Find out why the Master of Urban and Regional Planning is right for you!
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The future begins with Urban Planning (MURP)
Your future success begins with the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree. In just two years, you can transform your undergraduate degree and your desire to make a difference into a successful career in urban planning. The Ball State MURP is the only accredited master of urban and regional planning degree in Indiana. When you earn our MURP degree you not only increase your competitive advantage, you will also become a part of our wide network of alumni, working on projects like the cultural trail in Indianapolis, working for a planning firm like Rundell Ernstberger, or as a leader in your hometown or large metropolitan area across the country. What can you contribute to this future? Discover it with a master’s degree in urban and regional planning!
The future of housing, the future of mobility, the future of equity, the future of climate resilience, and the future of livability all begin with conversations in urban planning. A career in planning provides you with a versatile career path that can be tailored to your passions and interests. Our alumni go on to work for a multitude of industries:
Program Statistics
100% Graduation Rate
96% Employed In Field
- non-profit services,
- land development and professional service/consulting firms,
- transportation authorities,
- federal departments,
- municipal and regional planning authorities,
- housing agencies,
- community development agencies, and more.
Master of Urban and Regional Planning Information Session
Join the graduate director for a virtual session about the urban planning profession, curriculum, costs, financial support, and application process. $60 application fee waived for attendees. Once registered, you'll receive the link to join.
Choose "attend an event" to find the calendar of information sessions.
Our unique educational experiences prepare you for a rewarding and successful career in urban planning. Our student internships, studio classes, immersive learning courses, and graduate assistantship opportunities give students the opportunity to learn about planning through structured work experiences. The MURP capstone research sequence gives you the opportunity to hone your knowledge and expertise on a planning topic of your choosing. Our industry-aligned curriculum and hands-on learning will equip you with the expertise and confidence to make an impact immediately upon graduating. Students with design experience or undergraduate degrees in communications, marketing, public relations, sociology, art, English, history, political science, geography, finance, and natural resources thrive in the Urban Planning profession!
Students in the MURP program have contributed to important and meaningful work through their courses. Ball State University in general stands out for its excellence in immersive community-based educational experiences, and the Department of Urban Planning has long been at the vanguard of this effort. Previous students in our master’s program have completed neighborhood and city-wide comprehensive plans that were adopted by local jurisdictions. As part of their coursework, students worked for a semester to devise the Muncie Renters Handbook, which provided advice, information, and resources for renters and landlords. The skills and expertise of MURP students lead to the adoption of the Muncie Renters Handbook by a local non-profit as a tool for improving housing conditions. In another course, students created a plan for acquiring abandoned properties for the Muncie Land Bank.
Graduates of our MURP are able to move directly into professional positions; recent graduates of our program currently serve as the town manager in Albion, Indiana, as the principal planner for land use strategy for the City of Indianapolis, as a community outreach planner in Austin, Texas, and as a neighborhood planner in Fort Wayne. As the pressing issues of the future begin with urban planning, we invite you to help shape the future of communities.
Two-Year Track
2 Years
48 Credits
If you’re pursuing a degree in planning for the first time, this two-year, 48-credit program is for you. The standard track is also for students already in the workforce.
Fast Track
1 Year
36 Credits
This one-year, 36-credit course of study is for students who’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in planning, accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.
Graduate studies in urban planning disciplines are a great way to weave past career or education experience into a deeper understanding of our built and natural environments. From finance to grass roots community development, the MURP program at Ball State allows graduate students to explore the complex and ever-changing world of community renewal, real estate, and human interaction with our environment.
— Julie Collier, alumna, vice president of development at Flaherty & Collins
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Take the Next Step
If you’d like to learn more about our Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree, complete our online form or contact us for more information. And if you’re ready to apply, review our admission requirements and complete our online application.
Already admitted and planning ahead? Download our computer recommendations.