The Master of Urban Design (MUD) is an advanced post-professional degree program for individuals who seek a career in urban design practice or for current planning and design professionals who want to enhance and expand their existing practice with urban design knowledge and expertise.

The MUD program consists of nine courses. One studio and three lecture courses in the fall (again in the spring), and either a travel studio or capstone project in the summer. To earn the MUD degree, a student must complete all nine courses totaling 36 credits.

The MUD program is designed to be accomplished in a single calendar year as a full-time, immersive experience. Students with qualifying circumstances or those with a Overlapping Dual Degree option are offered a longer timeframe.

For acceptance into the MUD program, a master’s degree in architecture, urban planning, or landscape architecture is required. An accredited professional bachelor's degree in architecture, urban planning, or landscape architecture is also sufficient.

Students in CU Denver’s M Arch, MLA, and MURP programs may apply to the MUD program and begin earning MUD credits before they have completed their current requirements. This is done through the MUD Overlapping Dual Degree Option.

The MUD program trains students to become exceptional urban design practitioners. More importantly, it trains students to become leaders in their communities. MUD encourages collaboration to position thinking at the intersection of the city-building disciplines. Students will engage with the community to create great places that are sustainable, inclusive, fair, and healthy.