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Master of Science in Urban Studies & Planning

The Master's program is the only one of its kind in Coastal Georgia. Faculty members introduce students to complex issues facing cities through a multi-disciplinary and socially conscious worldview. Faculty members offer professional training in such areas as Housing and Community Development, Geographic Information Systems, Environmental Planning, Transportation Planning, Urban Design and Historic Preservation. The program is designed to prepare professionals to build neighborhoods, cities and large-scale regions and empower people to transform their communities.

Regular Admission...

MSUSP program applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and show promise of high quality work on the graduate level. Only completed applications are reviewed by the Admission Committee.

Application Contents

  • Completion of graduate application

  • Minimum GPA of 2.6 on a 4.0 scale

  • Proficient Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score

  • Three academic and professional letters of reference

  • Statement of Interest (1,000 words)

  • Official transcripts from each college and university attended
  • Curriculum Vitae

Fast Track Admission...

The fast track option offers admission to the MSUSP program to outstanding undergraduate students at Savannah State University minoring in Urban Studies and Planning. Undergraduate students who have completed all degree requirements for graduation and fifteen semester hours of the minor in Urban Studies and Planning and receive a GPA of 3.5 in two core classes of the minor in Urban Studies and Planning (POLS 3811 Introduction to Urban Planning and POLS 3813 Urban Politics) are eligible for the fast track admission to the MSUSP program. The application requirements for the fast track admission are as follows:

  • A complete graduate application
  • Minimum GPA of 2.80 on a 4.0 scale
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • No GRE requirement
  • An essay of the purpose of attending the graduate school in Urban Studies and Planning degree

Matriculation Requirements...

The Master of Science in Urban Studies and Planning Degree requires completion of 42 semester hours of graduate course work:

(1) Core curriculum: 24 credits

(2) Graduation core: Field paper, Master’s thesis, or Urban Planning Studios: 6 credits

(3) Electives: 12 credits

1) Core curriculum...

MSUS 8810 History of American Urbanization

MSUS 8820 Methods of Urban Research

MSUS 8821 Statistical Methods for Urban Analysis

MSUS 8830 Introduction to Planning

MSUS 8840 Computer Applications for Urban Information Systems

MSUS 8850 Urban Fiscal Policy Analysis

MSUS 8864 Introduction to Public Policy

MSUS 8875 Planning Law

2) Graduation cores...

MSUS 8875 Field Paper (6 credit hours), or

MSUS 8880 Master's Thesis (6 credit hours), or

MSUS 8881 Urban Planning Studio I (3 credit hours) and MSUS 8882 Urban Planning Studio II (3 credit hours)

3) Electives...

MSUS 6200 Savannah Policy and Planning Debates

MSUS 6324 Coastal Zone Planning

MSUS 8800 Global Urbanization

MSUS 8801 Classic of Urban Politics

MSUS 8806 Minority Group Politics

MSUS 8807 Historic Preservation

MSUS 8808 Politics of Poverty

MSUS 8809 Policy Advocacy and Empowerment

MSUS 8823 Urban Development and Market Analysis

MSUS 8843 Advanced Geographic Information Systems

MSUS 8851 Seminar in Urban and Regional Planning

MSUS 8852 Urban Geography

MSUS 8854 Housing and Community Development

MSUS 8856 Transportation and Urban Development

MSUS 8857 Environmental Issues and Waste Disposal

MSUS 8860 Race, Ethnicity and Gender in Urban Development

MSUS 8865 Urban Policy and Administration

MSUS 8866 African-American Administrators in Urban Bureaucracy & Public Policy

MSUS 8867 Conflict Resolution

MSUS 8871 Environmental Planning

MSUS 8874 Urban Design Seminar

MSUS 8878 Urban Environmental Justice

MSUS 8879 Local Economic Development

Admission Deadlines...

Fall Semester

June 1st - International Students

June 15th - Regular Admissions and Candidates Seeking Graduate Assistantships

Spring Semester

October 1st - Regular Admissions, Candidates Seeking Graduate Assistantships and International Students

Summer Semester

March 1st - Regular Admissions, Candidates Seeking Graduate Assistantships and International Students