A detailed satellite map shows a winding river, large reservoir, various shades of green forest, clustered brown urban areas, scattered red-roofed buildings, and white patches indicating urban or open land.
URBAN DESIGN
HOW TO APPLY

The Graduate Program in Urban Design at The University of Texas at Austin offers students the opportunity to develop skills working at the urban scale while engaging in applied research on the culture of cities. As the world becomes more urbanized and the dilemmas more complex, urban designers will play a critical role in manifesting an ethical agenda for urban life, directing urban development outcomes, aspiring to improve the human condition, and leading the way toward a healthy future. Urban design's agency, reconciling the spatial implications of multiple disciplinary perspectives, brings qualitative value to the places we inhabit. 

The program is designed for post-professional students with an educational background in architecture or landscape architecture and leads to a Master of Science in Urban Design (MSUD). Students without a professional design degree, or those who wish to expand their professional expertise, may follow the dual-degree curriculum shared between the Master of Science in Urban Design and the Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning (MSCRP).

The program brings together an international cohort of faculty and students working globally on issues ranging from climate change to fair housing. Students in the program come from countries ranging from Peru, Spain, India, Russia, China, and South Korea. The program's STEM designation from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board enables additional professional opportunities for international students.

The program is fortunate to have received generous support from The Sinclair Black Endowed Excellence Fund for Urban Design. This endowment enhances the research opportunities available to students and faculty in the program by funding travel studios, sponsoring visiting critics and lecturers, and providing individual research and publication opportunities for students.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Collage of overlapping urban-related words in various fonts and sizes overlaid on a cityscape photo, with “PLATFORM” in bold blue letters and the subtitle “Urban Agencies: Projections for the Contemporary City.”.

Urban Agencies - Projections for the Contemporary City

Rendering of a modern multi-story building with rooftop gardens overlooks a large green lawn where many people are walking, playing, and relaxing. Trees, seating areas, and murals enhance the lively public space.

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE GERALD HINES STUDENT COMPETITION

Abstract overlapping arcs in blue, orange, and gray surround a black dot. TUFlab and The Texas Urban Futures Laboratory are written below. Vertical text reads The University of Texas at Austin • School of Architecture.

TEXAS URBAN FUTURES LAB

URBAN DESIGN

DEGREES + PROGRAMS

The Urban Design Program at the University of Texas as Austin offers two graduate-level degree programs and a certificate in Urban Design.  

GRADUATE CERTIFICATES

Master of Science in Urban Design [MSUD] 

MSUD + Master of Science in Community & Regional Planning 

 Housing & Urbanism Certificate

URBAN DESIGN STUDENT WORK

A modern urban park with trees, walking paths, and a tram crossing a bridge over water; city skyline and tall buildings are visible in the background under a bright sky.
Architectural site plan of an urban waterfront area, showing detailed streets, parks, and large oval and rectangular buildings aligned along a central axis, with water bodies at the top and bottom edges.
A detailed urban planning diagram shows 3D site views, pedestrian and mobility networks, and program zoning with color-coded legends, including roads, paths, and various building types, alongside two inset maps for context.
A detailed aerial illustration of a coastal urban development labeled “Waterfront Bracelet,” showing green spaces, walking paths, docks, parks, and buildings arranged along a waterfront and city streets.
Aerial rendering of a colorful, modern residential neighborhood with pastel houses, solar panels, green spaces, trees, gardens, and sidewalks in a planned, grid-like layout.
An architectural site plan of a city block shows streets, trees, buildings, and pedestrian pathways with four detailed circular insets highlighting specific street and landscape features. Text reads 1: The Life Begin.
An architectural diagram shows proposed building height increases and transit street improvements along Fulton Street in San Francisco, highlighting new building envelopes in orange and access to Golden Gate Park.