Program Overview

The Master of Urban Design (MUD) is an advanced post-professional degree program for individuals who seek a career in urban design practice or for current planning and design professionals who want to enhance and expand their existing practice with urban design knowledge and expertise.

To be accepted into the MUD program, an individual must hold a master’s degree in architecture, urban planning, or landscape architecture, or an accredited professional undergraduate degree in architecture, urban planning, or landscape architecture. Students in CU Denver’s M Arch, MLA, and MURP programs may be eligible to apply to the MUD program and begin earning MUD credits before they complete their prerequisite master’s degree through the MUD Overlapping Degree Option (see below).

The MUD program consists of nine courses: one studio and three lecture courses in the fall, one studio and three lecture courses in the spring, and either a travel studio or capstone project in the summer. To earn the MUD degree, a student must complete all nine courses totaling 36 credits. The MUD program is designed to be accomplished in a single calendar year (fall, spring, and summer semesters) as a full-time, immersive experience; however, students with qualifying circumstances or students admitted through the MUD Overlapping Degree Option may complete the program over a longer timeframe.

Using Colorado’s diverse urban landscapes as a laboratory for real-world learning experiences, our MUD program teaches and trains students to become exceptional urban design thinkers, practitioners, and leaders in their communities; collaborates with urban designers to advance the profession and position it at the intersection of the city-building disciplines; and engages with the community to create great places that are sustainable, inclusive, equitable, healthy, and inspiring.

Learn more about our urban design vision and mission at the College of Architecture and Planning.

Program Hallmarks

Our Master of Urban Design program prepares students for professional practice and positions them for career advancement through ongoing engagement and partnerships with distinguished practitioners in urban design, architecture, city planning, landscape architecture, and related fields. The curriculum, which balances theory and practice, draws significantly from practicing faculty to elevate the professional competency of students and prepare them for long-term career success. Students are exposed to the many issues that cities currently face, including elements of planning policy; zoning and development regulations; public realm design; mobility and transportation; economics; social equity and environmental sustainability; and community engagement. This allows students to develop a deep understanding of the role of urban design in the city-building process and learn urban design by engaging with practitioners who are implementing projects and actively working in the delivery and evolution of urban places.

Our Master of Urban Design program develops sustained partnerships with local communities and organizations to work together to advance the goals of the MUD program, urban design practice, and the broader community through the exchange of ideas and the exploration of creative design concepts. It is critical that the design of cities and the spaces and places that urban designers help shape have people as their central focus. For urban designers to best design cities as people-centered places, they must engage with the community in meaningful ways. These partnerships recognize the wealth of resources and wisdom that already exists within communities and focus on understanding their issues, problems, and challenges. These community partnerships require students and faculty to approach engagement with a “listen and learn” attitude, foster mutually beneficial relationships, and ultimately create lasting positive impacts for all people and places.

Our Master of Urban Design program focuses on the connections between urban form, public space, social equity and justice, ecological systems, environmental quality, and public health that exist at multiple scales. From the street to the neighborhood and from the city to the region, students explore the complex infrastructure systems, social networks, and ecosystems that affect our built and natural environments and look to develop new paradigms and design solutions that fight against environmental degradation, climate change, and social and racial inequities. Emphasizing the imperative for multidisciplinary approaches, the MUD program focuses on the triple bottom line of social, economic, and environmental sustainability and resilience in our cities and towns and the ever-increasing role that urban design plays in addressing climate change, disparities and displacement in underserved and historically marginalized communities, and public health and wellness.

Our Master of Urban Design program is structured to train students how to communicate confidently with other disciplines, facilitate effective teamwork, and tackle complex urban issues to create the next generation of civic and design leaders. Urban design is positioned at the intersection of multiple professions that participate in the city-building process including architecture, landscape architecture, city planning, civil engineering, and public policy and finance. A strong urban designer has a working knowledge of these allied disciplines and applies a breadth of knowledge to their professional work. The MUD program curates a student’s skillset to position them to play critical leadership roles guiding multi-disciplinary teams and to advance the careers of those already working in urban design as well as provide a rigorous and comprehensive platform for those newly embarking on an urban design career.

Curriculum

The MUD curriculum features a mix of lecture and studio courses that comprehensively cover the spectrum of urban design theory and practice and emphasizes hands-on experiential learning and skills development. At the heart of our curriculum are our four Program Hallmarks, which are present in all courses as common themes.

The curriculum consists of nine courses: one studio and three lecture courses taken in the fall semester, one studio and three lecture courses taken in the spring semester, and the final requirement—a capstone project or travel studio (student’s choice)—taken during the summer. To earn the MUD degree, a student must successfully complete all nine courses totaling 36 credits.

Students entering the MUD program who lack certain design knowledge or skills may be required to take the program’s Design Skills Workshop before the start of the Fall semester, as determined by the program’s admissions review committee.

The table below shows the required courses in the MUD curriculum, effective Fall 2021.

Fall Semester:

Course #	Course Name	Course Type	Credit Hours
URBN 6500	Urban Design Studio I	Studio	6
URBN 6525	City Design Fundamentals	Lecture	3
URBN 6550	Design Policy, Process, and Regulation	Lecture	3
URBN 6575	Advanced Visualization for Urban Design	Lecture/Lab	3

Spring Semester:

Course #	Course Name	Course Type	Credit Hours
URBN 6600	Urban Design Studio II	Studio	6
URBN 6625	Urban Design Economics and Equity	Lecture	3
URBN 6650	Urban Design and the Environment	Lecture	3
URBN 6675	Design Practice and Leadership	Lecture	3

Summer Semester - Student’s choice of one of the following:

Course #	Course Name	Course Type	6 Credit Hours
URBN 6700	Urban Design Advanced Travel Studio	Studio
URBN 6725	Urban Design Capstone	Individual Project

Total Required Credits

Course Descriptions

Expand the sections below to read the course descriptions for the MUD curriculum:

Fall Semester Course Descriptions

This course Investigates the historical roots, spatial patterns, and physical forms of cities and their evolution over time; the environmental, cultural, and economic forces influencing city design; and urban design as the nexus of the planning and design professions in contemporary city-building.

This course provides advanced instruction in effective communication and visualization through the use of digital tools commonly used in urban design (e.g. Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, SketchUp, Lumion). Topics include graphic design theory, use of storyboards, renderings, diagrams, maps, sketches, photographs, and infographics.

Spring Semester Course Descriptions

This studio advances the understanding and application of urban design tools, methods, and practices and engages students in a real-world project with a community partner. Students integrate real estate development, economics, environmental and social equity, aesthetic criteria, historic preservation, and community engagement.

This course explores the economics of urban design through its relationship with private-sector real estate development, public-sector infrastructure, and budgetary/fiscal constraints on design implementation while emphasizing the critical role of urban design in advocating for social equity, affordable housing, and related issues.

This course provides an understanding of the inextricable relationship between urban design and the natural environment. Students learn how to design sustainable public spaces, promote environmental resilience, combat climate change, and foster environmental justice and healthy communities through urban design.

Summer Semester Course Descriptions

This studio travels to international or US urban location(s) to engage in advanced urban design development, analysis, and production on a real-world project that includes multiple environmental, cultural, and economic influences; wide-ranging urban planning contexts, and various design dimensions and functional considerations.

This course requires students to work individually, paired with an urban design practitioner mentor, on a complete design solution for a real-world client that incorporates the full spectrum of urban design knowledge, methods, and skills to produce professional-grade urban design plan deliverables.

The Design Skills Workshop is a zero-credit, intensive “crash course” workshop in core design concepts, processes, and skills that is required for students entering the MUD program who lack a strong background in design and/or design-oriented technologies. Students admitted to the MUD program are evaluated for design competency and a determination is made if the Design Skills Workshop is required or not. The Design Skills Workshop is held shortly before the start of the fall semester.

Overlapping Degree Option

The MUD Overlapping Degree Option gives students in the M Arch, MLA, and MURP programs at CU Denver the opportunity to apply to the MUD program and begin earning MUD credits before they complete their prerequisite master’s degree. By taking MUD lecture courses that qualify as open or cross-listed electives toward their prerequisite degree, students can reduce the total number of credits required to earn both degrees, saving time and money. Select a tab below to view the details about the MUD Overlapping Degree Option for each of the three programs.

CU Denver MURP students may apply to the MUD program after they have completed at least 12 MURP credits. Students can then take MUD lecture courses and apply them to both their MURP and MUD degrees. After graduating with their MURP degree, students conclude the MUD program by taking the two MUD studios, any remaining MUD lecture courses, and the final MUD studio/capstone requirement.

MURP students are allowed to take up to 6 credits of open electives offered by other programs, plus four of the MUD lecture courses—City Design Fundamentals; Design Policy, Process, and Regulation; Urban Design Economics and Equity; Urban Design and the Environment—are cross-listed as URPL electives. Therefore, MURP students could potentially take all six of the MUD required lecture courses as MURP electives, reducing the total credits required for both degrees by 18. How many of these six overlapping MUD lecture courses a student takes, and which ones, is up to the student. MUD lecture courses taken prior to a student’s acceptance into the MUD program can be applied retroactively toward the MUD degree.

For more information, please review the MURP + MUD Overlapping Degree Option guide or contact your academic advisor.

CU Denver M Arch students may apply to the MUD program after they have completed at least 30 M Arch credits. Students can then take MUD lecture courses and apply them to both their M Arch and MUD degrees. After graduating with their M Arch degree, students conclude the MUD program by taking the two MUD studios, any remaining MUD lecture courses, and the final MUD studio/capstone requirement.

M Arch students are allowed to take up to 6 credits of open electives offered by other programs, plus two of the MUD lecture courses—City Design Fundamentals, Urban Design Economics and Equity—are cross-listed as ARCH electives. Therefore, M Arch students could potentially take as many as four MUD required lecture courses as M Arch electives, reducing the total credits required for both degrees by 12. How many of these four overlapping MUD lecture courses a student takes, and which ones, is up to the student. MUD lecture courses taken prior to a student’s acceptance into the MUD program can be applied retroactively toward the MUD degree.

For more information, please review the M Arch + MUD Overlapping Degree Option guide or contact your academic advisor.

CU Denver MLA students may apply to the MUD program after they have completed at least 24 MLA credits. Students can then take MUD lecture courses and apply them to both their MLA and MUD degrees. After graduating with their MLA degree, students conclude the MUD program by taking the two MUD studios, any remaining MUD lecture courses, and the final MUD studio/capstone requirement.

MLA students are allowed to take up to 9 credits of open electives offered by other programs, plus two of the MUD lecture courses—City Design Fundamentals, Urban Design and the Environment—are cross-listed as LDAR electives. Therefore, MLA students could potentially take as many as five MUD required lecture courses as MLA electives, reducing the total credits required for both degrees by 15. How many of these five overlapping MUD lecture courses a student takes, and which ones, is up to the student. MUD lecture courses taken prior to a student’s acceptance into the MUD program can be applied retroactively toward the MUD degree.

For more information, please review the MLA + MUD Overlapping Degree Option guide or contact your academic advisor.

Admissions

The Master of Urban Design program seeks exceptional, engaged applicants who are passionate about urban design, are excited to study in Downtown Denver and experience life in Colorado, and who can enrich the program through their diverse perspectives and experiences.

Minimum Academic Requirements - Prerequisite Degree

The Master of Urban Design at CU Denver is an advanced post-professional degree. In order to be admitted to the program, an individual must hold (or will hold by the start of their MUD studies) a professional degree in architecture, urban planning, or landscape architecture (minimum GPA 3.00) from an accredited program. (Current CU Denver M Arch, MLA, or MURP students - please see the MUD Overlapping Degree Options section.) Professional degrees in architecture, urban planning, and landscape architecture can be obtained at either the undergraduate or graduate levels.

Qualifying Architecture Degrees:

Master of Architecture

(M. Arch)

Bachelor of Architecture

(B.Arch)

Degree must be accredited through the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) for programs in the United States. For international applicants, please contact us for more information.

Qualifying Urban Planning Degrees:

Master of Urban Planning

(MUP, MURP, MCP or similar)

Bachelor of Urban Planning

(BSUP, BSURP or similar)

Degree must be accredited through the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) for programs in the United States. For international applicants, please contact us for more information.

Qualifying Landscape Architecture Degrees:

Master of Landscape Architecture

(MLA)

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

(BLA or BSLA)

Degree must be accredited through the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) for programs in the United States. For international applicants, please contact us for more information.

Application Deadline

Program Start: Fall 2021

Application Opens: October 15, 2020
Priority Deadline: April 1, 2021
Final Deadline: June 15, 2021

Required Application Materials

Application fee ($50 for domestic applicants, $75 for international applicants)
Academic transcripts: see Minimum Academic Requirement section above
A minimum 3.00 GPA is required to apply to the MUD program. Applicants with a 3.20 GPA or higher do not need to submit Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores. Applicants with a GPA below 3.20 are required to submit GRE scores.
A portfolio that includes examples of student or professional projects that show your planning/design-related knowledge and skills, ability to graphically express planning/design and spatial concepts and processes, organizational and communication (written and graphical) capabilities, and competency in various planning/design computer applications
A statement of purpose that includes your educational and professional goals and a thoughtful explanation of how a MUD degree will allow you to achieve your goals
Resume describing your educational and professional background
Three letters of reference, at least one from an academic reference if your most recent academic degree was earned within the last five years
If you are a resident of any of the 15 western states (except Colorado) in the WICHE-WRGP region, please complete the WICHE-WRGP section of the online application.
International applicants must submit proof of English language proficiency. For more information regarding English Language Proficiency and international transcripts at International Admissions website.

University of Colorado Denver

Denver

Locations

Tools

Schools and Colleges

CU Denver

CU Anschutz Medical Campus

College of Architecture and Planning

Master of Urban Design

Program Overview

Program Hallmarks

Curriculum

Course Descriptions

Overlapping Degree Option

Admissions

Minimum Academic Requirements - Prerequisite Degree

Application Deadline

Required Application Materials

College of Architecture and Planning

CU Denver

CU Denver Building

Master of Urban Design

Program Overview

Program Hallmarks

Professional Engagement

Community Engagement

Environment and Equity

Interdisciplinary Leadership

Curriculum

Course Descriptions

URBN 6500 - Urban Design Studio I

URBN 6525 - City Design Fundamentals

URBN 6550 - Design Policy, Process, and Regulation

URBN 6575 - Advanced Visualization for Urban Design

URBN 6600 - Urban Design Studio II

URBN 6625 - Urban Design Economics and Equity

URBN 6650 - Urban Design and the Environment

URBN 6675 - Design Practice and Leadership

URBN 6700 - Urban Design Advanced Travel Studio

URBN 6725 - Urban Design Capstone

Design Skills Workshop

Overlapping Degree Option

Admissions

Minimum Academic Requirements - Prerequisite Degree

Application Deadline

Required Application Materials

College of Architecture and Planning

CU Denver

CU Denver Building