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Planetizen ranks Levin College's MUPDD program the 8th best urban planning program out of 100 North American planning programs by tuition and financial aid, and 8th best in student body diversity. It is also ranked among the best urban planning programs by specialty areas in both Community Development and Economic Development.
Jason Russell
Jason Russell, an Ohio native, received a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Design, and Development at Cleveland State University with a concentration in Neighborhood Development. Through his studies he has become an advocate for social equity and affordable housing. During his time at CSU, Jason served as president of the student chapter of the American Planning Association. Under his leadership, the group has increased membership from about 10 members to 30, while implementing new programs for greater community involvement, including an urban garden project at Jane Addams High School. In 2009, Jason was awarded the American Institute of Certified Planners Outstanding Student Award. Jason completed his undergraduate studies at Lehigh University as a football student-athlete. Jason is committed to Northeast Ohio and revitalization of its older communities.
Christine Dersi
Christine Dersi received her Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Design, and Development at Cleveland State University with a concentration in Neighborhood Development with a strong interest in regionalism. During her graduate studies, Christine worked as a graduate assistant for the Center for Neighborhood Development at CSU, interned for ParkWorks, a local nonprofit, and served as membership chair of the student chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). She also served a national position with APA as the Region IV Student Representative Council Executive Member and was recently elected Treasurer/Secretary for the New Urbanism Division of APA. Christine was recently awarded the Wallace G. Teare Prize, an award presented to a graduating student by the Levin College. Christine completed her undergraduate work at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania as an Environmental Studies major and attended high school at Saint Joseph Academy on the west side of Cleveland.
The Master of Urban Planning, Design & Development (MUPDD) program prepares men and women for planning practice in a wide variety of organizational settings and professional pursuits. The curriculum combines an appreciation of planning as a profession, substantive studies regarding urban challenges and opportunities, and a set of analytical skills useful to planning practice. Together these prepare future planners with the theory, skills, and practical experience needed to fairly and efficiently facilitate the transformation and revitalization of cities and their regions, building better places to live, work and play.
The MUPDD program is fully accredited as a planning program by the Planning Accreditation Board. We have graduated over 180 students since the program's inception in 1990. Our MUPDD graduates are employed today by cities, townships, community development corporations, social service organizations and planning firms across Ohio and the United States.
Students who will find value in the MUPDD program are as follows:

Required Planning Core Courses: (32 credit hours)
The planning core courses are required, and are designed to provide students with a solid analytical, methodological and theoretical basis for work in the planning specializations or elective courses.
The planning core includes three largely quantitative courses (Applied Quantitative Reasoning I, Public Finance and Economics, and Urban Spatial Structures), and four topical courses on key planning areas: Urban Planning, Urban Design, Planning Law and Development Process/Market Analysis. Students should strive to take PDD 601 and 603 in their first or second semester. These classes should be completed prior to taking PDD 605 and 610. After completing the balance of their coursework in electives and/or a specialization, students generally take the planning studio in their final
semester. This integrative course synthesizes the tools and skills around a collective project in a studio environment.
The planning core is as follows:
| Core Courses | Typical Schedule Offered |
|---|---|
PDD 601: Applied Quantitative Reasoning I |
Fall, Spring, Summer |
PDD 603: Public Finance and Economics |
Fall, Spring, Summer |
PDD 605: Urban Spatial Structures |
Spring, sometimes Summer |
PDD 607: Introduction to Urban Planning |
Fall, Spring |
PDD 608: Urban Design Seminar |
Fall only |
PDD 609: Planning Law |
Spring only |
PDD 610: The Development Process/Market Analysis |
Fall only |
PDD 611: Studio |
Fall, Spring |
Areas of Specialization:
The Master of Urban Planning, Design and Development Program offers six specializations in subfields of planning. Students generally complete a minimum of 12 credit hours (typically 3-4 additional courses) in one of these optional specializations:
Graduate certificate programs in the economic development, real estate development and finance, and GIS specializations are also offered through CSU and the College of Urban Affairs. Non-degree-seeking graduate students (typically practitioners) may enroll in these classes. Students should meet with the Graduate Advisor of the MUPDD Program Director to plan their schedules.
Elective Credit:
Students who do not wish to specialize in a single area may fill out their program of study from a number of graduate classes. Four classes beyond the planning core are required. These may be in planning, public administration, or outside the College of Urban Affairs. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the Program Director. An exit project or master’s thesis may be taken for credit, but is not required. Prior to completing an exit project, the student seeks out a Master of Urban Planning, Design & Development faculty member to work with. A thesis requires a committee of three members of graduate faculty, including a Master of Urban Planning, Design & Development faculty member as chair.
Internships
An internship is not required; however, students without related work experience are encouraged to seek an internship placement. Paid and unpaid internships are arranged through the Office of Student Services. Interested students may receive elective credit for internship work.
Graduate level training in urban planning offers students the opportunity to pursue careers in city or regional planning, housing and neighborhood development, real estate finance and development, economic development, environmental planning, and geographic information systems (GIS). Courses are designed to train new planners in the latest techniques and theories and to upgrade the skills of existing planners.
Planning program graduates are employed in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Many graduates pursue careers in:
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