Welcome to the Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Program at UTSA!

Our mission is to prepare planners to meet known and emerging urban and regional challenges, inspired by our values of collaboration, innovation, and inclusiveness.

We offer 3 graduate degrees: A Master of Science in URP, a URP Professional Certificate and a Dual Degree Master of Science in URP and Master of Architecture.

Additionally, our faculty are engaged in the production of new scientific knowledge towards alleviating urban challenges and creating better places to live.

construction-management-2.png

We collaborate with the Center for Urban and Regional Planning Research and the Sustainable Pervasive Urban Resilience (SPUR) Center, to disseminate and articulate our research projects. All URP students have the opportunity to engage with research projects, directly working as Graduate Research Assistants, or as part of their classroom.

Urban and Regional Planning Faculty

Xueyin Bai, Ph.D.

Xueyin Bai, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Instruction, Architecture + Planning

Ryun Jung (RJ) Lee

Ryun Jung Lee, Ph.D., AICP

Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture + Planning

Esteban López Ochoa

Esteban López Ochoa, PhD

Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture and Planning

Julia Murphy

Julia Murphy, AICP, LEED AP

Lecturer, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture and Planning

Sarah Serpas, AICP

Sarah Serpas, AICP

Lecturer, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture and Planning

Wei Zhai, Ph.D.

Wei Zhai, PhD

Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture and Planning

Programs and Resources

Discover what it's like to be an urban and regional planning student by exploring our degree programs, curriculum maps, certificate programs, and student work. Explore our studio experiences, signature projects, student portfolios, and achievements. Learn about our accreditation and see the possibilities of our state-of-the-art Makerspace.

Explore our program below

Urban and regional planning at UTSA prepares planners to meet known and emerging urban and regional challenges, inspired by our values of collaboration, innovation, and inclusiveness.

TSA Urban and Regional Planning is a full member of the American Planning Association (APA), which includes free student memberships. The Urban Planning Student Association at UTSA is a registered planning student organization with APA.

American Planning Association Texas Chapter logo

The program is also a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP), which connects educators, researchers, and students, to advance knowledge about planning education and research. View the list of member schools .

ACSP Logo

Planning Accrediation Board ( PAB) awarded Candidacy Status to our MSURP through December 31, 2024, while the program is considered for full accreditation. Students who graduate after the beginning of the fall term of the academic year in which the site visit occurs for a program subsequently granted accreditation shall be considered to have graduated from an accredited program.

Program classes are offered at the Downtown Campus, with some classes offered online. The URP Student Handbook includes more about how to succeed in the urban and regional planning program, and updates including the Urban and Regional Planning Seminar schedule.