Academics

MURP Online Program

Online Master of Urban and Regional Planning
(MURP) Degree Program


The Department of Urban and Regional Planning is proud to offer the nation’s first and only accredited online Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree. The MURP online degree delivery is designed to empower planning professionals with practical knowledge.

Our online program delivery mirrors our campus program delivery, and offers the same courses taught by the same esteemed faculty members. The MURP online program is designed to be primarily asynchronous; students can complete coursework on their own time, from wherever they are in the world. The online program is 100% online, so students do not need to come to campus at any time to complete the requirements for this program.

The MURP online program is generally a 2- to 3-year commitment, although there is flexibility to customize program trajectories. Most students take two courses (6 credits) each semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Courses are offered during standard full-semester terms: 16 weeks Fall/Spring, 13 weeks Summer. 

Graduates from the online MURP program go on to conduct great planning from coast-to-coast and even internationally, including throughout Florida, the east coast and west coast, American territories, southeast Asia, Europe, and Central America.

For information about application requirements and deadlines, please visit the department’s application procedures page.

Accredited
Accredited

Our MURP online degree delivery is fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).

Completely Online
Completely Online

Our online program can be completed from anywhere in the world! No campus visits or travel required.

Affordable
Affordable

The cost of our online program is $865/credit hour. The program is 52 credit hours total. This is an all-inclusive rate, regardless of location.

Flexible
Flexible

Most students take 6 credits/2 courses each semester; the pace of the program is completely up to you.

For Professionals
For Professionals

Our courses are delivered asynchronously, meaning that coursework can be completed on your own schedule.

Customizable
Customizable

Focus on topics and courses that interest you and are directly applicable to the planning profession.

MURP Online Program

Download our information packet below to learn more about admissions requirements, cost, course progression, credit transfers, accreditation, technology requirements, and more.

MURP Online Info Packet
MURP Online Course Offerings


The MURP online program offers a wide array of courses, covering topics such as urban economics, sustainable development, history and theory, historic preservation, international best practices, transportation, urban design, and much more. Click the link below to download a copy of our program of study, which outlines online course offerings.

MURP Online Program of Study
Non-Degree Seeking Options

We offer most of our online courses as standalone class enrollments. The non-degree seeking option is great for professionals looking to hone a specific skills set or students at other institutions looking to transfer credit to their home programs. For more information on standalone, non-degree seeking courses, download our information booklet below.

Non-Degree Seeking Information

Program Administrators

Christina Gavagan(contact for inquiries)

Christina Gavagan
(contact for inquiries)

MURP Online Academic Program Specialist

c.gavagan@ufl.edu
(352) 294-1485

Kyle Dost, AICP

Kyle Dost, AICP

MURP Online Program Director

kyledost@ufl.edu
(352) 294-1486

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Yes. The MURP online program earned the first-ever Certificate of Accreditation issued to an online planning program by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) in 2019.

Students are expected to complete the program in 2-3 years, and no longer than 4 years. This can be accomplished at a pace of 2 courses/6 credits per semester.

No. The MURP online program can be completed 100% virtually. No campus visits or travel is required (although we love when students can visit campus, attend department events, and participate in commencement!).

The MURP online program does not offer specific concentrations. Instead, we encourage our students to package their coursework in ways that allow them to specialize in their own areas of interest. This can be done through the elective courses, internship/professional development work, independent study with a faculty member, and in choosing the capstone Master’s Research Project topic.

No. The MURP online courses are completely asynchronous, meaning there are no regular class meeting dates or times. However, classes are not completely self-paced; many courses flow module-to-module, with each module containing readings, lectures, assignments, and activities. Some courses, like our Studio, also require pre-coordinated group meetings and presentations.

No, online and campus-based MURP students must finish the program based on the delivery mode that they initially enroll in. 

The program offers flexible course schedules in standard terms (16 weeks Fall/Spring, 13 weeks/Summer). Students can take as many or as few courses as they like and can take breaks as needed.

The courses in the MURP online program are of the same calibre as other graduate-level courses at the university. Students can expect to spend 3 hours/week/credit hour on coursework each week. This means that a 3-credit course may require up to 9 hours/week for coursework. The MURP online academic advisor can better guide students on course pairings and selections based on the student’s interests and availability each semester.

The MURP program does include professional development requirements (formerly ‘internship’ requirements) that require students spend a semester engaging in professional planning activities. The expected time commitment is at least 8 hours/week across an entire semester, or roughly 120 contact hours. Students typically complete the professional engagements in the form of internships, new projects for currently-employed planners, or new positions obtained by students while in the program. Students with extensive professional experience (3 or more years of full-time professional planning experience) do not need to complete any additional non-academic work. All students must complete the corresponding coursework, URP 6941: Urban Planning Professional Development.

The cost is $865 per credit hour with a total of 52 credits required, making the total cost $44,980. This cost includes all tuition and fees, with no additional administrative or travel costs.

No, the tuition rate is a flat rate for all students regardless of location.

Yes, students can transfer up to 9 credit hours from outside institutions and up to 15 credit hours from within UF. The courses must be graduate-level, earned within the last seven years, completed with a B grade or higher, and relevant to the MURP program. Credit transfers can only be assessed and initiated after a student begins their MURP program.

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers some tuition fellowships and assistantships. These are for the fall application cycle and have an associated priority deadline. Most of these awards are given to campus-based MURP applicants, however, MURP online applicants are eligible to apply for some. Students wishing to utilize the GI Bill for tuition reimbursement are able to do so for the MURP online program. More about all of those options on our department’s financial assistance page. MURP online students are eligible for federal loans and other funding options. Applicants can reach out to the UF Office of Student Financial Aid (SFA) to discuss funding opportunities including scholarships, grants, and loans.

The application deadlines are typically mid-June for a Fall (August) start, and mid-October for a Spring (January) start. Deadlines can be found here.

Required materials include transcripts (3.0+ GPA), resume/CV, personal statement, statement of intent, and three letters of recommendation (at least two academic, if graduated within the last three years). The GRE is not required.

No professional or academic planning experience is needed in order to apply for, or begin, the MURP online program.

Yes, applicants may apply before they complete their undergraduate programs, but must complete their bachelor’s degree before starting any graduate program. These applicants should submit the most recent transcripts available and will be required to submit a final, official transcript upon completion of their undergraduate program.

The MURP admissions requirements state that applicants must provide 2 letters of recommendation from academic references if they have been engaged in academic programs within the last 3 years. If applicants cannot meet that requirement they can include a memo requesting to waive the letter of recommendation requirement in their application materials. Acceptance or approval of this waiver request is not guaranteed.  The Admissions Committee is particularly interested in recruiting students who have fostered relationships in academia, as we expect this from our students.

Admission to the MURP online program is competitive. The URP Admissions Committee looks at applications holistically, but an applicant’s GPA and academic history are typically the best indicators of academic performance. A 3.0 undergraduate upper-division GPA is a requirement of all graduate programs at the university and is enforced by the UF Graduate School. 

The department has admitted applicants with low GPAs in the past as conditionally admitted students. These applicants must be petitioned to the Graduate School for admission. The petition must “justify admission on the basis of multiple counterbalances such as: better postbaccalaureate grades, strong letters of recommendation, or a substantial work history of related professional experience.” If you feel that your GPA and counterbalances are not competitive enough, one possible option is to take post-baccalaureate coursework (e.g. certificate or non-degree courses) in order to show improved academic performance. Conditionally admitted students are required to earn a B grade or higher in all first semester classes.

You are welcome to submit an application to our program and have your materials reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Applicants are encouraged to calculate and submit their upper-division GPA in their application (see worksheet linked here). 

Yes, there are different, earlier deadlines for international MURP applicants. See our Application Procedures page for posted application deadlines.

No, a visa or international documentation is not required for the online program. Similarly, students in the MURP online program are not eligible for student visas. 

International applicants can refer to the UF Grad International webpage for details about application materials.

No, MURP online student diplomas and transcripts are the same as the campus-based students. There is no notation of distance, online, or virtual learning in diplomas or transcripts.

Graduates can work in both the private and public sectors in areas such as zoning, urban design, transit-oriented development, land use, community engagement, public health, and sustainability. The program also offers a strong statewide, national, and international alumni network and access to job postings and word-of-mouth recruitments.

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