Master’s in Urban Planning Online Mastering Urban Planning in the Digital Age
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36
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Learn to Lead City Development with Liberty’s Online Public Administration and Urban Planning Master’s Program
In a time of increased urbanization, there is a need for confident, prepared professionals who can skillfully manage the operations of a city and work towards the municipality’s long-term strategy for growth. Budgets, public relations, economics, legal issues, and politics are all areas that public administrators and urban planners need to be skilled in – and at Liberty, we have designed our Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Urban Planning to help equip you with a foundational knowledge of these areas.
In this degree program, you’ll be able to gain a versatile skill set that can help you pursue several career opportunities. Our master of urban planning degree is offered 100% online in mostly 8-week courses with no set login times, allowing you to earn your degree while remaining committed to the things that matter most – like your job, family, and community.
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Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America
What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Urban Planning Online Degree?
As a pioneer in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to design an online degree program that can challenge you to grow while respecting your personal commitments. When you choose Liberty for your online urban planning degree, you choose a university with a demonstrated history of helping students achieve their professional goals. Our commitment to our students has remained steadfast, and our passion for your success has never been stronger.
Studying online at Liberty empowers you to earn a career-enhancing credential on your own schedule. With no set login times, no required intensives, and no mandatory visits to campus, you’ll be able to earn a respected master’s degree from the comfort of home and prepare yourself for a rewarding career. Partner with us and take your career to new heights.
What is Urban Planning?
Urban planning is the process by which plans for the growth and regulation of municipalities are born. Urban planners develop and execute strategies to grow cities, improve underdeveloped areas, attract businesses, and foster a unique culture that entices people to stay.
What Will You Study in Our Online Urban Planning Degree?
Our Master of Public Administration in Urban Planning degree online consists of 3 sections: core courses, urban planning courses, and thesis or elective courses.
In the public administration section of this degree, you will study the fundamental principles of public administration, community economic development, and public policy. You will also study political and policy issues that surround public sector budgeting, methods for managing organizations in the public sector, and the legal principles of public administration. In addition, you’ll explore applied research methods for public policy.
In the urban planning specialization, you’ll explore the basics of geographic information systems. You’ll also study geography, urban planning, and how urban planners use geographic information systems when crafting and executing plans for city development. Our public administration and urban planning degree is rounded out by a thesis or elective track.
If you choose to pursue the thesis track, you’ll begin by selecting and proposing a thesis topic. After your topic has been approved, you’ll complete a research course. Lastly, you will present and defend your thesis before faculty from the Helms School of Government. The thesis track is an excellent option if you are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree someday.
If you choose to pursue the elective track, you will be able to customize your degree by selecting 2 graduate-level courses offered by the Helms School of Government. This offers you the freedom to study topics that you’re most passionate about.
Potential Career Opportunities
- City or town planner
- Conservation officer
- Housing officer
- Local government officer
- Transport planner
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Helms School of Government.
- View the Graduate Government Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan
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Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Graduate Full Time | $565/Credit |
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Graduate Part Time | $615/Credit |
Military Graduate | $275/Credit |
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Online Master of Public Administration Degree
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Students without the below coursework on their undergraduate transcript will be required to complete the following classes upon admission to the program:
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
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Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Not applicable to certificates.
Inner Navigation
- Overview
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
- Military
Have questions?