Master of Urban and Regional Planning / Public Health

Students may wish to go into work to promote health through the improvement of the places where people live in a wide range of ways. For example, to name just a few of the ways that public health and urban planning intersect, students may be interested in the provision of safer shelter, in community-based initiatives for water supply and waste disposal systems, in reducing sprawl development and the traffic congestion that accompanies it, in planning for parks and recreation that offer more fitness opportunities, in implementing truck routing around low-income neighborhoods to reduce air pollution and increase pedestrian safety. Students may want to work for a nonprofit in a big city, for a planning department or a public health department, for a regional rural services agency, or for an NGO or a community-based initiative in a developing country.

Course of Study

Students admitted to the combined program are required to complete the first year courses in one school during the first year and to complete the first year courses at the other school in the second year. Students may begin at either school. During the third year of the program, students are permitted to elect courses in either school and are generally not restricted in their choices beyond fulfilling the required course work.

Degree Requirements

The M.U.R.P./M.P.H. is a 90-credit-hour program for students without relevant health education experience or advanced degrees. Students take 60 credits for the M.P.H. and 48 credits for the M.U.R.P. Eighteen of these credits may be counted in both programs. Students take at least 30 credits in the Urban and Regional Planning Program. Students normally complete the dual degree in three years of full-time study.

Admission Requirements

Students must file separate applications to and be admitted by both schools. An application fee must accompany each application. Students will work with the acadmic advisors in both schools to determine which program is best to start with the first year.