Sustainable Design, BS and Urban Planning, MUP

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning

The BSSD– MUP 4+1 program allows students completing the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design (BSSD) degree to complete the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) on an accelerated timeline. The 4+1 program is highly selective— the majority of successful applicants to the program have a 3.6 GPA or higher and demonstrate extraordinary evidence of preparedness for the MUP program. BSSD students must plan early to complete prerequisites. Junior BSSD students may apply to participate in the program.

For additional details and requirements refer to the department's website and the Graduate College Handbook.

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning

For additional details and requirements refer to the Sustainable Design Department website and the Graduate College Handbook.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 152 hours.

  • Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design: 120 hours.
  • Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning: 32 hours.

University Requirements

Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
fulfilled by UP 312
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
fulfilled by UP 210 or ECON 102 or ACE 100 and any other course approved as Social & Behavioral Science
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
fulfilled by UP 116 or STAT 100; and UP 316
Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required)0-15

Sustainable Design Requirements

Foundation18
Students should plan to complete all requirements prior to senior year, except for FAA 430 and FAA 431 which will be taken during senior year.
FAA 101Arts at Illinois1
FAA 230Sustainable Design of the Built Environment3
FAA 231Tools for Sustainable Design Studio3
LA 101Introduction to Landscape Arch2
ARCH 171Introduction to Design I3
ARCH 172Introduction to Design II3
ARTH 211Design History Survey3
Urban Scale Sustainability (select one course)3
UP 136Urban Sustainability3
UP 205Ecology & Environmental Sustainability3
ARCH 237Urban Scale Sustainability3
Drawing (select one course)3
ARTD 225Design Drawing3
ARTF 102Observational Drawing3
LA 280Design Communications I (limited seats solely for BSSD/MLA 4+2 students)3
Core17
FAA 330Making Sustainable Design5
ARTD 326Sustainability & Manufacturing3
ARCH 321Environment, Architecture, and Global Health3
ARTD 451Ethics of a Designer in a Global Economy4
FAA 310FAA Professional Development2
Senior Capstone8
FAA 430Sustainable Design Capstone Seminar3
FAA 431Sustainable Design Capstone Studio5
Total Hours49
Major Electives
All 16 hours of major electives are met with the full completion of the requirements below.
UP Coursework taken prior to Senior Year
Students who follow this program will be eligible for a minor in Urban Studies and Planning regardless of their admission to the 4+1 program
UP 101Introduction to City Planning3
UP 116Urban Informatics I3
or STAT 100 Statistics
UP 210Environmental Economics & Policy3
or ECON 102 Microeconomic Principles
or ACE 100 Introduction to Applied Microeconomics
UP 203Cities: Planning & Urban Life3
or UP 204 Chicago: Planning & Urban Life
UP 312Communication for Planners4
UP 316Urban Informatics II3
Pick one:3-4
UP 406
Urban Ecology
UP 418
Intermediate GIS and Spatial Analysis
UP 420
Plng for Historic Preservation
UP 430
Urban Transportation Planning
UP 437
Public Transportation Planning
UP 434
Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning
UP 456
Sustainable Planning Workshop
UP 479
Community Engagement in Planning
UP 486
Planning with Climate Change
UP 494
Special Topics in Planning
One additional course at the 400 level in the Department of Urban & Regional Planning, UP (may also pick an additional course from pick one list above)3
Total25
Senior Year Courses
A BSSD student admitted to the 4+1 program is expected to enroll in the first year MUP core courses in their senior year, although they are not yet admitted to the MUP program. Typically, a 4+1 student will take FAA 430 & FAA 431 (3 & 5 hours), as required by the BSSD program, plus at least four of the five first-year MUP core courses:
Select at least four courses from:16-20
UP 501
Planning History and Theory
UP 503
Physical Planning
UP 504
Urban History and Theory
UP 505
Urban and Regional Analysis
UP 511
Law and Planning
Free Electives
Select any remaining credit hours with approval of advisor to complete degree requirements.

Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning degree requirements

Complete any of the 500-level courses not completed in year four (UP 501, 503, 504, 505, 511)0-4
UP 510Plan Making4
UP 591Capstone Seminar (enrollment required for two terms- 0 hours each for Thesis students or 4 in fall, 0 in spring for Non-Thesis students)0 or 4
UP 598Master's Project (UP 598 for 4 total hours or UP 599 for 8 total hours)4 or 8
or UP 599 Thesis Research
Once admitted to the MUP program, a 4+1 student must take 32 hours of graduate courses, 20 of which must be UP courses. These courses include the capstone requirement and master's project or thesis. Up to two MUP core courses may be included among the 32 hours. The 32 hours of graduate courses is a minimum requirement for the MUP degree; it cannot be reduced by UP 590 internship or course waivers.32
Minimum GPA:3.0

Summary of Credits for the Joint Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design/ Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning Program

Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design120
General Education
Major Requirements49
Major Electives0
Additional UP Course Requirements25
Senior Year Graduate Courses20
Free Electives
A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required.
Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning32
A minimum of 16 credits at the 500 course level are required, 12 must be in UP.

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. This may require up to three semesters of language depending on high school coursework or placement. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
FAA 1011
UP 1013
LA 1012
ARCH 1713
Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
General Education course3
 16
Total Hours 16
First Year
Second SemesterHours
UP 136, ARCH 237, or UP 2053
UP 1163
UP 2033
ARCH 1723
Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
First SemesterHours
FAA 2303
Drawing course3
ECON 1023
General Education course (select one which counts as Humanities & Cultural Studies)3
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
FAA 3305
UP 3163
General Education course3
FAA 2313
General Education course3
 17
Total Hours 17
Third Year
First SemesterHours
UP 3124
ARTD 4514
ARCH 3213
UP 4XX3
 14
Total Hours 14
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
ARTD 3263
UP 4XX3
General Education course3
ARTH 2113
 12
Total Hours 12
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
FAA 4303
UP 5014
UP 5034
UP 5044
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
FAA 4315
UP 5054
UP 5114
FAA 3102
 15
Total Hours 15
Fifth Year
First SemesterHours
UP 5104
UP 598 or 5990 or 4
Other Graduate coursework8
UP 5910 or 4
 16
Total Hours 16
Fifth Year
Second SemesterHours
UP 5910
UP 599 or 5984
Other Graduate coursework12
 16
Total Hours 16

Total Hours: 152

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning

Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design:

Upon successful completion of a degree in Sustainable Design, students will: 

  1. Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of sustainability and their functional links to the built environment.
  2. Have a deep level of understanding of the fundamentals of design thinking and practice.
  3. Be proficient in applying basic principles of visual and material communication, including sketching, drafting, model-making, 2D and 3D design software and geographic information systems.
  4. Be able to combine design theory and practice with sustainability principles to address environmental issues at the product, building, neighborhood, city, landscape and global levels.
  5. Be comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams to solve complex design problems.

Master of Urban Planning:

  1. Identify and understand the planners’ role in:
    1. advocating for racial and economic equity;
    2. planning for the needs of disadvantaged groups;
    3. expanding choice and opportunity;
    4. reducing inequities through critical evaluation of systems and institutions;
    5. planning for sustainable communities;
    6. reducing impacts of climate change; and
    7. creating equitable and climate‐adapted futures.
  2. Demonstrate planning proficiency in a global context in the areas of: 
    1. history, theory, law and institutions;
    2. the evolution of the practice of planning; and
    3. urban and regional development.
  3. Build and put into practice a set of skills that are central to the planning profession, including skills specific to:
    1. communication, community engagement, and the planning process;
    2. research and critical thinking;
    3. mapping and data visualization; and
    4. data collection and analysis, and data analytics.
  4. Illustrate professional leadership values including collaborative skills and ethical behavior in research, client representation and decision-making.

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of Urban Planning in Urban Planning

Sustainable Design

104 Architecture Building
608 East Lorado Taft Drive

Program Director: Professor Karin Hodgin Jones
Program Coordinator: Ashley Smart

Sustainable Design Accelerated Graduate Program website
sustaindesign@illinois.edu

Department of Urban & Regional Planning

Urban & Regional Planning faculty

College of Fine & Applied Arts website