F.A.Q.   (Frequently Asked Questions) for incoming Master of Urban Planning (MUP) students at Michigan

last updated: June 5, 2012

Note:  Please email me with suggestions/corrections to this FAQ.  Thanks, Scott Campbell
                 

Which Orientation should I attend?
I recommend both the college/urban planning and the Rackham Graduate School orientations (tentative schedules below), scheduled late in the week before school starts.  Rackham is a wonderful (and sometimes overlooked) resource for graduate students, and it is well worth the effort to get to know Rackham (the building, the staff, the web pages, the programs and funding opportunities).

 

When should I take the required core courses? 
MUP students typically complete most of their 6 – 8 required core courses in their first year, giving them the flexibility to take mostly electives in their second year.  (Note:  if you need to take both UP503 and 510, then you have eight core courses;  if you waive out of both, you have six.)    Dual degree students:  this schedule will be different for dual degree students who take more than two years of courses at UM.

Core Course

Fall (Year 1) Winter (Year 1) Fall (Year 2) Winter (Year 2)

503 Intro to Statistics (take if you have no statistics background) 

     

504 Quantitative Planning Methods

take in fall if you waive out of 503 or ... ... take in winter if you take 503 in the fall    

505 Fundamentals of Planning Practice

     

510 Public Economics (take if you have no micro-economics background)

     

513 Legal Aspects

     

540 Planning Theory

take either fall or winter    

610 Fiscal Planning and Management

  take either year 1....   ... or in year 2

UP 631, 634, 733 or 734 (six-credit capstone)

    take either in fall and/or in winter

 

So, what courses should I take my first semester?
In the fall, students generally take four courses:  mostly core courses, and sometimes an elective or two.  

Many students take the less formal, one-credit course: UP590 (Expanded Horizons: a 4-5 day field trip to a major North American city early in the fall).   In addition, if you waive out of UP510 [see below] and/or decide to take UP540 in the winter, you will have more room for electives this fall. Course schedule for Fall 2011: http://www.ro.umich.edu/schedule/              Click on Fall 2011 Online Schedule, then navigate to Architecture and Urban Planning, then Urban Planning Schedule of Classes.

see also this "typical schedule" on the college's web page.

 

What is an average course load (i.e., how many credits per semester)?
Generally students take 12 credits/semester, but you can take more/less depending on your needs and workload.  (15 credits/semester is not unusual, but more would likely be an excessive load for most students.)  You need 48 credits to graduate with your M.U.P.  Most courses are three credits.
Note that if you are pursuing a joint degree (e.g., MUP/MPH) or a degree plus a certificate (e.g., MUP/Real Estate Certificate), the second credential increases both the required substantive courses and the required number of credits.  (For example, the Real Estate Certificate requires 17 credits from courses on the approved list;  8 of these credits can be double-counted for your MUP degree.  The MUP/Real Estate Certificate combination therefore requires 48+9=57 total credits.)    More information: http://taubmancollege.umich.edu/planning/programs/graduate_certificates/real_estate_development/

 

What is the "cognate" requirement?
The Rackham Graduate School requires each student to complete a minimum of “4 credit hours of cognate coursework in approved graduate-level courses with a grade of B- or better “ (i.e., courses outside the program).  In general, students are encouraged to take courses across the university, as long as 30+ credit hours are taken in graduate-level urban planning courses.  Students typically take planning courses in the fall, and begin looking around at non-planning courses in later semesters. See also this suggested list of cognates on the college web page.

 

Will I have difficulty getting into some courses?
Courses have an upper limit of students (listed as “capacity” on wolverineaccess) ranging from ca. 25 to 60+.   In many planning courses, enrollment doesn’t hit capacity and so you shouldn't have a problem enrolling.   However, some courses have restricted class sizes and excess demand, including the GIS course (UP406), and some of the real estate courses.  (Also:  UP540, taught both fall and winter, is limited to 35 students each semester.)  If you can't get into a class, some (but not all) may have official waiting lists on wolverine access.  If you are not able to take UP406 (GIS) in your first year, you should be able to take it in your second year.  Some URP students also take GIS in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE).  [You will find that some programs outside URP may make it harder for students not in their program to get into their courses, but persistence is often effective.]
Most classes are offered ONCE per year.  So, if you don't take it this fall, it will likely be offered next fall. (Exceptions:  several MUP core courses, UP504 and UP540, are taught both fall and winter.  Both PhD theory courses, UP650 and UP660, are offered alternate years; UP523, regional planning, is also offered alternate years.)  Sometimes a course might be offered as just a one-off (e.g., a customized course taught by a visiting faculty member, such as Avis Vidal in AY 2011-2012.)   So, if you see an interesting course and think "Oh, I may try to take that next year," ask first whether it in fact will be offered next year. 

 

Do courses have prerequisites?
Though most URP courses do NOT have prerequisites, some do.  Some examples (not a complete list):


Course (*indicates core course)

Prerequisite

UP504 Quant. Planning Methods*

UP503 Intro to Stats.* (or equivalent)

UP610 Fiscal Planning*

UP510 Public Economics* (or equivalent)

UP507 Advanced GIS

UP406 (Intro GIS)

UP565 Real Estate Development

UP 517 Real Estate Essentials or FIN 318

UP631 Land Use and Physical Planning Studio (2nd year capstone)*

UP 518 (Physical Planning Workshop) and UP519 (Theories of Urban Design).  Strongly recommended:  UP 516 (Planning Representation and Communication)

UP634 Integrative Field Experience (2nd year capstone)*

UP505*

UP650 Advanced Urban Theory

UP540 Planning Theory*

 

How soon do I need to finalize my fall course schedule?
You can easily ADD/DROP courses within the first three weeks.   Students "shop around" for courses during the first week or two of class, and faculty generally expect to see students coming and going during the first few sessions (even arriving late and/or leaving early to go to another class that overlaps). Students typically settle on their course schedule by the end of the second week (if not earlier).  Remember:  though you don't need to finalize your schedule until the third week of the semester (Sept 26), you do need to register by Sept. 5 and have at least one course on your schedule.  Registration deadlines: http://ro.umich.edu/calendar/fa11deadlines.php
Academic calendar: http://ro.umich.edu/calendar/

 

How do I waive out of a required course (i.e., get an exemption)?
To request to waive out of the course, complete the course waiver form. Obtain a form from the college registrar (Stacey Shimones, room 2150 A&AB; link to college staff directory).  Waivers are not automatic:  they require written approval by the Program Chair or the faculty member teaching the course. Waivers for fall courses should be requested upon your arrival in the fall and approved before the end of the official drop/add date for the current semester (September 26, 2011). You will need to show a record of recently taking a comparable previous course with a grade of "B" or higher (provide a transcript & a syllabus or equivalent).  If the waiver is granted, be sure to note the relevant box on your "Degree Requirements Checklist," which should be kept on file with the program administrator. 

The most frequent waivers are for UP503 and UP510: in past years, I would estimate that ca. one-third to one-half of MUP students waived out of each of these courses. Waiving out of the other core courses is far less frequent.

Here are a few comments on waiving from specific core courses:

 

What is the role of my advisor(s)?
Advisors can assist you with course selection and answer overall questions about the program.  We try to match students and faculty based on areas of interest, but you are certainly welcome to change your advisor anytime throughout your time at Michigan.   You will also find that students tend to use many of the faculty as informal advisors.    Second-year students are also great resources of knowledge about courses, etc.

 

How soon do I need to pick my "concentration"?
To provide focus for your graduate planning studies, students are required to select one of five concentrations:  (1) land use & environmental planning;  (2) housing, community & economic development;  (3) planning in developing countries;  (4) physical planning & design;  (5) transportation planning.  (Students may also develop an alternative concentration in consultation with a faculty member.)  A concentration normally consists of at least three courses selected from a list of required and recommended courses.  Students complete a concentration declaration form during their second full semester in the program.
Students may select (or change) their concentration at any time during their course of studies.  In practice, students should finalize their concentration selection by the start of their third semester to insure that they can complete the requisite courses.  New students should therefore not worry about rushing to pick a concentration; use your first semester of studies to explore your options.  (Exception:  students interested in the physical planning & design concentration should ideally take the design courses, including UP518 and UP519 and likely also UP516, during their first year – see section on “prerequisites” above.)  

 

Interested in the urban planning PhD degree?
Here is a link to a useful page about applying to the PhD program. MUP students interested in the PhD program typically apply by January of their second year for fall admission.

 

Michigan-Speak Glossary
A&AB = Art and Architecture Building (one building, two units:  TCAUP; the School of Art & Design). Floor plan of building.
AAEL = Art, Architecture and Engineering Library (inside the Duderstadt Center across the street from the A&AB), which contains most (but not all) of our field's relevant texts (see also Hatcher below).
AATA = Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (ride free with your M-Card)
Authentication = to authenticate is to login to university online services using your Uniqname and password.
AY – Academic Year (September – April)
Capstone = a six-credit requirement, taken in 2nd year.  You have four options (listed from most to least frequent):  UP634 (group project); UP631 (design-based group project); professional project (individual); masters thesis (individual). If you are considering the thesis or project options, discuss with your advisor at the end of year 1 (thesis & project options require a formal proposal, approved by the URP Curriculum Committee).
Cognate = outside your home program (e.g., a "cognate" course is a course outside URP).  MUP degree requires a minimum of 4 cognate credits.
CTools = a web-based system for coursework (Note:  this is an optional system that some, but not most, faculty use to post course readings, assignments, syllabi, etc.)  Originally known as "Course Tools".
Dual Degrees:  combining the MUP with another masters program (JD, MArch, MBA, MLA, MPH, MPP, MS/SNRE; MSW, MUD).  You can typically double-count one-sixth of the required credits and complete the two degrees in one less year than if you completed both separately.
Duderstadt Center = the multi-use building across the street, containing the AAEL (library), many engineering facilities, the Mujo Café, etc.  (formerly known as the “Media Union”, now known as “The Dude”).
GSI = Graduate Student Instructor (i.e., teaching assistant)
GSRA = Graduate Student Research Assistant (i.e., research assistant)
Hatcher = graduate library on Central Campus (contains most of the social science texts in planning/urbanization)
ITCS = Information Technology Central Services (formerly ITD). Runs the SITES computer lab (2109 A&AB) and other labs around campus.
M-Card = your student ID, which also is your library card, building access key, etc.
Media Center = Room 2115 (A&AB). For printing, copying, plotting, equipment checkout, supplies, food.
“Michigan Time” – the campus-wide tradition of starting classes ten minutes after the posted time.
MIRLYN = the university's online library catalog
MUP Cage = 1st floor computer lab for MUP students (1248 A&AB) – run by TCAUP.  (Note:  some computer labs in the building are run by TCAUP, while others are run by SITES – see ITCS above).
Rackham = the graduate division that overseas most (but not all) graduate programs on campus. Stately building (completed in 1938) at E. Washington between Fletcher and State, with great study hall spaces.
SAND-North:  the “Spatial and Numeric Data Services” north campus location in 2207 A&AB.   (The main location is on Central Campus in the Hatcher Grad Library). 
TCAUP = Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (Note:  the old practice was to speak about “tcaup”;  the current convention is to speak about “Taubman College”.   “caup” became “tcaup” in 1999 when A. Alfred Taubman, who once studied architecture at UM, donated $30m to the college.)
"The Third Floor": 3rd floor of the A&AB, which mostly contains design studios (and faculty offices).
Uniqname = your computer login ID and part of your email address (e.g., the xxxx in xxxx@umich.edu).
UP:  (see URP)
URP = Urban and Regional Planning Program (note: a "program", not a department).  Sometimes listed as “UP”, sometimes as “URP”
URRC = Urban & Regional Research Collaborative – an informal network within URP.   Runs the occasional “URRC Seminar” series (all invited).
Winter Semester = the semester from Jan – April (other universities might call this the "Spring Semester," but this is the snowy upper Midwest, so this term squarely sits in the "winter".)   UM has two 7-week terms during the summer:  Spring Semester (May – June) and Summer Semester (July – August).  (NOTE:  URP offers a few courses during the Spring Semester, but most MUP students do not take courses then.)
Wolverine Access = web-based system for course registration, bill payment, etc.