About Department of Urban Planning · Seattle
The Department of Urban Design and Planning (officially listed as "Department of Urban Planning" in some directories) is an academic department within the University of Washington's College of Built Environments, located in Gould Hall on the Seattle campus. For over 50 years it has served as the leading planning school in the Pacific Northwest, offering a Bachelor of Arts in Community, Environment, and Planning (CEP), a Master of Urban Planning (MUP), a PhD in Urban Design and Planning, and an online Master of Infrastructure Planning and Management (MIPM). The department's mission is to provide the vision, leadership, and skills that shape great communities in which people work, live, and thrive.
Founded more than 50 years ago and housed in 410 Gould Hall on the University of Washington's Seattle campus, the Department of Urban Design and Planning operates within the UW College of Built Environments and functions as a regionally and nationally recognized center for planning education and research. Its mission statement — to provide 'the vision, leadership, and skills that shape the great communities in which we all work, live, and thrive' — frames a curriculum that combines planning history and theory with methods, technical skills, and applied studio work on real-world community issues. The department offers four degree pathways: a capacity-constrained undergraduate BA in Community, Environment, and Planning (CEP) that admits roughly 38 students per year; a two-year (six-quarter, minimum 72-credit) Master of Urban Planning (MUP) that is the standard credential for professional planning practice; a fully online Master of Infrastructure Planning and Management (MIPM) that enrolls a new cohort each year; and an interdisciplinary PhD in Urban Design and Planning. MUP students may specialize in one of five areas or pursue a concurrent degree with another UW program, including a Master of Public Health / Master of Urban Planning dual degree. Faculty research spans urban economics, transportation, environmental planning, housing, urban ecology, land use, infrastructure finance, and the effects of new mobility and information technologies on cities — drawing on the resources of the entire university and the Seattle metropolitan region as a living laboratory.
- In business
- Over 50 years (founded more than 50 years ago per official About page)
- Serves
- Primarily the Seattle metropolitan region and Pacific Northwest; recruits and serves students nationally and internationally through online programs (MIPM) and graduate study
About the Department
For over 50 years, the Department of Urban Design and Planning has been the leading planning school in the Pacific Northwest. Through innovative research and nationally ranked training, graduates and faculty provide the knowledge cities need to solve pressing urban challenges. Its stated mission is to provide the vision, leadership, and skills that shape the great communities in which people work, live, and thrive. The department is part of the University of Washington's College of Built Environments and is housed in Gould Hall on the Seattle campus.
- Located in 410 Gould Hall on the UW Seattle campus
- Part of the College of Built Environments
- Positioned by the department as the leading planning school in the Pacific Northwest
- Mission: 'to provide the vision, leadership, and skills that shape the great communities in which we all work, live, and thrive'
Degree Programs
The department offers a full ladder of credentials: a capacity-constrained undergraduate major, a professional master's degree that is the standard credential for planning practice, a fully accredited online master's in infrastructure, and an interdisciplinary PhD. Together these serve students at every stage from first undergraduate exposure to doctoral-level research.
- BA in Community, Environment, and Planning (CEP)
- Master of Urban Planning (MUP)
- PhD in Urban Design and Planning
- Online Master of Infrastructure Planning and Management (MIPM)
- Minor in Urban Design and Planning
- Concurrent degrees with other UW programs (e.g. MPH/MUP)
Undergraduate: Community, Environment, and Planning (CEP)
The Community, Environment, and Planning (CEP) major is the department's undergraduate program. It is capacity-constrained and enrolls roughly 38 students each year, with the majority of spots filled during the priority admissions deadline. CEP does not provide a predefined educational path; instead it empowers students to pursue their own educational goals with adviser approval.
- Capacity-constrained: ~38 students per year
- Majority admitted via priority admissions deadline
- Advising through Program Manager Ulises Herrera
- Contact: [email protected], 208Q Gould Hall, 206-543-1508
Master of Urban Planning (MUP)
The Master of Urban Planning is the usual educational credential for professional planning practice. It is normally a two-year, six-quarter program with a minimum of 72 credits. The fully accredited MUP curriculum covers planning history and theory, methods, technical skills and knowledge, and studio courses in which students apply skills to a real-world planning issue in a community. Students choose one of five specialization areas and may earn a concurrent degree in another program on campus.
- Two-year (six-quarter) program, minimum 72 credits
- Five areas of specialization
- Studio courses with real-world community projects
- Concurrent degree option with other UW programs (e.g. MPH/MUP)
- Advising via Graduate Academic Adviser Diana Siembor ([email protected])
Online Master of Infrastructure Planning and Management (MIPM)
The MIPM is a fully accredited online program that enrolls a new cohort of students each year. It is aimed at working professionals and addresses planning topics such as environmental justice, climate action, energy resilience, and transportation planning. The program attracts highly motivated students who go on to government, nonprofit, and private-sector roles.
- Fully accredited online program
- New cohort each year
- Program Coordinator: Karen Fishler ([email protected])
- Focus areas include climate, energy resilience, transportation, environmental justice
PhD in Urban Design and Planning
The PhD in Urban Design and Planning provides a strong interdisciplinary educational experience that draws on the resources of the entire University, the Seattle metropolitan region, and the Pacific Northwest. The program is directed by Qing Shen and involves core, affiliate, and emeritus faculty from across the department and university.
- Interdisciplinary PhD
- Director: Qing Shen
- Hosted at sites.uw.edu/urbdpphd
- Core faculty include Dan Abramson, Marina Alberti, Hilda Blanco, Jan Whittington, Christine Bae, Rachel Berney
Faculty & Research Areas
Faculty research stretches across urban economics, transportation, environmental planning, urban ecology, land use, housing, infrastructure finance, and the social impacts of new mobility and information technologies. Doctoral training is supported by both core faculty within Urban Design and Planning and affiliate faculty from related UW units.
- Dan Abramson — urban identity, conservation and design; housing and community development
- Marina Alberti — environmental planning, urban ecology, GIS, impact assessment
- Hilda Blanco — land use, comprehensive and neighborhood planning, infrastructure finance
- Christine Bae — transportation and urban planning
- Rachel Berney — urban design
- Jan Whittington — large-scale infrastructure projects, comprehensive planning and implementation
- Qing Shen — urban economics, transportation planning, GIS, alternative patterns of urban growth
Admissions
Each program has its own admissions pathway. The CEP undergraduate major is capacity-constrained with most seats filled during the priority admissions deadline. The MUP application is done entirely online and is described as 'a great place to study planning' on the official admissions page. The online MIPM admits a new cohort each year, and the PhD draws interdisciplinary applicants across the university.
- CEP: ~38 students/year, priority deadline
- MUP: online application with published deadlines and checklist
- MIPM: rolling cohort admissions each year
- PhD: interdisciplinary application via PhD program site
Contact
The department can be reached by mail, telephone, and email. General inquiries go to the Department Administrator, while each program has its own adviser or coordinator for prospective-student questions.
- Mailing address: University of Washington Department of Urban Design and Planning, 410 Gould Hall, Box 355740, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
- Phone: 206-543-4190
- General inquiries: Edith Olguin, Department Administrator — [email protected]
- MUP inquiries: Diana Siembor, Graduate Academic Adviser — [email protected]
- CEP inquiries: Ulises Herrera, Program Manager — [email protected]
- MIPM inquiries: Karen Fishler, Program Coordinator — [email protected]
- General info email: [email protected]