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Urban Design and Planning

Non-Degree Enrollment

The Department offers two opportunities for prospective students to take classes in the Master of Urban Planning program: either through enrollment as a Graduate Non-Matriculated student or as a Visiting Graduate Student.

GRADUATE NON-MATRICULATEDVISITING GRADUATE STUDENT

 

Graduate Non-Matriculated Status

Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) status provides qualified students an opportunity to enroll in graduate level courses in the Department of Urban Design & Planning. Applicants who meet graduate admissions standards may be enrolled in GNM status and may apply up to a maximum of 12 credits earned while so enrolled toward graduate degree requirements if later accepted into the Master of Urban Planning degree program.

What GNM status can offer you:

GNM status allows students to explore the field of urban planning, make connections with program faculty, and earn graduate-level credit (up to 12 credits of which can apply to the regular MUP degree program if later enrolled). Although it is not a guarantee of admission for the regular MUP degree program, it can be a great way to explore the field of planning and make connections with faculty.

GNM status is a great option for those who:

  • Live in the Seattle area and can attend classes in-person (courses are currently being offered via remote learning due to the pandemic)
  • Want to explore the field of urban design and planning without committing to a degree program
  • Want to make connections with the program prior to applying to the regular MUP degree (note: GNM status is not a guarantee of admission to the regular MUP degree program)
  • Missed the regular degree program deadline but still want to take classes in Urban Design and Planning
  • Working professionals who want to take a graduate level class in urban planning

Application Deadlines

Entry options exist for three quarters. Application deadlines are:

Autumn Quarter: August 15
Winter Quarter: November 15
Spring Quarter: February 15

Note: applications are not accepted for summer quarter due to lack of course offerings in summer.

Admission Requirements/Criteria

Prospective GNM students must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
  • Have at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S.1 or its equivalent from a foreign institution2 for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits from a baccalaureate degree.
  • Students expecting to be issued F-1 student visa documents are not eligible for GNM status. Current holders of B-1 visitor visas are not eligible for GNM status.
  • Students may hold GNM status in only one graduate program at a time and may not hold any other student status while enrolled as a GNM student.
  • Non-native English speakers are not required to demonstrate English proficiency to receive GNM status. However, should a GNM applicant be later accepted into a graduate program, they will be required to demonstrate English proficiency per Policy 3.2.

For further criteria, please see the University of Washington Graduate School’s GNM webpage.

How to Apply

GNM applicants must submit an online application through the University of Washington’s Graduate School’s Application for Admission web page. Once you designate the program you are applying for, you will be prompted for the required application materials. GNM applicants are advised to contact the program at udp@uw.edu to provide notification of their application submission in order to facilitate a timely review of their application.

Application Checklist

Prepare a one or two page statement as to your reasons for undertaking graduate study in the Department of Urban Design and Planning and your plans for future study; please describe portions of your background that you feel are particularly relevant to your application.

Please include a resume of work and relevant experiences.

GNM applicants are required to submit one academic letter of recommendation. The letter should be submitted online, and the evaluator must be designated on the online application. We suggest applicants provide their evaluator with a copy of the statement of purpose in order to facilitate the evaluation.

Please note that when you submit your GNM application you may receive a message indicating that three letters are required. Disregard this message and proceed in submitting your application with only one evaluator designated.

Applicants must list and upload to their online application the transcripts for all collegiate institutions they have attended, including the University of Washington.

GNM Application Review

You will be notified of the status of your application about two weeks after the application deadline. All GNM courses are available on a space available basis only. Should you wish to take classes as a GNM student in another department, you will need to complete a separate GNM application for that department. GNM students who later decide to pursue the MUP degree must make a separate application.

More Information

Visiting Graduate Students

A student who wishes to enroll in the Department of Urban Design and Planning, and who intends to return to the graduate school in which he/she is carrying forward a program of study for an advanced degree, may be admitted as a Visiting Graduate Student.

Admission as a Visiting Graduate Student is contingent on available space and facilities. The applicant must have been officially admitted to another recognized graduate school and be in good standing and currently pursuing a graduate degree.

The applicant must submit an online application through the University of Washington’s Graduate School’s Application for Admission web page. When creating the online application, applicants must select the application type as “Visiting Graduate” and select “Urban Design and Planning (M of Urban Planning)” as the visiting graduate program.

Once you designate the program you are applying for, you will be prompted for the required application materials. Visiting graduate applicants are advised to contact the program at udp@uw.edu to provide notification of their application submission in order to facilitate a timely review of their application..

Length of Study

Visiting graduate students to the Department of Urban Design and Planning may apply to study for up to three quarters. The UW operates on a quarter system: autumn, winter and spring comprise a typical academic year and offer dependable course selection. At this time, enrollment in summer quarter is not possible due to the lack of course offerings in the Department.  It is important to note that Autumn quarter is late September-December; winter quarter is January-March, and spring quarter is late March-June. To view the specific dates of  instruction, please refer to the University of Washington’s academic calendar. International visiting graduate students please note: you must be enrolled in a minimum of 10 credits per quarter.

Admission Requirements

Visiting graduate students must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School, which can be viewed on their Visiting Graduate Student webpage.

Application Deadlines

There are two possible entry quarters for visiting graduate students: autumn and winter quarter.

January 15 is the deadline for Autumn Quarter entry

September 15 is the deadline for Winter Quarter entry

All application materials must be received by the application deadline.

Because visiting graduate students may apply to study for up to three quarters, there are a number of different enrollment scenarios possible. For example, students applying for entry in autumn quarter may apply for study in Autumn only; Autumn and Winter only; or Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Students applying for entry in winter quarter may apply for study in Winter only; or Winter and Spring (please note that enrollment in summer quarter is not an option at this time).

Application Checklist

Prepare a one or two page statement as to your reasons for undertaking graduate study in the Department of Urban Design and Planning in particular, and your plans for future study in general; please describe portions of your background that you feel are particularly relevant to your application.

Please indicate the quarters in which you would like to enroll in the Department of Urban Design and Planning. Please also include a proposed plan of intended courses during the quarter(s) you are seeking enrollment here. You can see which courses will be offered by viewing the Department’s two-year plan of course offerings, found here: https://urbdp.be.uw.edu/resources/udp-course-listings-and-syllabi/

The plan of study can help the Admissions Committee better understand your goals and ensure that they are feasible. For instance, they can evaluate whether the courses in which you want to enroll will be open to you (some of our courses have priority enrollment for MUP students and fill quickly; others have prerequisites), or if a course you want to take may not be available for some other reason that wouldn’t be readily apparent to you. To note, visiting graduate students must be enrolled in 10 credits each quarter.

You may also send your proposed course plan to the MUP Graduate Academic Advisor for evaluation prior to submitting your application. Please send your proposed plan to udp@uw.edu.no less than two weeks prior to the application deadline to allow adequate time for review.

Visiting Graduate Students are required to submit three letters of recommendation.

Applicants must list and upload to their online application the transcripts for all collegiate institutions they have attended, including the University of Washington.