Urban Design MUD

Overview

The Master of Urban Design (MUD) is an accelerated, full-time, one-calendar-year graduate program for students who hold a professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or city and regional planning. The program spans three consecutive semesters, beginning with the June Summer Session and concluding at the end of May. Its condensed format enables students to complete an advanced degree within a single year; however, the intensive studio-based curriculum and rigorous academic workload require sustained full-time engagement, making it impracticable to maintain significant employment or other professional commitments during enrollment.
The MUD program provides advanced interdisciplinary training in urban design through a curriculum taught by faculty from architecture, landscape architecture, and planning within the College of Environmental Design. Students work collaboratively and independently across multiple scales to examine the relationships among buildings, landscapes, and planning in environments shaped by cultural, social, economic, political, and environmental forces. Through this immersive learning experience, students develop advanced design, analytical, and collaborative skills while addressing the complex challenges of contemporary urbanism.
As the only stand-alone urban design program in California, the MUD curriculum begins by exploring emerging urban issues across California and the American West at the urban, suburban, and territorial scales. California’s position as a global leader in innovation, sustainability, and cultural diversity provides an exceptional setting for investigating future spatial challenges. The program culminates in an independent advanced design project, allowing students to pursue a topic of their choice at sites around the world.
The MUD program is STEM-designated, making eligible graduates qualified to apply for up to three years of Optional Practical Training (OPT), subject to U.S. immigration regulations.