Master of Urban Design 2027

Taubman College's Master of Urban Design (MUD) empowers the next generation of urban leaders to confront today’s most urgent urban challenges through research and speculative design. The MUD is a three-semester degree in the interdisciplinary and collaborative study of urbanism. The MUD brings together pre- and post-professional students with degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, urban technology, and urban & regional planning with expertise in research and creative practice. Leveraging its location in the Great Lakes Region, the program is structured around a sequence of thematic semesters, exploring the future of cities and territories through the lenses of Justice, Technology, and Climate, and positioning urban design as the central discipline of urban transformation.

Cultivate collaboration
In our studio-based program, students advance critical questions about contemporary urban conditions through work in cross-disciplinary teams. Students and faculty from different areas of the world inform a multi-faceted dialogue about today’s urban and territorial issues. Our courses invite a range of voices to the classroom, engaging communities, governmental organizations, and professionals.

Engage the region and the world
Situated in the Great Lakes Region, our curriculum engages with climate refuge geographies, considering strategies for resilience in the access to water, energy, and resources. Our proximity to the urban context of Detroit foregrounds questions of justice and equality. Travel components in our courses expose students to a wide range of urban issues, practices, and schools of thought in the twenty-first century that inform critical design experimentation in the studio.

Build a toolkit for urban work
Our curriculum combines core seminars on urban representation, economics and development with courses on the history of urbanism, and the theories and research methods of urban design. In our design studios, students learn to use XR, animation, and other contemporary visualization tools to communicate ideas to a wide range of audiences. With access to specialized resources and areas of expertise on campus, you’ll gain exposure to myriad contemporary global practices and schools of urban thought while engaging in critical design experimentation that advances the future of urban sustainability.

Focus on research or practice
Our studio-based program prepares students to become leaders in multi-disciplinary design practices. Our graduates also go on to careers in academia or start their own companies. Our curriculum supports different career paths through a choice between independent research or a guided studio project in your final semester. Elective courses within and outside of Taubman College allow students to advance their specific interests.

Connect with our community
You will be well-supported by a large and inclusive community of students, faculty, and staff who are knowledgeable, curious, collegial, and just as excited about architecture as you are. They bring a variety of experiences and points of view. They will be your sounding board, your support network, and your friends. Upon graduation, you will join a global network of alumni in impactful roles across the industry, city agencies, and community organizations.

Degrees eligible to apply for admission
Bachelor of Science in Architecture / Bachelor of Science in Urban Technology / Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies / Bachelor of Architecture / Bachelor of Landscape Architecture / Bachelor of Urban Planning / Master of Architecture / Master of Landscape Architecture / Master of Urban Planning

Academic calendar (16-month program; 3-terms)
Fall term: August 30, 2027 to December 10, 2027 
Winter term: January 12, 2028 to May 7, 2028 
Fall term: August 28, 2028 to December 15, 2028