Concurrent Undergraduate / Graduate Study (CUGS)
Earn Your Master’s Degree within 5 Years
The Concurrent Undergraduate/Graduate Study (CUGS) option offers advanced University of Michigan LSA undergraduates the opportunity to combine their senior year with the first year of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program at Taubman College.
Eligibility:
- Have a GPA of 3.7 or higher at the end of your second year of undergraduate studies.
- Have completed at least six courses within the core requirements of your major by the time your dual enrollment would begin.
- Have completed all the LSA undergraduate degree requirements except for the major and any required independent study/practical experience, by the time your dual enrollment would begin (i.e., these must be completed by the end of your undergraduate year).
Determine if you are eligible to apply for the CUGS admission by consulting your program advisor and LSA Advising at Newnan Academic Advising Center.
More detailed information on the application procedure can be obtained from the following:
/ Student Feature
Izzy Beshouri
B.A. 2022, M.U.R.P. 2024
The CUGS program has been a worthwhile opportunity for me to expand upon my undergraduate liberal arts education. Through my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, I have developed the tools by which to turn my passion for environmental issues into policy change and sustainable design.
As a graduate student, I am learning just as much from my peers as I am from my classes, a pattern that I am sure is common across many Masters programs. A graduate program at the University of Michigan brings together students from all different backgrounds — the curriculum is filtered through this variety of political and social geographies during class discussions. I have found that, as a CUGS student, I get to see more of the world in one room than I would have in a gap year of traveling.
The CUGS program gave me agency over my track through higher education and allowed me to save on an additional year of tuition in route to my career goals.
Application Timeline
| Year | Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Year | October 15 | Complete the Accelerated Master’s (Undergraduate- Graduate) Degree Election Form (submit to LSA Dean’s Office) |
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If Approved:
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| Submit your online MURP admissions application through the Rackham Application Portal and pay the application fee. | ||
| By Mid-November | If admitted to MURP, receive offer of admission letter from Taubman College. | |
| April 15 | Must submit enrollment deposit if accepting offer of admission from Taubman College. |
Degree Timeline
| Year | Date | Actions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Year and 1ST YEAR OF MURP |
Fall Semester | Take 2-4 MURP courses | Graduate tuition is charged, Undergraduate financial aid is discontinued. Up to 15 MURP credits applied to Bachelor’s Degree. |
| Winter Semester | Take 2-4 MURP courses | ||
| May | Earn Bachelor’s Degree | ||
| 2ND YEAR OF MURP | Fall Semester | Take 4 MURP classes | Graduate Tuition is Charged |
| Winter Semester | Take 2-4 MURP courses | ||
| May | Earn Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree |
Hypothetical Cost Savings over Five vs Six Years
| No Financial Aid | Undergraduate Aid Only (Half Tuition Example) |
Go Blue Guarantee | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | |
| NON-CUGS 3 Year Total Cost (UG Senior year + 2 years of MURP tuition) |
$44,917 | $84,923 | $40,152 | $69,470 | $35,388 |
| CUGS 2 Year Total Cost (2 years of graduate tuition) |
$35,388 | $54,018 | $35,388 | $54,018 | $35,388 |
| Total Overall Savings | $9,529 | $30,905 | $4,764 | $15,452 | $0 |
| Savings for CUGS ranges from about $4,700 to $31,000 (based on estimated 2024-2025 tuition and fees). | May or may not receive a MURP scholarship. | ||||
| In addition to saving money, a student saves 1 year to enter the workforce and earn a salary sooner. | |||||