as a freshman. Students should discuss the program with their assigned general advisor and with the associate director of the urban studies program, Jamie Harris. Both advisors will assist with course selection and planning to prepare to apply to the MUP portion of the program no later than December 15th of the student’s junior year.
Admission to the MUP program is not guaranteed. To be considered, students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and must be on track to complete all general requirements for the bachelor’s degree by the end of the third year. Three letters of recommendation will also be required as well as a proven record of academic achievements.
Students not admitted to the MUP program can continue on and finish just the bachelor’s degree in urban studies.
How does it work?
During the third year, students will take some undergraduate courses that will double count towards the bachelor’s degree and forward count towards the master’s degree. During the fourth and fifth years, students will take graduate courses, some of which will double count towards the master’s degree and backwards count towards the bachelor’s degree.
More information
Download our fact sheet (PDF) for more information.
Master of Urban Planning (MUP) application
Undergraduate Advising:
It is critically important that urban studies majors who are planning to complete the Urban Studies BA-MUP need to work closely with their L&S advisors. Students should regularly meet with their advisors to make sure they are on track to complete all L&S requirements by the end of their junior year. Find more information about advising here.
Urban Studies Major Advising:
Dr. Jamie Harris (jmh@uwm.edu)
Urban Planning Graduate Advising:
Dr. Robert Schneider (rjschnei@uwm.edu)
Dr. Yaidi Cancel Martinez (ycmartin@uwm.edu)
Tammy Stroschein-Taylor (ttaylor@uwm.edu)