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Portland State MURP �Information Session

We’ll be starting soon!

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Who we are/Quick introductions

Matthew Gebhardt, MURP Director; Laura Ehrlich, Program Coordinator

See more of our faculty: https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/faculty

See more of our students (updating soon): https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/murp-student-profiles

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In this session

So you want to be a planner….
Why study planning at Portland State?
What to expect?
Some facts and figures about the MURP program
Living in Portland
How to apply/tips for a great MURP application
Your questions

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Urban Center plaza

Please feel free to add questions to the chat.

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So you want to be a planner . . .

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From https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/urban-and-regional-planners.htm

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Why study planning at Portland State?

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PSU’s motto is “Let Knowledge Serve the City”: We take that seriously.

Engaged, hands-on learning is central to the MURP program, from start to finish.

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See more at https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/5-reasons-study-planning-psu

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Our students do award-winning projects (in Workshop projects (and beyond) have tangible impacts.

Students’ work benefits communities and is recognized for innovation and impact.

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“Umatilla Together” Framework Plan (2017) - won OAPA award

See more: https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/master-urban-and-regional-planning-workshop-projects

Won OAPA Award (2023)

Laid the groundwork for Portland Mercado (2011)

Won OAPA Award (2024)

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Our faculty do research that makes a difference.

Prof. Dill on active transportation (TREC)

Prof. Zapata on homelessness(HRAC)

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Prof. Corbin on parks and accessibility/ inclusion

Prof. Gebhardt on housing affordability.

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2. Portland and the Metro region are fantastic laboratories

Students also have opportunities to learn across state, region, and globe.

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Urban-Rural Ambassadors, Eastern Oregon

2023: 50 years of the Portland Downtown Plan

Oregon’s famous land use system, including Urban Growth Boundaries, has been operating for decades.

Travel course in England with Prof. Gebhardt

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3. We believe that planning practice can make places more equitable and sustainable.

Equity and justice are a focal point of the MURP curriculum.

See more at: https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/equity-tsusp

PSU opportunities to engage in equity & sustainability

racial equity plan: https://www.pdx.edu/diversity/equity-and-justice
campus sustainability: https://youtu.be/aEkNhHkKyLo

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Prof. Liu’s research at intersection of economics & environment

Prof. Bates (Black Studies) and team reframe issues of displacement and support tenant organizing by using a research justice approach to studying eviction.

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4. You create your own pathway. There’s more at PSU than just the MURP.

Flexible MURP pathways

Dual-degree options: MPH, CE

Graduate certificates include:

Affordable Housing
Collaborative Governance
GIS
Real Estate
Sustainable Food Systems
Emergency Management & Community Resilience
Urban Design

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https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/murp-advising-pathways

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5. We have a great community of alumni.

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MURP alumni working at Portland Bureau of Transportation lead a mobile tour of bike infrastructure.

MURP alumni working at the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development present about the state Housing Needs Analysis at Student Planning Day in Salem.

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Alumni contribute to the program in many ways.

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Prof. Schrock at an alumni/student social in fall 2022.

Speed networking practice with OAPA Emerging Planners Group (lots of our recent grads)

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5. Our graduates go on to do great things.

~90% of graduates find planning-related employment within a year (2024 survey of 2023 grads).

Starting salaries ranged from $65-$100k (2024 survey of 2023 grads).

Alumni work in: �~50% Public sector�~40% Private sector�~10% Non-profit

65% stay in Portland area�75% in Pacific NW

growing networks in Bay Area, Denver, Austin

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More info at: https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/public-information-measures-student-achievement

Learn about Héctor Rodriguez-Ruiz, class of 2018, and other “Toulan Stories” at: https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/toulan-stories

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Facts and figures

~35-45 students per cohort
72 credits - two academic years/six 10-week quarters

43 credits of core courses, 29 elective
~85% of students are full-time, but part-time (3+ years) is increasing and a clear option!

In-person, with some classes being online or hybrid
We try to schedule classes on consolidated days, a lot of late-afternoon/evening classes esp. 2nd year

More info at: https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/murp

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Facts and figures cont.

Fully accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

In the 2023 Guide to Graduate Planning programs, PSU was ranked 16th in the country by planning educators.

Student body is diverse, in diverse ways:

~ 50% female

~ 26% BIPOC-identifying (domestic)

~ 5% international

LGBTQ+, parents, people with disabilities,�first-gen college students, and more!

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Finances

Full-time tuition: $501/credit - about $18,000/year for full-time (+ fees, ~$20,000 total)

→ See more at https://www.pdx.edu/student-finance/tuition/graduate

in-state tuition for residents of select states through Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)
Future salaries pretty good!

Financial aid

→ See more at https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/financial-resources

Portland Planning Diversity Award program offers 1- and 2-year awards (tuition + internship) to students from under-represented backgrounds
Graduate Assistantships with tuition remission may be available through research centers or other offices on campus
Most students access financial aid including loans (enrollment in 5 credits/term required for most financial aid) - centralized scholarship application
Many students work part-time and some full-time. Hours can count toward internship req.

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Portland Planning Diversity Award

Awarded for professional potential and contribution to the diversity of the MURP program and the planning profession. We are interested in multiple dimensions of applicants’ personal, academic and professional backgrounds and experiences that would contribute toward a more diverse MURP student environment, including but not limited to: race/ethnicity, class/socioeconomic background (e.g., first-generation college students), educational background (e.g., attendance at a minority-serving institution such as an HBCU or TCU, or at a community/junior college), gender, sexual orientation, disability status, age, veteran status and life experiences. Extra consideration will be given to individuals who have participated in Ronald E. McNair Baccalaureate Achievement Program or Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowships.

See more at: https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/ppda

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Living in Portland

Positives:

Medium-sized city
Transit and biking
Lower cost of living compared to other West Coast cities
Arts, culture, gastronomy
Access to nature

Challenges, too.

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Should I go to grad school? When?

Maybe! If you want to be a planner: yes.

Most planning students are not straight from undergraduate: take time to build skills, explore the world, learn more about planning and other professions.

But if you’re sure about planning and have already studied, volunteered, and done internships in the field, then go for it!
Can “dip your toes in” as post-bac - also really good for career-changers.

Consider how you’ll pay for it and make the most of it.

Professional degrees (MURP) are different from research degrees.

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How To Start Preparing for Grad School in Planning

Take USP courses esp. 400 and 500-level (try 400-level first!)- only 500-level can be used for MURP program
Go to office hours with faculty
Go to Planning Club & relevant lectures & extracurricular events
Follow planning topics in the news
Build transferable skills
Read planning-related books, watch videos, etc.
Engage in planning-related volunteering, activism, and paid work
Get confident in writing/quantitative/intercultural skills
For PSU students- your PSU professional advisor is there to help you graduate from college, but they have limited familiarity with graduate programs - you need to talk to faculty, mentors, current graduate students, also the USP Director of UG Programs

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How to Apply

Transcripts

Statement of Purpose (2 essays)

3 letters of recommendation

Resume or CV

Not required: GRE scores

Application fee - waivers available (plan ahead!)

International students: A TOEFL score of 550+; alternative standards remain in place

https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/murp-admissions

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Tips for a great MURP application

Use the statement of purpose to tell the admissions committee:

Essay 1. What moves you? Tell us about yourself, what you are passionate about, and why a graduate planning education at Portland State fits to that. Tell us about your planning or related experience.
Essay 2. Are you a team player? A leader? Tell us about your experience working collaboratively, demonstrating leadership, and working in diverse contexts and communities. What perspective will you bring? Tell us about your background and experience and how it will enrich and expand the learning environment of the MURP program. Use concrete examples.

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Tips for letters of recommendation

One academic, one professional, one could be either
Should be from people who can talk about your skills as a student and a (future) planner.
Specific! We want evidence that you will contribute to the USP community and will be able to succeed in the program. “Hard” and “soft” skills.
Professors, employers, supervisors of volunteer work etc.

People who know YOU.
People who are familiar with planning, community work, and/or graduate school.

Ask early, remind them, thank them.

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Deadlines and Timelines

Friday, January 9^th– Priority Admissions Deadline
Mid-March – Admissions notifications sent out
Mid spring (usually 1st Friday in April) – Admitted Student Open House

Applications accepted on space-available basis through spring with deadlines of Friday, March 27th and Friday, May 29th (see https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/murp-admissions for details).

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