University of Southern California

The Executive Master of Urban Planning online program is designed for seasoned professionals who are passionate about improving their communities and are ready to take leadership positions that will make our cities more vibrant, sustainable, and just. USC Price’s accelerated Executive Master of Urban Planning online program merges urban planning and real estate development, building on decades of USC Price leadership and expertise in both fields.

If you’re an experienced, mid-career professional in urban planning or real estate development who believes cities are our greatest challenge and opportunity, the Executive Master of Urban Planning online program from USC Price is designed for you.

Not currently in the planning field? That isn’t a barrier. The program is tailored so that any professional from outside the planning field can emerge with expertise that matches their peers in this space. Students will be equipped with hands-on skills that can be used on the job, including the ability to:

• navigate between public and private sector planning goals
• innovate at the nexus of local public finance, private sector development and urban policy
• analyze the economics of urban planning and development projects
• leverage commercial and demographic data to improve decision-making
• lead teams in the industry effectively

Executive Master of Urban Planning online At A Glance

The Executive Master of Urban Planning online program from USC Price is designed for working professionals and can be completed in as few as 16 months. It is a good fit for professional planners and those in adjacent professions  who would like to build the expertise to advance and become leaders in the public, non-profit, or private sectors.

• Ranked #2 in the nation for Urban Policy (U.S. News & World Report, 2023)
• 24 units of course work
• Complete in 16 months
• Live online classes
• 2 in-person intensives
• Join the Price alumni network
• GRE/GMAT not required

Graduates from our Executive Master of Urban Planning Online program emerge with advanced knowledge in four main areas:

• Project and land economics
• Political, legal and regulatory process and stakeholder outreach
• Data analysis, visualization and communication
• Urban design and the built environment

Discover USC’s Executive Master of Urban Planning online.

In-Person Intensives

Two four-day in-person intensives are held at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

During these sessions, which are conducted on the USC University Park Campus in Los Angeles, you will immerse yourself in real urban planning projects, both in Los Angeles and in students’ home cities, and work with your peers and professors to analyze, propose and evaluate projects in a real-world context. A focus on both collaboration and community are key as students learn more about one another and the places they are from.

Public Sector and Government Careers

Throughout the program, you will cultivate a deeper understanding of urban development policy, the economics of real estate and urban development and the political motivators behind community and advocacy organizations. You will also develop effective tactics for engaging with community residents and stakeholders.

These skills can apply to positions in sustainable urban development; city, town and regional planning and management; urban policy; and affordable housing. Public sector professionals who can benefit from this degree include:

• City managers
• Council members
• Public affairs managers
• Affordable housing professionals
• Public policy workers
• Nonprofit program managers
• Economic development professionals

Career Outcomes

The USC Price Executive Master of Urban Planning Online program is set apart from other master’s programs in urban planning because it is focused on the intersection of urban planning and real estate development.

Understanding what drives real estate and urban development decisions in your city — and being able to work fluidly between the public and private sectors — is a crucial knowledge base that can be applied to a variety of urban planning career paths.

Private Sector Careers

Throughout the program, you will study basic concepts of urban and land economics and, you will build a background in the economic and financial aspects of real estate development.

These skills can apply to positions in law, consulting, real estate development and investing, engineering, civil planning and architecture. Private sector professionals who can benefit from this degree include:

• Real estate developers, financiers and investors
• Civil engineers
• Architects
• Land use attorneys
• Smart city technologists
• Transportation managers
• Project managers

Other Jobs in Urban Planning

You will study the economic and financial aspects of real estate development, cross-sectoral collaboration, negotiation and team-building, and stakeholder engagement.

These skills can open you up to a variety of job opportunities in planning, such as:

• City planning professionals
• Urban designers
• Urban planning technicians
• Environmental planning professionals
• Landscape architects
• Principal planners

Quick Links

• Admissions
• Curriculum
• About
• Apply Now

Contact Us

To speak to an enrollment coach, call (877) 699-2013 or email [email protected]

Department Chairs

Marlon Boarnet
Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis
(213) 740-3696
[email protected]

Liz Falletta
Vice Chair, Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis
Faculty Director, Executive Master of Urban Planning Online Program
(213) 740-3267
[email protected]

Program Administrator

Terrynce Rucker
(213) 740-0836
[email protected]