I believe that most Urban Design programs that are post graduate in the States require an applicant to have a B.Arch as a prerequisite. I personally have friends who got around this though. What he did was apply to the Urban Design program while he was currently in the MArch (3 year) program. So basically he graduated with both degrees. Its pretty rare for the school to allow a student to do that though.

JS- look at getting an MS in urban design versus transfering. Also check out if your school has a landscape program and get a dual MLA/MArch.

transferring MArch programs is really starting back over again - most of the app deadlines are within the next two weeks so you'd better hustle.

your other choice, once you can take elective studios, is go for the urban focused ones. A degree in UD doesn't get you a better job then a MArch with a strong urban portfolio. remember that UD isn't a professional degree that is required for licensure, or that there is such a thing as a licensed urban designer.

off the top of my head...

uc-berkeley
mit
michigan
harvard

all post-professional degrees.

i would argue that m.arch "with urban focus" does not confer the experience, status or credential m.u.d. does.

[btw i am a m.arch with urban focus married to a m.u.d.]

I agree with jafidler. The specialized degree is better in my humble opinion.

Wash U has an MUD program to consider. Since you have the professional degree you could also go the MSAUD route at Columbia.

WashU's dual MArch/MUD degree slightly shortens the time you'd need to do both seperately.

thanks for all the information. i had looked at Michigan and the one-year MUD program at CUNY looks interesting too. I'm thinking of sticking it out where i am, i can do an UD project for thesis. then look at MUD programs after that if i feel i want even more school. and yeah treekiller, I certainly don't want to loose time or credits i have by transferring.

Hi, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has an Urban Design program, untill about 2 years back it was open to non-architects - you should look into that. Its a one year program with a dual-degree option from Oxford University,UK in Geographics or something in the second year if you wish to pursue. But if you are a non-architect I would rather suggest a university like U.Penn or SCAD which give you a M.Arch. degree with a certificate in Urban Design. This is because in universities with one year program it becomes difficult to grasp/understand everything, and a two year program be it M.Arch or Urban Design would be better.

hey

as an M.Arch who did an UD focus, and is now working as an UD, but is also slowly (and somewhat lazily) working towards becoming a licensed architect....

after 5 years in the UD world, i can tell you that an M.Arch degree, with some UD experience/interest thrown in, is going to serve you better. If you had a B.Arch, then yeah, go get a masters in an UD program. most of my coworkers are M.Arch'ers who are now working in UD - those in my firm with just a masters in UD are missing some of the thinking/concepts/design strength that comes from studying architecture in a traditional program.

your last post where you suggest doing an UD thesis....is definitley the way to go. maybe even another year of school if you can swing it? (and if the economy is still in the dumps...)

i dont regret my M.Arch for a minute, and at least at my firm (a bunch of architects doing urban design) - your design skills are stronger coming out of M.Arch, and that does mean something.