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Urban and Regional Studies

The Urban and Regional Studies program is an interdisciplinary, national award-winning, degree program oriented toward examining and understanding the broad range of problems and challenges associated with the nation's urban and regional areas.

Careers in Urban and Regional Studies

This program prepares students for a variety of career opportunities in community development, urban/regional planning, local government, and local government management.
  • Budget/Financial Analyst
  • City Comptroller
  • City Manager
  • City Treasurer
  • Community Development
  • Comprehensive Planning

Potential Salary

Median Salary $81,800

The median annual wage for Urban and Regional planners in May 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Urban and Regional Studies Degrees at MSU

Urban and Regional Studies, Bachelor of Science

The Urban and Regional Studies program examines the broad range of problems and challenges associated with the nation's urban and regional areas. Students are encouraged to undertake independent study, community service projects, and participate in field studies.

Urban and Regional Studies, Minor

The Urban and Regional Studies minor provides a focused study on a range of problems and challenges associated with the nation's urban and regional areas.

Urban Planning, Master of Arts

The Masters of Arts in Urban Planning is a professional program oriented towards the systematic, comprehensive approach to analyzing the social, economic, and physical change of neighborhoods, small towns, cities, suburbs, metropolitan areas, and regions.

Public Administration and Community Management, Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in Public Administration and Community Management is a multidisciplinary program focused on addressing the diverse challenges and opportunities in urban and regional areas. This degree prepares students for professional leadership careers in local government management and public administration or serves as a foundation for Ph.D. study. The program's requirements are designed to provide flexibility while ensuring a multidisciplinary, problem-solving approach. 

Public Management, Graduate Certificate

This graduate certificate program provides the basic concepts, skills, and values for pursuing a career in local public management. The program is designed to meet the basic standards of professional competency specified by the International City/County Management Association (IC). The program is appropriate for students who wish to develop a local government management focus within a graduate degree program, or for students who have already earned their degree and wish to prepare for a career shift.  

Urban Planning, Graduate Certificate

The Urban Planning Graduate Certificate program provides foundational concepts, skills, and values essential for a career in local government planning. Designed to meet the professional competency standards specified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), this program is ideal for students aiming to develop a local government planning focus within a graduate degree or for those who have already earned their degrees and wish to prepare for a career shift. 

Related Programs

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Political Science

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Business Administration

The fully online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree completion program offers a flexible, accredited, and accelerated path for working adults to advance their careers while fitting their education into a busy schedule.

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Management

This program gets you ready to lead and manage. You'll learn about managing people, using numbers to make decisions, fostering innovation, and much more, all to help you succeed in the business world.

Urban and Regional Studies Faculty and Staff

College of

Humanities and Social Sciences

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is an inclusive community of diverse learners seeking to examine, engage with and transform the social world while nurturing creativity and innovation. Our programs build a foundation of knowledge that adapts to a constantly changing society.

Learn More About the College of Humanities and Social Sciences