Graduate School of Public and International Affairs,
University of Pittsburgh Master of Urban and Regional Planning
(MURP) Planning is a comprehensive process through
which public and private decision makers can arrive at policy decisions
affecting the growth and development of cities and regions. The planning process
encompasses public policy areas such as economic and community development;
housing; transportation; health, education, and welfare; growth management;
public safety; leisure, recreation, and cultural opportunities; aesthetics and
historic preservation. Planning, an integral function of departmental structures
of government at the national, state, and local levels, also occurs within
special authorities serving multijurisdictional organizations and private
consultancies that provide planning expertise to a variety of interest groups
concerned with the making of public policy. GSPIA’ s urban arid regional
planning program prepares planners who analyze problems of people in urban and
regional environments and guide the implementation of planned change to improve
the quality and conditions of life. The skills and knowledge that students in
this program master have their foundations in social, natural, and applied
sciences. Primary focus is placed on the comprehensiveness of the planning
function not only in terms of issue identification, policy formulation, plan
preparation, and program implementation, but also in the context of
environmental, social, economic, and political circumstances that impinge on the
professional abilities of planners to identify and serve public interests. GSPIA
’ s planning program educates students as generalists and as specialists. This
means that students are exposed to a broad array of urban/regional problems and
issues, skills and knowledge, methods and techniques, theory, and practice.
See also: MURP, Course Requirements, General Regulations,
Tuition and Fees, Admission Information and Requirements
A.be a staunch supporter of Greenpeace movement B.provide expertise in decision-making concerning growth C.work in non-profit welfare organizations D.help to plan and design the layout of a city