Public Information
The Planning Accreditation Board requires this information be posted for the Master of Urban Planning program.
Student Achievement
The Department of Urban & Regional Planning assesses student achievement through two distinct mechanisms:
- Evaluation by internship supervisor; and
- Evaluation of the comprehensive planning report using a common rubric
1. Internship Supervisor Evaluation Data
Every student who graduates with a MUP degree must complete a minimum of 180 hours of professional work experience. Internship supervisors are required to evaluate the student on a wide variety of planning knowledge and skills. A summary of internship evaluations for graduates in 2018-2019 is shown in the table below.
|
Criteria |
2019-20 Student Achievement* |
|---|---|
|
Ability to work effectively on a team |
4.93 |
|
Ability to compose written reports and memos |
4.63 |
|
Ability to make an oral presentation |
4.68 |
|
Ability to interface with the public or clients |
4.73 |
|
Ability to solve problems and think creatively |
4.71 |
|
Initiative and ability to work independently |
4.82 |
|
Knowledge expected of an entry-level employee |
4.71 |
|
Understanding of professional planning issues |
4.64 |
|
Ability to synthesize planning knowledge and apply it to actual planning problems |
4.59 |
|
* Average student achievement on each criterion on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 indicating “very high performance” |
|
2. Evaluation of Comprehensive Planning Report
Every student who graduates from our MUP program completes a comprehensive professional planning report. This independent research project is evaluated by department faculty using a common rubric. A summary of student achievement on the culminating professional report for all students graduating in 2018-2019 is shown in the table, based on outcomes for three criteria:
Outcome 1: Demonstrates ability to conceptualize problems from complex, real world situations so the problems are meaningful to clients, and are research worthy.
| Students must receive a minimum score of 8 out of 12 to pass. |
Avg. Score 10.3 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A. Are the research questions and/or goals well defined and clearly stated? (2 point max.) | 1.7 | ||
| 1B. Does the author demonstrate in-depth familiarity with relevant literature on the subject? (6 points max.) | 5.3 | ||
| 1C. Is the methodology appropriate to answer the research question(s)? (4 points max.) | 3.3 | ||
Outcome 2: Demonstrates ability to collect, analyze, and synthesize information from multiple sources.
| Students must receive a minimum score of 10 out of 16 to pass. |
Avg. Score 13.1 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2A. Is the data collected sufficient in quality and depth to answer the research question? (6 points max.) | 4.8 | ||
| 2B. Is the analysis direct, competent, and appropriate? (6 points max.) | 5.1 | ||
| 2C. Are the conclusions sophisticated and based on the results of the analysis, as a logical extension of the findings? (2 points max.) | 1.6 | ||
| 2D. Does the author show how his/her analysis and findings fit into the larger context of the literature and current professional practice? (2 points max.) | 1.6 | ||
Outcome 3: Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively in writing and by expressing concepts in visual terms.
| Students must receive a minimum score of 8 out of 12 to pass. |
Avg. Score 10.0 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3A. Is the material logically organized, so that a reader can easily follow the writer’s train of thought? (4 points max.) | 3.2 | ||
| 3B. Is the writing grammatically correct and free of typos? (2 points max.) | 1.6 | ||
| 3C. Do tables and figures add useful/important information for the reader? (2 points max.) | 1.8 | ||
| 3D. Is the report attractive and professional in appearance? (2 points max.) | 1.7 | ||
| 3E. Are citations included where appropriate, and are footnotes and bibliography properly formatted? (2 points max.) | 1.7 | ||
Total Rubric Score
| Students must receive a minimum score of 26 out of 40 to pass. | 33.5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
2020-2021 Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are calculated for one full academic year (Fall '20 and Spring '21 semesters) and are based on a full-time course-load of 12 units.
| In State Residents, per full-time academic year | $9,286 |
| Out of State Residents, per full-time academic year | $18,790 |
For a complete list of student fees and for a per-credit-hour breakdown of tuition rates, please refer to the University Bursar’s website.
Student Retention Rate
|
Percentage of students who began studies in Fall 2019 and continued into Fall 2020 |
91% |
Student Graduation Rate
|
Percentage of students graduating within 4 years, entering class of 2016 |
92% |
Number of Degrees Awarded
|
Number of degrees awarded for the 2019-2020 Academic Year |
37 |
AICP Certification
|
Percentage of master’s graduates taking the AICP exam within 5 years who pass, graduating class of 2015 |
92% |
Employment
|
Percentage of full-time graduates obtaining professional planning, planning-related or other positions within 12 months of graduation, graduating class of 2019 |
83% |
