Through the completion of this certificate, students will gain an essential introduction to the field and practice of urban planning, which is about engaging communities for better futures and creating places where people can lead meaningful lives. Courses will provide a framework of the social, economic, and political environments within which planning policy is formed and carried out. The certificate is geared toward meeting the need for planning policy on urban issues at any level of government — federal, state, regional, and local — or outside the governmental arena. While all students are welcome to apply, this graduate certificate's course work is only offered at the Lawrence Campus.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
The School of Public Affairs & Administration (SPAA) accepts students on a rolling admissions basis. Students may apply to be admitted for either the fall, summer or spring semesters. Applicants for the certificate are required to meet the following program requirements:
- An undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 (if the undergraduate degree was awarded in the last three years); and
- the University requirement that Non-native speakers of English meet Graduate Studies English proficiency.
Current graduate students who wish to earn a graduate certificate credential in any of the SPAA certificates must submit a graduate application for the specific certificate program no later than enrollment in the final course that will count toward the certificate.
Individuals who are not already enrolled as KU graduate students must complete an application to Graduate Studies for admission into the certificate program and submit an application fee along with the following materials:
• A current resume.
• A statement of interest in the graduate certificate program. This 1-2 page narrative should summarize your education, employment history, career goals, and how this certificate will bolster your professional aspirations.
• Official transcripts of baccalaureate degree/s and any post-baccalaureate course work.
The admissions committee may request additional materials if needed to assess an applicant’s ability to be successful in the coursework.
More information about SPAA graduate certificates can be found on the SPAA Graduate Certificates pages.
The certificate requires 4 courses for a total of 12 graduate credit hours. Other courses may be substituted with the approval of the MPA Faculty Director in consultation with the Urban Planning Director. Student pursuing more than one SPAA certificate may use a maximum of one course to count towards both certificates. While completing the following degree requirements, graduate students are expected to understand and follow Office of Graduate Studies policies relevant to their student status and academic standing.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| UBPL 730 | City and County Planning | 3 |
| UBPL 785 | History and Theory of Planning | 3 |
| |
| 6 |
| Urban Economic Theory and Analysis | |
| Housing Policy and Planning | |
| Sustainable Land Use Policy and Planning | |
| Planning Law and Institutions | |
| Transportation Policy and Planning | |
| Total Hours | 12 |
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Understand the evolution and current practice of planning in communities, cities, regions, and nations; how planning has advanced and hindered the attainment of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; expectations about planning outcomes in different local and national contexts; conceptual models about what planning is and how it works; past and present conceptions of the future, including the relationship between planning and the future; the role of planning in responding to the global climate crisis. (Planning History & Theory)
- Understand the planning process and community and stakeholder engagement; plan creation and implementation; methods of design and intervention to understand and influence the future. (Planning Process & Engagement)
- Ability to work in teams and with professionals in allied fields; professional leadership in the planning context; written, oral, and graphic communication. (Professional, Communication, & Leadership Skills)
