Mission The mission of our program is to train policy-oriented planners and environmental
policy analysts for leadership positions in planning and environmental policy-related
organizations, with special emphasis on issues of significance to the communities
and regions of the Southwest. The goal of the program is to equip future professionals
with analytical and policy formulation skills that will enable them to address with
vision and foresight, the current and future environmental problems caused by our
impact on the environment. Students will be prepared to be professional planners,
environmental policy and community development specialists prepared to help solve
the pressing urban and environmental problems of our city, the region, the nation,
and the world.Our MUPEP program is the only accredited planning program in the Greater
Houston region and the fourth accredited planning program in the State of Texas. It
was first accredited in 2009. Recently it was awarded a seven year re-accreditation
to December 31, 2018 (the longest period allowable) by the Planning Accreditation
Board (PAB).
The objectives of the Department of Urban Planning & Environmental Policy are:
Train students for professional careers in planning and equip them to function in
generalist and specialist roles
Provide students with an understanding of the history and theory of cities and urban
regions and the environmental influences on city and regional planning
Prepare students with life-long analytical, research and communication skills
Provide students with the specific knowledge and skills needed to become successful,
practicing planners in a wide range of planning areas
Educate students about the relationship between the developed environment and the
natural environment
Provide students with scientific and technical skills that can be applied professionally
to solve environment problems
Student Achievements
Ms. Krislynn Thompson, an MUPEP student, won the Student Presentation Competition at the 2012 Texas APA
Conference, October 3-6, 2012, at Fort Worth, Texas.
Ms. Kimberly Adams, a UPEP PhD student, won the 2012 POCIG (The Planners of Color Interest Group) Travel
Award to the 53rdACSP Conference at Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mr. Zhonghua (Tony) Jin,a UPEP PhD student, was selected as an Executive Fellow in the 2013 IRF Road Scholar
Program for international students.
Mr. Jamaal Schoby, a UPEP PhD student, is the 2012 recipient of the Dr. George M. Smerk Scholarship
award sponsored by Houston METRO.
Mr. Jamaal Schoby, a UPEP PhD student, is a 2012 Dwight D. Eisenhower HBCU Fellow.
Mr. Zhonghua (Tony) Jin, a UPEP PhD student, was honored to represent TSU attending a summer school at Shanghai
Jiao Tong University (SJTU), China, August 2-16, 2012
Public Information The UPEP master's program located within the 4th most populated city in the US, and
in Harris County, made up of 50 municipalities. The county is within the Houston Galveston
Area Council Metropolitan Planning Region, 13 counties all together. This region has
maintained its vibrancy throughout the economic downturn and has many opportunities
for master's student employment within the varied institutional sectors, public, private,
and non-profit. The issues that face our region are matched by the training provided
our graduates. Additionally, our graduates have been successful in gaining employment
out of state and entry to higher degree programs. The Urban Planning and Environmental Policy Program offers a great value to all attending
and graduating students both full-time and part-time. A full-time student most often completes their studies in four full semesters and
two summer sessions. Most of the Master's students finish in less than three years.
The following table depicts the enrollment, graduation and employment trends for our
graduates from 2008 to the present. The employment rate of full-time graduates from
our program approximates 80%. The benefits of the Master's degree in Urban Planning
and Environmental Policy at Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
at Texas Southern University far outweighs the cost. Download Report
Careers Students will develop the understanding, sensitivity, and skills necessary to pursue
professional careers in a variety of public, private, and nonprofit roles. The Department
values environments where cities have vital centers and efficient means of movement,
and where neighborhoods offer opportunities for all to live affordably and safely.
Our curriculum introduces students to the theories of planning, methods of analysis,
effective means of communication, a range of planning processes, and creative strategies
for implementation. U.S. News has rated planning as one of the top 50 best careers
of 2011.
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