Urban Planning and Development, Accelerated BA/MUPD

This program offers undergraduate students an accelerated pathway to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree. Traditionally, full-time students require six academic years to complete these separately; however, this accelerated program significantly reduces the timeframe.

Eligible undergraduate students with junior or senior standing can, upon acceptance into the program, take up to 9 credit hours from the following graduate-level courses:

• UST 500 - Public Administration in the City  
• UST 507 - Planning the City  
• UST 550 - Nonprofit Management in the City  
• UST 579 - Community Engagement & Participatory Methods  
• Other UST 500-level courses (subject to consultation with the program director and/or graduate advisor) 

The program allows undergraduate students, regardless of major, to begin taking graduate classes. Levin School majors (students majoring in community planning, environmental studies, nonprofit administration, organizational leadership, public policy and management, or public safety management) can substitute graduate courses for certain major requirements or use them as undergraduate electives. Other CSU majors will use the graduate courses to fulfill their undergraduate elective hours.

Degrees Granted

Bachelor of Arts and Master of Urban Planning and Development

Admission to the Program

The program allows undergraduate students, regardless of major, to begin taking graduate classes during their junior or senior years. To qualify for this accelerated program, students must:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. 
• Have completed at least 60 credit hours.
• Provide a statement of purpose that describes their motivation for enrolling in the accelerated master’s program and what makes them prepared for success in the program and their future careers. The essay must be the applicant’s original work; the use of AI-generated content or plagiarism is prohibited. The essay should be no more than two single-spaced pages and no less than one single-spaced page. 

GRE scores are not required for admission. Students must apply by the first semester of their senior year to take advantage of the program. Applications should be submitted directly to the Public Affairs Student Services Center.

To apply for the accelerated option, contact urbanprograms@csuohio.edu for the application. Do not use the “apply” button on this page for admission to the accelerated degrees. 

For further details, contact the Center at 216-687-3884 or urbanprograms@csuohio.edu. 

Additional Information

• Internship opportunities are available to all students, and scholarships are available to qualified students.
• Graduate assistantships are available to qualified graduate students through a competitive selection process.
• The Columbus Seminar provides on-site involvement in government.
• A formal mentoring program is available in which juniors and seniors are paired with public service practitioners working in the student’s area of interest.
• Students with substantial prior learning/professional experience may apply for credit through the Assessment and Accreditation of Prior Learning Experience program.

Scheduling and Degree Mapping

Course registration is contingent upon consultation with the program director and/or graduate advisor. 

Also, undergraduate students have the option to take an additional 9 graduate credit hours, applicable only towards their graduate degree (these credits will not be counted towards the bachelor’s degree). Opting for this will result in accumulating more than the standard 120 credit hours required for a bachelor’s degree (e.g., 129 credit hours if the full 9-hour option is utilized). Students are encouraged to speak with their program director or graduate advisor to tailor a strategy for their individual situations.