The Master of Science in Urban Design (MSUD) degree is oriented to those who wish to expand upon their previous professional education and professional experience, as architects, landscape architects, city planners, or civil engineers, and to enter urban design practices either in private firms or public agencies, or to pursue a Ph.D. The MSUD Program is housed in the School of Architecture and collaborates with the Georgia Tech School of City and Regional Planning. The curriculum is focused on urban design studios, often in direct collaboration with local communities, addressing contemporary challenges including climate change, equity, and retrofitting obsolescent infrastructure. Practicum Internships with leading urban design firms across the US over spring break help students build professional networks. Fall and spring required courses in urban design, history and theory, real estate, and urban ecology provide a rich interdisciplinary experience augmented with elective opportunities in architecture, planning, engineering, computation, public policy, heritage preservation, and other areas. Most students complete the program over the summer in our MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND MODERN CITY 4-city European study tour doing coursework and independent study.
Qualifications Needed to Apply
Applicants to the MSUD Program are limited to those with prior accredited professional degrees in
- Architecture (M.ARCH or B.ARCH),
- Landscape Architecture (BLA or MLA),
- City and Regional Planning (MCRP or equivalent), or
- Civil Engineering (BCE or equivalent).
Applicants must demonstrate their ability for graduate study in urban design by submitting the following in their application package:
- A design portfolio, including academic and professional work, demonstrating experience and ability to engage professional level urban design problems. The portfolio must be submitted in digital form.
- Tests of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, with a minimum scores of 600 (paper), 250 (computer) or 100 (Internet) are required for students whose first language is not English.
The MSUD Program recommends students start the 3-semester sequence in the fall semester. Students have the option of extending the program with additional coursework or an independent year-long thesis.

