Master of Urban Design
Transform cities for a more sustainable and resilient future.
Established in 1962 by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Fumihiko Maki, the Master of Urban Design program at WashU introduces students to a range of urban conditions from local to global with an in-depth focus on sustainable urbanism.
Open to individuals who hold professional or pre-professional degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, or planning, the program structure allows you to pursue advanced design and research across multiple scales and urban typologies while developing a rigorous theoretical and professional foundation.
Chair, Urban Design | Professor | Director of Sustainable Design and Environmental Justice
STEM-Designated Professional and Post-Professional Program
MUD Program at a Glance
Program Tracks
- One-year MUD program
- Dual-degree with Master of Architecture
- Dual-degree with Master of Landscape Architecture
- Dual-degree with Master of Social Work
Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Full and partial tuition scholarships
- Fellowships
- Paid assistantships
- Loans
Core Studios and Seminars
- Elements of Urban Design
- Metropolitan Design Elements
- Global Urbanism Studio
Credits
42 credits
Master of Urban Design (MUD) Curriculum
WashU’s Master of Urban Design program is built for experiential immersion learning. Rooted in faculty research, it is centered on a core sequence of three studios and seminars through which students develop the skills to make design proposals for a diverse range of urban conditions within the contemporary metropolitan landscape.
Urban design is approached through a full range of scales: from the mega-region to the district, from the district to the street, and ultimately, to the design of the public realm as the place of lively and vibrant community life.
Master of Urban Design (MUD) Dual-Degree Options
Students may choose to broaden their systems-based thinking by pairing their Master of Urban Design with a master’s in architecture, landscape architecture, or social work.
M.Arch/MUD Dual Degree Option
- Master of Architecture + Master of Urban Design
- Prepares architects to be cognizant of the larger urban context of their practice
- Begins with M.Arch studios followed by MUD studios
- Culminates in the M.Arch Degree Project
MLA/MUD Dual-Degree Option
- Master of Landscape Architecture + Master of Urban Design
- 3 years for students in the MLA 2 program
- 3.5 years for students in the MLA 3 program
MSW/MUD Dual-Degree Option
- Master of Social Work + Master of Urban Design
- Offered in conjunction with the WashU Brown School
- 6 semesters
- Prepares students to work in community development and planning, housing rehabilitation, and residential design for at-risk populations.
MUD Travel Opportunities and Socially Engaged Practice
Travel Opportunities
The MUD program culminates in the Global Urbanism Studio, which provides students the opportunity to study and experience significant global cities like Bangkok, Mexico City, and Shanghai in comparative perspective. Plus, each spring break, MUD students in the Lively City workshop travel to major urban areas like Copenhagen, London, and Miami to gain perspectives and skills that put people and their needs at the heart of the creative process of re-imagining and transforming cities.
Career Paths for MUD Graduates
Our program fosters the leadership skills and equitable design thinking that prepare you for expansive, rewarding careers. Specialists from WashU’s Center for Career Engagement work with MUD students to provide resources and opportunities that will build their professional network and set them on a meaningful path.
“My time at WashU was instrumental in shaping how I think about cities and my role within them,” shared alum Hallie Nolan, MArch/MUD ’18.
Melisa Betts Sanders, MArch/MUD ’15, is the founding principal of BlackArc, a design collaborative dedicated to advancing racial, economic, and social equity through community-centered design.
“WashU trained me to think across scales and disciplines, which is exactly what my work requires today. In the Sam Fox School, architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, and planning constantly overlap, so you learn very quickly that no project exists in isolation. That mindset has been incredibly valuable in practice.”
Master of Urban Design Scholarships & Financial Aid
MUD Admissions Requirements
The Master of Urban Design program at WashU is open to students with a professional or pre-professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or planning. Applicants are not required to submit GRE scores for admission to our MUD program. Connect with a graduate recruitment specialist for any questions about applying.
Master of Urban Design Application
Application opens
September 1
Application fee starts
December 15
Application due
January 3
Materials required
- Curriculum vitae
- Transcripts
- Personal essays (2)
- Portfolio
- References
- English test scores (international students only)
- Application fee (free through December 14)
Preparing your MUD Portfolio
Students are asked to submit a digital portfolio showing 10-12 examples of design work or work in the visual arts. The work represented in the portfolio should be the best examples of your creative efforts. For more information about putting together your portfolio, visit the admissions page, attend an upcoming virtual event, or reach out to us.
As you put together your portfolio, get inspiration from the work of our Master of Urban Design students.
Graduate Recruitment Specialist, Architecture