Prepare for the Future of City Planning

The Master of City Planning (MCP) at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) will prepare you for a wide variety of professional roles in urban planning and management.

The city planner, now more than ever, has the opportunity to address some unique challenges. Apart from the technical, socio-political, and economic considerations that go into making an equitable, resilient and sustainable city, public health considerations related to climate change—from drought to flooding—and recurring global pandemics such as COVID-19 have further widespread implications. Planning for what comes next requires expertise in complex issues and policy areas that include environmental sustainability, climate mitigation and adaptation, housing and community development, transportation planning, and applied urban informatics.

Program at a Glance

  • On Campus
  • Part-Time or Full-Time Study
  • 48 Credits
  • 12—36 Months to Completion
  • 2 Core Faculty
  • No GRE/GMAT
  • Tuition & Fees Range—Part-Time Study*: $33,560-$45,460

*Based on 2024–2025 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.

Advance Your Career and Make a Difference

Through a curriculum that embraces sustainability, creativity, pragmatism, and diversity of thought, BU MET’s City Planning program trains critical, open-minded thinkers, and inventive problem solvers who can apply their knowledge to the most pressing social, economic, and political issues facing the world. With access to a network of area and regional employers, policymakers, and analysts, graduates of the MCP are uniquely positioned to make a positive impact in the field, and have worked as town and city planners, city managers, community development directors, transportation specialists, research analysts, and policy experts in federal, state, and local governments; nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations; corporations; and research institutions.

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Why Earn a Master’s in City Planning at BU?

  • Active Learning Environment: BU’s City Planning courses focus on practical, hands-on education and include a public capstone project, ensuring that you are immersed in all aspects of city planning—education you can apply on the job.
  • Career Counseling: MET’s Career Development office and BU’s Center for Career Development offer a variety of job-hunting resources, including one-on-one career counseling by appointment for both online and on-campus students.
  • Engaged Faculty: In BU’s City Planning master’s program, you benefit from working closely with highly qualified faculty who draw from active research and extensive field experience in areas including sustainable development, climate change, transportation, land reclamation, city finance, data analytics, infrastructure planning, regional economics, and urban design.
  • Extensive Network: Study complex issues alongside peers with solid urban planning and policymaking experience, learn from faculty who have valuable contacts in the field, and benefit from an alumni community with strong professional connections.

Learn to Solve Challenges in Planning, Urban Management, and Public Policy

The Master of City Planning (MCP) is offered through BU MET’s Department of Applied Social Sciences, which oversees several graduate programs focusing on the challenges of the urban environment, including the Master of Urban Affairs (MUA), the Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability, the Graduate Certificate in Applied Urban Informatics, and the Graduate Certificate in Urban Policy & Planning.

BU’s City Planning & Urban Affairs programs prepare future leaders, practitioners, and innovators for the myriad challenges that arise in urban planning and policymaking. Students consider the political, social, and technical implications of each facet of planning and policymaking, and thus grapple with the fact that there are few, if any, simple solutions or approaches to urban issues.

The Master of City Planning and Master of Urban Affairs programs share a required, five-course core cur­riculum, and each provide a rigorous foundation for both new and experienced student-scholars and professionals.

Graduates can pursue a wide range of professional careers in town, city, and regional planning; sustainable management; community and economic development; transportation planning; public-sector/nonprofit management; and policy research, among others.

Graduate with Expertise

Boston University’s City Planning master’s degree will equip you to:

  • Understand and apply knowledge of the history and theory of urban and regional development, the structure and functions of urban systems, local and national policymaking processes, and the role of planning to create sustainable outcomes.
  • Explain and assess the economic, environmental, political, social, and equity issues inherent in policy work and planning practice.
  • Apply quantitative and qualitative research skills to theory-building, data-gathering and analysis, and planning and policy-making processes.
  • Create relevant policy and planning solutions that incorporate the diverse perspectives of various stakeholders, including those of minority and disadvantaged communities.
  • Mediate and communicate effectively in public (community) and policy settings.

Certificate-to-Degree Pathway

BU MET graduate certificate programs can serve as building blocks to a master’s degree. The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability and the Graduate Certificate in Urban Policy & Planning each share specific courses with the Master of City Planning program, giving you the option to take one or two certificates on your path to a master’s degree. Students currently enrolled in a graduate certificate who are interested in transitioning into a master’s degree should contact their academic advisor to declare their interest in this pathway. A new master’s degree application is not required. Connect with a graduate admissions advisor at apssadmissions@bu.edu to learn more about this option.

In addition to the below courses, students are also required to maintain an e-portfolio of the work they produce throughout the program. For more information, please visit this page.

The Master of City Planning (MCP) requires the completion of 48 credits. Students are encouraged to participate in the Directed Internship Program for course credit through MET UA 804 Supervised Fieldwork or the World Cities Fellows Program for course credit through MET UA 701.

Core Requirements

(Five courses/20 credits)

Plus one from the following pair:

And one more from the following pair:

Electives

(Seven courses/28 credits)
Electives should constitute a coherent concentration within the general curriculum. Additional courses may be approved in consultation with the department.

Sample of City Planning Elective Courses

Course Waivers for Related Programs

Master of City Planning students may pursue a certificate program in Commercial Real Estate or Real Estate Finance at Boston University’s Center for Professional Education (CPE). MCP students who earn a CPE certificate in Commercial Real Estate or Real Estate Finance will be granted a waiver of two graduate-level elective courses (8 credits) toward their degree.

City Planning & Urban Affairs Faculty

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Competitive Tuition

Our part-time rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education.

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Comprehensive Financial Assistance

Our services include scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans.

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BU MET Programs offer the flexibility of part-time or full-time study. Tuition, fees, and total program cost are determined by enrollment status. If you enroll in 1–2 courses (4–8 credits) in a semester, you are charged the part-time per-credit rate. If you enroll in 3–4 courses (12–16 credits) in a semester, you are charged the full-time semester rate.

Master of City Planning (On Campus)

Enrollment Status Part Time Full Time
Courses per Semester 2 courses
(8 credits)
4 courses
(16 credits)
3 courses
(12 credits)
Time to Degree 6 semesters
(24 months)
3 semesters
(12-16 months)***
4 semesters
(16-20 months)***
Tuition* $550-$975
per credit**
$33,335
per semester
$33,335
per semester
Fees per Semester* $60 $478 $478
Total Degree Cost* $33,560–
$45,460
$101,439 $135,252

*Based on 2024–2025 Boston University tuition & fee rates.
**Cost per credit is determined by course number (100–599 = $550/credit, 600–999 = $975/credit).
***Summer semester enrollment is not required for international students to maintain F-1 visa status. Enrollment in summer semester coursework will expedite completion of program and reduce total program cost.

International students seeking an F-1 visa for on-campus study must enroll full time and demonstrate availability of funds to cover the Estimated Cost of Graduate Study; those who wish to study online may enroll part-time but are not eligible for a visa. Learn more about International Student Tuition & Fees.

Questions? Please contact us to hear from an Admissions Advisor who can help you determine the best enrollment pathway. For information regarding financial aid, visit BU MET’s Financial Aid page.

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Please visit the BU MET admissions page for details on how to apply, financial assistance, tuition and fees, requirements for international students, and more.

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News & Events

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December 18th, 2024 at: All Day

Financing your BU MET Graduate Education (for DOMESTIC students)

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December 18th, 2024 at: 10:00am - 10:30am

Financing your BU MET Graduate Education (for INTERNATIONAL students)

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