Are you still looking for the right major? Or maybe you're a top student considering how to add an accelerated master’s degree to improve your marketability?
The Department of Urban Planning in the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning has some exciting options to share with you at an upcoming lunch.
What is Urban Planning?
If you’re into making the world a better place, fixing up your hometown, or just love thinking about how cities and towns work, urban planning is for you! If you want to do all that and find a path to a satisfying, well-paying and diverse career, our bachelor's degree program gets you ready for a professional job in seven semesters. Within a year of graduation, we place 96 percent of our students in professional jobs in city governments of all sizes, in non-profit community development agencies, and in high-power real estate development firms, to name just a few options.
Join us for lunch on Friday, Oct. 30, from noon to 1 pm, in AB 316
Come meet students and faculty, enjoy lunch, ask questions, and learn about two pathways that could help you reach your academic and career goals. Those pathways are:
1. Alternative Entry Program: Get Started in Urban Planning this Spring
Are you a freshman or sophomore still looking for the right major? Our alternative entry program is designed with you in mind.
This spring, you’ll take:
- A six-hour design-thinking studio, PLAN 105
- And an introduction to urban planning, either PLAN 100 or PLAN 120
We’ll share more about these classes and what to expect throughout the rest of the Bachelor of Urban Planning and Development program on Oct. 30.
2. Accelerated Master’s Program: Earn Your Master's Degree Faster
What if you could begin working toward your master's degree while you're still an undergraduate? Through Ball State University’s accelerated master’s program, qualified juniors and seniors can take graduate-level courses that count toward both their bachelor's and master's degrees.
That means you could earn a Master of Urban and Regional Planning in just one additional calendar year. The degree is a strong complement to your undergraduate studies in communications, sociology, geography, political science, graphic design and many others.
Whether you're interested in community development, transportation, housing, environmental planning, or economic development, either pathway can help you advance your education and prepare for meaningful professional opportunities.
Ready to Learn More? RSVP Today
Lunch & Learn Date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Location: Architecture Building, Room 316
Hosted by: Department of Urban Planning
RSVP: Email
planning@bsu.edu and let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
Come for lunch, discover your options, and see where a future in urban planning could take you!
Got Time for a Ghost Tour after Lunch?
After lunch, stick around for an optional "ghost tour" of the Village with one of our instructors. It's a fun way to explore one of Muncie's most familiar neighborhoods while spending time with fellow students.
Want to learn more about urban planning?
Visit
What Is Urban Planning and read stories from our alumni that will give you a window into urban planning careers.
Can't make it Oct. 30 but want to know more? Stop by the Ball State library branch in the Architecture Building to see our exhibit about urban planning or email us for a one-on-one meeting. Be sure to talk to your academic advisor this fall to see how urban planning fits with your goals!