COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Urban Design (MUD) program at CU Denver offers a comprehensive, practice-oriented curriculum that blends lecture-based learning with intensive design studios to cover the full spectrum of urban design theory and practice while emphasizing hands-on, experiential education. The program is built around four key Program Hallmarks that are integrated across all courses, ensuring consistency in themes and learning outcomes, and students must complete all 36 credits to earn the degree. The curriculum begins with foundational and advanced coursework such as Urban Design Studio I, which introduces city-scale design thinking by examining urban systems, structures, and spatial forms to address real-world challenges, and City Design Fundamentals, which explores the historical evolution of cities and the environmental, social, and economic forces that shape them while highlighting the integration of architecture, planning, and landscape architecture. Additional core courses include Design Policy, Process, and Regulation, which focuses on how regulations influence urban form and design decision-making, and Advanced Visualization for Urban Design, which develops technical and graphic communication skills using digital tools like Adobe, SketchUp, and AutoCAD. Students then progress to Urban Design Studio II, a community-engaged project that integrates real estate, economics, equity, environmental concerns, and public participation into design solutions. Supporting coursework includes Urban Design Economics and Equity, Urban Design and the Environment, and Design Practice and Leadership, which collectively address financial feasibility, social justice, sustainability, professional practice, and leadership in collaborative design environments. The program culminates in either the Urban Design Global Studio, which involves international, travel-based design experience, or the Urban Design Capstone, where students complete an individual, practitioner-mentored project producing professional-level urban design solutions for real clients. Additionally, the program offers dual-degree pathways with M.Arch, MLA, and MURP programs, allowing students to double-count certain courses, reduce overall credit requirements, and gain interdisciplinary expertise that enhances career opportunities in urban design and related fields.