MSUA Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Urban Analytics (MSUA) requires the completion of 30 credits. The curriculum includes required core courses – including a 6-credit Master Research Project – and electives in urban and regional planning and machine learning.
Program Requirements at a Glance
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| Requirement | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | 18 | Urban data structures, urban and regional planning, introductory and intermediate urban analytics, and a 6-credit Master Research Project. |
| Elective Group 1: Urban and Regional Planning | 6 or 9 | Courses in planning information systems, geospatial modeling, spatial analysis, and transportation and land use modeling. A proposed AI and Cities course is also listed. |
| Elective Group 2: Machine Learning (ML) | 6 or 9 | Courses in machine learning, pattern recognition, intelligent systems, and related applications. |
| Total Required Credits | 30 | The required elective allocation depends on the student’s academic background; see the group-specific rules below. |
The five listed required core courses total 18 credits before any applicable course waivers.
Required Core Courses
18 credits.
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| Course | Title | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| URP 6295 | Urban Data Structures Basics¹ | 3 | Fall |
| URP 6007 | Survey in Urban and Regional Planning² | 3 | Fall |
| URP 6223 | Introduction to Urban Analytics³ | 3 | Fall |
| URP 6224 | Intermediate Urban Analytics | 3 | Spring |
| URP 6979 | Master Research Project⁴ | 6 | Fall and Spring⁴ |
1. URP 6295: Waived for students with a computer science or similar background.
2. URP 6007: Waived for students with a planning or similar background.
3. URP 6223: May be replaced by URP 6931 – Artificial Intelligence in the Built Environment with permission from the program coordinator.
4. URP 6979: Ideally completed as 3 credits in a fall semester and 3 credits in a spring semester.
Elective Course Groups
Group 1: Urban and Regional Planning – 6 or 9 credits
9 credits are required for students without an urban planning background; 6 credits are required for students with an urban planning or similar background.
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| Course | Title | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| URP 6270 | Introduction to Planning Information Systems | 3 | Fall |
| URP 6271 | Automation for Geospatial Modeling and Analysis | 3 | To be determined |
| URP 6272 | Urban Spatial Analysis | 3 | Spring |
| URP 6821 | Transportation and Land Use Modeling | 3 | Spring |
| URP 6726 | AI and Cities: How Machines See, Read, and Shape Urban Futures | 3 | Fall |
Group 2: Machine Learning (ML) – 6 or 9 credits
9 credits are required for students without a computer science background; 6 credits are required for students with a computer science background.
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| Course | Title | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEL 5840 | Fundamentals of Machine Learning | 3 | Fall and Spring |
| EEL 6825 | Pattern Recognition and Intelligent Systems | 3 | Fall |
| ARC 6922 | Machine Learning for Architects | 3 | Fall |
| CAP 6610 | Machine Learning | 3 | Spring |
| ABE 6933 | Applied Statistical Machine Learning | 3 | Fall |
Additional Course Policies
Students may count up to two 3000- or 4000-level courses (6 credits maximum) from departments other than URP toward graduate credit. The source recommends the following for students without a computer science background:
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| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COP 3502C | Programming Fundamentals 1 | 4 |
| EEL 3850 | Data Science for ECE | 4 |
COP 3502C and EEL 3850 are 4 credits each. Consult the program coordinator about how either course fits within the 6-credit maximum described above.
Alternative elective courses require approval from the program coordinator.
Model Semester Plan
The following plans reproduce the course sequence shown in the source. “Group 1” refers to urban and regional planning electives; “Group 2” refers to machine learning electives.
Students Beginning in Fall
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| Semester | Courses | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First semester: Fall | URP 6295 or URP 6007 – leveling course (3 credits) URP 6223 (3 credits) Elective Group 1 (3 credits) Elective Group 2 (3 credits) | 12 |
| Second semester: Spring | URP 6224 (3 credits) URP 6979 (3 credits) Elective Group 1 (3 credits) Elective Group 2 (3 credits) | 12 |
| Third semester: Fall | URP 6979 (3 credits) Elective Group 1 or 2 (3 credits) | 6 |
| Total | 30 |
Students Beginning in Spring
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| Semester | Courses | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First semester: Spring | Elective Group 1 (6 credits) Elective Group 2 (6 credits) | 12 |
| Second semester: Fall | URP 6295 or URP 6007 – leveling course (3 credits) URP 6223 (3 credits) Elective Group 1 or 2 (3 credits) URP 6979 (3 credits) | 12 |
| Third semester: Spring | URP 6224 (3 credits) URP 6979 (3 credits) | 6 |
| Total | 30 |